Can Nose Surgery Treat Nose Allergies Effectively?

Nose allergy, also referred to as ‘allergic rhinitis’, is a condition defined by inflammation of nasal lining caused by the immune response to external airborne substances that a person usually breathes in. These allergies can cause serious discomfort and interfere with daily life activities.

As far as treatment is concerned, nose surgery, such as rhinoplasty or septoplasty, is generally not considered as a permanent cure for nasal allergies. However, surgery can treat the conditions that exacerbate nasal allergic symptoms.

In this article we will discuss the symptoms, causes, and types of nasal allergies. We will also answer the question in detail; Can nose surgery help treat allergies? Keep reading to find out.

Nasal allergies are of two types based on the time of their occurrence: seasonal allergic rhinitis and perennial allergic rhinitis.

• • • Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis: This occurs during summer or fall when pollen counts are high.
    • Perennial Allergic Rhinitis: This type is caused year-round by indoor allergens like dust mites, mold spores, and pets. It badly disturbs routine life and is also known as permanent allergies.

Note:- If inflammation persists for more than three months despite medication and treatments, it will be known as chronic sinusitis.

Nasal allergies are not caused by the structural issues in nose, but are triggered by allergens like:

• Pollen
• Dust mites
• Smoke
• Chemicals
• Air pollution
• Pet hair or dander
• Cockroach debris
• Mold spores

Nasal Allergies Symptoms

Nasal allergies are frustrating because they can cause a number of symptoms, including:

• Blockade or runny nose
• Sneezing
• Itching in the throat
• Pressure in the sinuses
• Pain in eyes and cheeks
• Fatigue
• Watery eyes
• Breathing difficulty
• Postnasal drip (mucus dripping down the back of throat)
• Puffy eyelids

If left unchecked, allergies can cause more severe conditions like:

• Irregular sleep cycle
• Sinus infections
• Dental problem
• Ear infection
• Sleep apnoea

Would Nose Job Help In Treating Nasal Allergies?

Generally, nasal allergies can be cured through medications, with both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) remedies providing significant relief. However, sometimes, medication may not be effective or may cause concerning side effects over time.

When Medication Isn’t Enough

In such cases, nasal and sinus surgery might be helpful in providing long-term relief. However, surgery cannot cure nasal allergies, but it can relieve the symptoms, by treating the conditions like hypertrophy of turbines, polyps, and septum deviations.

Although these conditions, themselves, are not responsible for allergies, they can cause breathing difficulties and worsen the allergy symptoms.

Personalized Treatment Options

It is important to note that each patient has a different allergic condition and unique symptoms. Therefore, only a doctor can examine and evaluate the condition and suggest whether surgery is a good option.

• Cosmetic Rhinoplasty: Also referred to as a ‘nose job’. It is performed to address the aesthetic appearance of the nose.
• Medical Rhinoplasty: Carried out to correct nasal structural abnormalities that cause breathing difficulties (such as a deviated septum or polyps) or injuries (like broken nose that heals crooked) to restore normal nasal function.

• Nasal Polyps: Benign growths in the sinus and nasal cavities that cause airflow blockage and also block drainage of mucus, often result in sinus infection.
• Deviated Septum: A condition that impairs breathing via the tiny nasal passage.
• Turbinate Hypertrophy: Swelling or overgrowth of the small nasal bony structures that causes nasal inflammation.

Note:- Correcting a deviated septum would ease the existing allergies; though, rhinoplasty cannot resolve seasonal allergic issues. Not everyone with a deviated septum requires corrective procedure.

Alternative Treatments

Since surgery does not treat nasal allergies directly, other treatments are proven to be helpful in this regard. Few include:

• Allergic shots
• Antihistamines,
• Nasal corticosteroids