Breathe and feel your best with functional rhinoplasty at DeRosa Facial Plastic Surgery. Performed by double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Jaimie DeRosa, this procedure restores clear airflow and corrects structural issues inside your nose, so you can enjoy effortless breathing and natural, balanced beauty. Feel like your best self again.
Improve Breathing and
Nasal Harmony
Functional rhinoplasty is a specialized procedure that improves how your nose works while preserving or enhancing its natural appearance. Dr. DeRosa corrects structural problems such as a deviated septum, collapsed nasal valves, or an injury that may cause chronic congestion, snoring, or breathing difficulty. Using refined surgical techniques, she restores both form and function, helping you breathe freely and feel more comfortable every day. The result is a nose that looks and performs beautifully.
Do I Need Functional Rhinoplasty?
You may be a good candidate for functional rhinoplasty if breathing through your nose feels difficult or you’ve noticed chronic congestion that doesn’t respond to medication. Dr. DeRosa carefully evaluates both the structure and function of your nose to determine if surgery can help you breathe and feel better. You may benefit from functional rhinoplasty if:
- You experience chronic nasal obstruction or congestion
- You have difficulty breathing during exercise or sleep
- You’ve had previous nasal trauma or surgery affecting airflow
- You suffer from frequent sinus infections due to structural blockage
- You notice one nostril feels consistently more blocked than the other
- You rely heavily on nasal sprays or strips to breathe comfortably
- You want to improve both nasal function and overall facial balance
How is Functional Rhinoplasty Performed?
Before functional rhinoplasty surgery, you’ll meet with Dr. DeRosa for a detailed evaluation of your nasal anatomy and breathing patterns. Using digital imaging and nasal endoscopy, she identifies the structural causes of obstruction, such as a deviated septum, valve collapse, or turbinate enlargement, and customizes a surgical plan to restore airflow. The procedure is performed under anesthesia in our private, fully accredited surgical suite for your safety.
Septoplasty
If the septum, the thin wall of cartilage and bone separating your nostrils, is bent or displaced, Dr. DeRosa carefully lifts the nasal lining, reshapes or removes the deviated portions, and repositions the septum at the midline. This reopens both nasal passages, improving airflow without altering the shape of your outer nose.
Nasal Valve Reconstruction
When the internal or external nasal valves (the narrowest parts of your nasal airway) weaken or collapse during inhalation, breathing becomes restricted. Dr. DeRosa reinforces these areas using finely sculpted cartilage grafts from your septum or ear. These grafts act as internal supports, widening and stabilizing the valves so air moves smoothly with every breath.
Turbinate Reduction
The turbinates, which are soft tissue ridges located inside the nasal cavity, can become enlarged due to allergies or inflammation. Using precision techniques such as submucosal reduction or radiofrequency energy, Dr. DeRosa decreases turbinate volume while preserving their essential role in humidifying and filtering the air you breathe.
What Are the Benefits of Functional Rhinoplasty?
- Restores normal airflow for easier, more comfortable breathing
- Reduces chronic nasal congestion and sinus pressure
- Improves sleep quality and reduces snoring or mouth breathing
- Enhances nasal structure while maintaining a natural appearance
- Corrects damage or deformities from injury or prior surgery
- Can be combined with cosmetic rhinoplasty for balanced, harmonious results
- Provides long-lasting improvement in both function and quality of life
Functional Rhinoplasty FAQs:
Can Functional Rhinoplasty Change How My Nose Looks?
While the main goal is to improve breathing, functional rhinoplasty can subtly refine your nose’s shape or symmetry if structural corrections are required. For example, straightening a deviated septum or rebuilding a collapsed sidewall may also enhance external balance. Dr. DeRosa ensures any cosmetic improvements look completely natural and harmonious with your face.
What is Recovery Like After Functional Rhinoplasty?
You can expect mild swelling, congestion, and nasal stuffiness during the first week as the internal tissues heal. Most patients return to work within 7 to 10 days. Internal splints or sutures are removed at your follow-up visit, and you can resume light activity soon after. Swelling gradually improves over several weeks, with breathing continuing to feel easier over time.
Can Functional and Cosmetic Rhinoplasty Be Performed Together?
Yes, and many patients choose to do so. Combining functional and cosmetic rhinoplasty allows Dr. DeRosa to improve breathing while also refining the nose’s aesthetic shape in one surgery. This ensures balance, minimizes downtime, and produces a cohesive, natural-looking result.
Why Clients Love Us
The moment I met Dr. DeRosa I knew she was the right surgeon for my procedure. Dr. DeRosa is kind, patient, professional, board-certified, knowledgeable, compassionate, you can tell she loves what she does. I’m so happy with my results!
-T.M.
Fantastic! Dr. DeRosa is the BEST! She makes sure you understand the process and every service perfectly, and her character gives you the confidence and professional reassurance you need to put yourself in her hands with no doubt! It went super smooth, her staff is amazing, and looking forward to seeing final results!
-C.P.
I have been a patient of Dr. DeRosa for many years. Best decision I ever made. This practice is one of a kind. The front office team is professional and helpful. I participate in their rewards program and the front-end team makes sure I don’t miss any earned incentives.
-D.M.
Excellent experience here! The staff is wonderful, very knowledgeable, and helpful. The office is very clean. Dr.DeRosa is absolutely wonderful to work with. You get treated like royalty here.
-M.
The consult was great, educational, factual, and provided everything I needed to know to make my decision. I was able to schedule my treatment that following Monday and was pleased with the process from beginning to end.
-M.
Beautifully Subtle.
Unmistakably You.
DeRosa Facial Plastic Surgery is a leading destination for advanced nasal and facial procedures in Boston’s Back Bay. Led by double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Jaimie DeRosa, our team focuses on creating results that are both functional and beautifully natural. If breathing issues or nasal obstruction are affecting your comfort, Dr. DeRosa can help restore harmony. Schedule your private consultation for functional rhinoplasty today at our Newbury Street office in Boston’s Back Bay.
