Can Rhinoplasty Affect Your Voice?

A lot of people are interested in getting rhinoplasty. Not only can this procedure have a positive effect on the way you breathe, but it can bring balance and harmony between your facial features, says Daniel G. Becker, owner of New Jersey’s Rhinoplasty Center. However, there are individuals concerned about the downsides of the surgery.

Specifically, many want to know if their voice will change–especially those who use their voices professionally such as singers. Let’s take a moment to discuss the effects that rhinoplasty can have on your voice. But first, what is rhinoplasty?

What is Rhinoplasty?

If you’re concerned about the appearance of your nose then a rhinoplasty may be the ideal procedure for you. This is a surgery that changes its shape. The doctor can make it smaller, get rid of a hump, give your nose a larger tip, decrease the size of your nostrils, or simply straighten it so that it looks more symmetrical.

There are also instances in which you may have a deformity internally. This is the case with those who have obstructions and deviated septums. In each of these instances, cosmetic surgery can change cartilage, skin, and bone.

Can Rhinoplasty Change Your Voice?

So, can a rhinoplasty lead to a change in your tone of voice? Well, the simple answer is yes, the procedure does have the ability to change your voice. This growing concern can actually be traced back to the findings in scientific research that took place in Iran, a location in which rhinoplasties are becoming very popular.

In this study, researchers took the time to analyze the changes in the voice quality of a small group of patients who had recently undergone rhinoplasty. The group consisted of men and women who were an average of 24 years old. 22 percent of the group claimed that they used their voices in a professional capacity.

After the procedure was complete, the patients were then asked to take a survey in which they were asked to rate the level of perceived problems that they were having with their voice. Also, the study used trained listeners to compare the before and after recordings of the participants’ voices. The listeners weren’t told whether they were hearing the before or after recording.

The results of the survey showed that some participants felt that their vocal quality had changed in certain areas. Specifically, these areas were related to the emotional and physical changes that they perceived in their voices. However, it had very little do with the effects that it had on their everyday vocal activities.

Not only did the participants perceive a difference in their voices, but so did the trained listeners. The listeners perceived that their voices were somewhat “hyponasal” after the procedure was complete. ‘Hyponasal’ is a term to define the sound of a person’s voice when there’s a change in the nasal cavity.

This sound typically occurs when someone has a cold or a stuffy nose. Ultimately, the study concluded that rhinoplasty can change vocal quality when it makes the goal is to make the nasal cavity more narrow.

How Noticeable is the Change?

Any change in the voice is likely due to a change in air-flow and will be for the better. And even though you could experience a change in the quality of your voice, it’s likely not going to be very noticeable.

Most experts agree that even though your voice may change after the surgery, it’s usually very subtle and hardly detectable. As was the case in the previously mentioned study, it would take trained listeners to perceive the difference. If you’re someone who uses your voice professional such as an actor or a singer, then it’s a good idea to speak with your surgeon about what changes you can expect in the long run.

How to Prevent the Change

As discussed earlier the change that you experience in your voice after rhinoplasty is very subtle and usually for the better. However, if you use your voice in a professional capacity you may be interested in ensuring that it remains the same. If you want to make sure that there are no major changes to your voice after your surgery, then you must make sure that you’re working with the right surgeon. This means that you need to work with someone who specializes in rhinoplasty. Specifically, they should have the expertise and experience to produce the best results possible.

Conclusion

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there are more than 200,000 rhinoplasties performed each year, which means that it’s a common procedure in terms of cosmetic surgery. If you’re interested in rhinoplasty then it’s very natural to be concerned about all of the possible outcomes. While your primary focus will be on the look of your nose, you may have other pressing questions such as what effect this procedure will have on your voice.

In most cases, your voice will not be significantly altered regarding your speech and conversation. However, if you’re a singer then you may want to speak with a specialist to find out about the subtle changes that may take place.