Many of my professional singing patients inquire as to whether rhinoplasty will change their voice. Nose surgery to improve the nasal airway and allow better airflow should not have much effect on a person’s voice. However, if that patient has large adenoids in the back of the nose or has sinus problems, then changes to these areas may create a less nasally sounding voice.

Sinus surgery, or opening the sinus cavities so that they communicate better with the nasal cavity will create more resonance to the voice. Removal of the adenoids also know as adenoidectomy will allow communication between the back of the nose and the back of the throat which will create a less nasal voice.

Deviated septum surgery or septoplasty, turbinate reduction, or even nasal valve repair will improve the nasal airway and breathing and should not impact the voice.

Lastly, it is important for those professional voice patients who are having nasal surgery to assure the anesthesiologist uses a small breathing tube and places it as atraumatically as possible to avoid injury to the vocal cords.

Dr. Funk is a rhinoplasty surgeon in Houston, TX.