One of the most common elective surgery options for those who want to look and feel like their best self is rhinoplasty or a nose job. In the care of an experienced plastic surgeon like Dr. Diktaban, a rhinoplasty or the new preservation rhinoplasty procedure can make a subtle but significant change, bringing harmony and balance to your facial features.
And while changing the shape and contour of the nose during rhinoplasty obviously makes a difference on the outside, some patients may wonder what effect the procedure has on the inside—specifically, whether their voices will change.
Side Effects of Rhinoplasty
What the question of whether rhinoplasty will affect your voice is really asking is, “What are the side effects of rhinoplasty?” As with any bodily surgery, there will always be risks and side effects, like scarring, infection, or bleeding. And because rhinoplasty affects a major sensory organ on the middle of your face, side effects like a change in smell or impaired breathing are added to the list.
Is Voice Change a Side Effect of Rhinoplasty?
In small-scale studies of patients who have undergone rhinoplasties, a small but perceptible change in voice has accompanied some procedures. These changes don’t affect voice function; that is, getting a rhinoplasty won’t make it any harder to speak or your voice to be recognized. In fact, most untrained listeners won’t even notice a difference from before to after rhinoplasty.
How Does the Voice Change After Rhinoplasty?
As mentioned, any changes to the quality or tone of the voice following rhinoplasty will be minimal, perhaps even unnoticeable to most people. However, due to the changing shape of the nasal cavity, airflow may be affected by a rhinoplasty, which in turn can affect the sound of the voice.
Patients who reported a change in the sound of their own voice, researchers identified “hyponasality” as an effect of rhinoplasty. This occurs when not enough air moves through the nasal cavity, most commonly experienced due to a stuffy nose. Because of this change, plastic surgeons have started asking whether candidates for rhinoplasty use their voice professionally, as the surgery may have an impact on their vocal performance.
What Causes Voice Change from Rhinoplasty?
Analysis of patients’ nasal cavities and acoustic analysis of their voices reveals a possible cause of rhinoplasty voice change. Certain sounds measured different frequencies and amplitudes compared to pre-surgery recordings, which surgeons speculate is due to the narrowing of the nasal cavity.
Small adjustments to the surface area of the nasal cavity increases air resistance and sound wave absorption, which in turn affects the resonance and production of specific vocal sounds.
Learn More About Rhinoplasty
If you’re considering undergoing rhinoplasty for any reason, but are worried about the side effects, talk to our highly trained team by scheduling a consultation. We will walk you through your options, goals, and concerns and help you find the procedure plan that works best for you. Call us at 646-906-9449 or contact us online to find out more about how rhinoplasty could have an impact on your everyday life.
Dr. Theodore Diktaban, MD FACS, a double board-certified plastic surgeon with 35+ years of experience, specializes in safe and subtle cosmetic treatments, enhancing natural beauty and boosting self-confidence in the Upper East Side and New York City.
