As a treatment for sleep apnea, doctors are beginning to look at rhinoplasty as a radical but effective measure. Known as functional rhinoplasty to differentiate from more elective kinds of nose jobs, this procedure removes offending polyps, reduces enlarged turbinates, and straightens deviated septums. In fact, most internal breathing obstructions can be addressed with fast, straightforward surgical steps.
In extreme cases, when external breathing obstructions are involved, deeper surgery may be required. The most common of these obstructions is nasal valve collapse, which occurs in naturally thin noses or in noses damaged by injury, disease, or aging.
A recent study at the University of Texas found rhinoplasty lowered the nasal obstruction rate of participants by 63 percent, and decreased their sleep apnea severity index by 35 percent.
If you have sleep apnea symptoms, ask your Los Angeles sleep doctors about functional rhinoplasty.