New research indicates that patients undergoing rhinoplasty may also experience an unintended alteration as part of their procedure. The evidence suggests that nose surgery may also result in changes to the sound of a patient’s voice.
While these changes in voice are noticeable to both patients and experts, they typically don’t impact speech. However, if you use your voice professionally, you may want to consider this potential risk when deciding whether to undergo nose surgery.
The study analyzed changes in voice quality among 27 rhinoplasty patients. Five men and 22 women participated in the study, and the average patient age was 24 years. Patients completed a questionnaire about perceived changes with their voice following rhinoplasty. In addition, “before and after” recordings of each patient’s voice were compared by trained listeners to determine whether alterations had occurred.
The questionnaire responses indicated that many patients detected a worsening in some areas of voice quality. The “before and after” recordings also demonstrated changes in voice quality among many patients. In particular, an increase in hyponasality was detected. This reflects the sound of the voice when there is not enough air moving through the nasal cavity, such as when a person has a stuffy nose.
During your initial consultation, Dr. David Bottger will review all the risks and benefits of rhinoplasty with you to ensure you make a fully informed decision about your procedure. Dr. Bottger is a double board certified plastic surgeon with an impeccable safety record. For most patients, this slight change in voice quality is inconsequential compared with the benefits of a beautiful, new nose that accentuates your best facial features.
If you are interested in rhinoplasty, please contact Dr. David Bottger today to schedule your initial consultation. We serve patients in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area.