It happens every spring. Flowers and plants are in full bloom, and pollen is in the air. Along with that come your stuffy or a runny nose, watery eyes, and sinus pain. If there happens to be an unusually high pollen count, you are even more miserable, sometimes for days or weeks on end. Or perhaps you have developed an allergy to that adorable new kitten you just adopted. Over-the-counter or prescription medications offer mild relief, but many patients would like permanent relief from allergies. Could a functional rhinoplasty (nose job) be the answer to your allergy woes? Dr. Vincent Marin specializes in cases just like yours and may be able to offer you a solution.
What Causes Allergies?
When you come in contact with the allergen (whatever it is that triggers your allergies), your sinuses and the lining of the inside of your nose swell and thicken, making it more difficult for you to breathe. This results in the stuffy or a runny nose, watery eyes, and sinus issues associated with an allergic reaction. Remedies such as medication or steaming the sinuses will help a little but won’t provide any permanent relief.
Can a Functional Rhinoplasty Stop Allergic Reactions?
A functional rhinoplasty (as opposed to one performed for purely cosmetic reasons) will not wholly prevent allergies. However, it can cut down on the severity and frequency of your allergic reactions. The best approach is to work with both your allergist and your cosmetic surgeon so that your allergies are under control before undergoing functional rhinoplasty. This will cut down on the amount of nasal swelling right after surgery to not aggravate your allergies even further.
What Is Involved with Functional Rhinoplasty?
Several different procedures can be performed, depending on the type of problem. These may include correction of a deviated septum (the piece of cartilage separating your right and left nostrils) or removing nasal growths or polyps. In extreme cases, the nose’s exterior may need to be restructured or reinforced to increase airflow.
How Long Will Be My Recovery Time?
Relaxation is significant to help you heal following surgery. There may be some bruising and swelling, but those should start to go away within a week after surgery. If you have a desk job, it is generally safe for you to return to work one week after surgery. If your job requires more physical activity and exertion, you should wait for an additional two to three weeks. Strenuous exercise should be avoided for the first month following surgery.
Will My Insurance Cover the Surgery?
If there is a proven medical problem that can be corrected by the surgery, your insurance may cover the cost. However, suppose you want to undergo surgery for purely cosmetic reasons, such as to decrease the size of the nose. In that case, your insurance will consider that to be elective surgery, which typically is not covered by health insurance. This is why it is also essential to consult an allergist, who can help provide the required proof of a medical need for rhinoplasty surgery.
While a functional rhinoplasty cannot wholly prevent allergies, it can minimize the symptoms of allergies. Contact Marin Aesthetics in San Diego to schedule your rhinoplasty consultation.
*The content in this blog is developed to spread the awareness towards plastic surgery. Our blog is not intended to serve as a replacement for an actual in-office consultation with Dr. Marin. As such, the information within this blog reflects the unique cases of our individual patients.
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