Can Rhinoplasty Cure Chronic Snoring?

By Dr. Asif Pirani

Chronic snoring can be a real problem, both for you and those you share sleeping space with! There are many potential causes of chronic snoring and it can often be difficult to figure out.

Chronic snoring is usually related to nasal congestion. The body naturally breathes through the nose during sleep, however nasal congestion leads to mouth breathing which causes greater vibration between the uvula and the soft palate. As many people know, snoring can get incredibly loud!

Causes of chronic snoring include:

• Allergies
• Anatomical Issues:

• Deviated Septum
• Valve Collapse
• Enlarged Turbinates

• Chronic Sinusitis
• Sleep Apnea
• Environmental Irritants
• Benign or Cancerous Tumors

If you or a loved one is suffering from chronic snoring, there are many treatment options, depending on the cause. The best thing to do would be to visit your GP, who can refer you to a specialist.

Non-surgical treatments for chronic snoring can include:

• Oral or Topical Antihistamines
• Oral Steroids
• Nasal Steroid Spray
• Antibiotics

If the above treatments are unsuccessful and snoring persists, there are several operations that can improve the patient’s condition:

• Septoplasty: Correction of a deviated septum.
• Nasal Valve Surgery: Reparation of a collapsed valve.
• Turbinate Reduction

These operations aim to improve air flow in the nasal cavity, and correct nasal obstruction or congestion. While rhinoplasty is often considered a cosmetic treatment, meant to improve the appearance of the nose, those who suffer from functional breathing problems can also find relief through rhinoplasty. Patients who underwent Septoplasty, valve surgery, or other nasal operations often find that snoring has decreased, or even been cured.

However, rhinoplasty is certainly not always the answer to chronic snoring. Only in cases of anatomical issue or deformity is surgery recommended. Many plastic surgeons recommend visiting a good ENT doctor (a Doctor specializing in ear, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck) in order to get to the bottom of chronic snoring.

If you are considering rhinoplasty, call Dr. Pirani to book a consultation. During the consultation, Dr. Pirani will take careful consideration of you and your needs, as well as thoroughly educate you about the procedure and answer any questions you may have.