Seoul Clinic Rhinoplasty Side effect South Korea Rhinoplasty clinic
Seoul Clinic Rhinoplasty Side effect South Korea Rhinoplasty clinic
  • 글·심지선 기자ㅣ번역·김성혜 인턴기자 (js.shim4880@gmail.com)
  • 승인 2020.08.31 15:19
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Plastic Surgery South Korea Side Effects Abnormalities
nosejob stuffy nose nasal congestion
rhinoplasty procedure Nose reshaping
Septoplasty Nasal reconstruction Nasal cosmetic procedure

[Deep Dive into Plastic Surgery Side Effects] Resolving Abnormalities Caused by Stuffy Nose After Nasal Osteotomy

CARD 1. Nasal Congestion occurring after Rhinoplasty 

Many people complain of nasal congestion (stuffy nose) after having rhinoplasty. Stimulation of tissues due to surgery can cause a temporary stuffy nose, but if abnormal symptoms persist, then exact causes must be found and fundamentally treated.

CARD 2. A Case of Nasal Congestion Symptoms after Rhinoplasty 

# Miss H (age 25), has been suffering from insomnia, snoring, and sleep apnea due to severe nasal congestion after having nasal osteotomy and nose revision using silicone implants and ear cartilage into nose tip at B cosmetic surgery clinic near Gangnam Station in July 2019. Before having surgeries, she had taken otolaryngologist diagnosis tests and found no abnormalities. So, when she revisited the clinic, suspecting malpractice, they said that they would handle by insurance of Korea Medical Association Medical Indemnity Mutual (KMAMA, physicians’ liability insurance).

CARD 3. Does Stuffy Nose Affect Your Life?

You might think stuffy nose only makes you feel uncomfortable and stifling, but it can cause symptoms like chronic fatigue, bad breath due to dry mouth, adverse effects on tonsillitis, and daytime sleepiness, etc., which can drastically worsen the overall quality of life.

CARD 4. Stuffy Nose Causes Mouth Breathing While You Sleep

When sleeping with the mouth open, anyone can snore due to the trembling of the sensitive neck airway, making it hard to have a good night’s sleep. Besides, when sleep apnea occurs, caused by lower jaw opening due to relaxed muscle and decreased elasticity of lower respiratory tract, the brain recognizes as awakened, leading to chronic fatigue.

CARD 5. Stuffy Nose Leads to Psychiatric Treatment

Studies show that traffic accidents caused by chronic fatigue increase by 6-10 times, and the risk of cerebrovascular diseases such as headaches, dementia, and strokes, as well as cardiovascular diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart attacks can increase due to reduced oxygen saturation in the blood. In many cases, chronic fatigue caused by a clogged nose also affects mental health, leading to psychiatric treatment for insomnia, depression, and panic disorder in severe cases.

CARD 6. Causes of Nasal Congestion for Miss H

Nasal osteotomy may have made her nose too narrow, or the excessive use of ear cartilage to make the nose tip look prettier and tissue adhesion during rhinoplasty may have blocked entire or partial inner nose. Besides, surgery is usually for the severe Roman nose with crooked bone, hooked nose, or the nose ridge that looks wide, where revision is needed. But if the purpose is on making a smaller, taller nose, then it can be immoderate, more likely to cause nasal congestion, although it looks good.

CARD 7. Why Does Rhinoplasty Bring Damage to the Nose Cavity?

Using ear cartilage to shape the tip of the nose brings natural movement, but it becomes thick and weak that if used too much, the nasal septum at the center of the nose widens, disrupting the flow of air. Hence symptoms of difficulty in breathing and a stuffy nose may occur. Also, tissue damage in surgery leads to mucosal adhesions, nasal valve stenosis, deviated nasal septum, or rhinitis.

CARD 8. What Reoperation Should Miss H Have?

To solve functional problems and cosmetic dissatisfaction, cosmetic revision and otolaryngologic surgery related to nasal congestion are required and performed simultaneously. Replacing the implant with a thin one at the exact spot or using dermis graft and donated biomaterial can correct the artificial and crooked shape. However, for stuffy nose symptoms, it's vital to accurately identify otolaryngologic cause via CT scans and nasendoscopy to plan the surgery.

CARD 9. Things to Check Before Having Rhinoplasty

To minimize functional side effects during rhinoplasty, it’s crucial to accurately check your nasal condition via 3D CT scans, x-rays, or nasendoscopy, and acquire test result sheets before having surgery. Check these out when deciding on which hospital you want to go: surgical operation considering your nasal conditions, possible side effects, possession of treatment technologies in case of side effects, responsibility and concern for patients, medical team’s strong will to treat, and the hospital’s policy of compensation for damage.

CARD 10. Is it possible to resolve disputes with KMAMA?

“Since KMAMA, which commissioned the case to B cosmetic surgery clinic, tends to speak for the clinic, the victim may hardly receive settlement money. Even if conciliation of the dispute has been filed at KMAMA, you can apply for it at the Korea Consumer Agency or the Korean Medical Dispute and Arbitration Agency if needed,” Attorney Seon Ho Lee of Yeon Woo Legal Professional Assoc. commented.

CARD 11. Advice from Dr. Yong-Hae Seong of the GNG Hospital

If nasal congestion persists after rhinoplasty, you need to find the exact cause and receive the right treatment. In specific, to solve nasal functional problems and cosmetic dissatisfaction, otolaryngologic surgery and nose revision related to the stuffy nose should be taken together with cosmetic surgery for satisfying results.

Reporter Ji-Sun Sim


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