Nose job more than just a cosmetic surgery, say docs

A media consultant, Mohammed, 32, (surname withheld on request) wanted to get his “crooked nose” straightened.

A media consultant, Mohammed, 32, (surname withheld on request) wanted to get his “crooked nose” straightened.

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For more than a year, the UAE resident had been facing breathing problems and was prone to snoring at night. After contemplating surgery for more than a year, Mohammed approached Dr Debraj Shome, consultant plastic surgeon with Nova Speciality Surgery centre, Chembur.

“When I examined him, I was shocked to see that he had a tumour or dermoid cyst in his right nostril. This tumour could have led to the nose becoming crooked over a period of time. This is a very rare instance where we found a tumour in the nose of a person who wanted to undergo cosmetic rhinoplasty (nose job),” said Dr Shome.

Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure performed by a facial plastic surgeon to improve the function or appearance of the nose.

“Though I was a little confused, with the tumour growing, I decided to undergo surgery,” said Mohammed, who underwent the surgery two weeks ago. A biopsy of the tumour has revealed that the tumour was not malignant. Dr Shome said that there have been only two such cases reported in scientific literature worldwide. “Rhinoplasty is sometimes viewed as just a cosmetic procedure, but careful attention may reveal undiscovered abnormalities. If the tumour had not been removed, there were chances that it might have burst through his nose,” said Dr Shome.

Doctors agree that this case is a rare one. “ I have not come across any such instance. I usually ensure a person undergoing rhinoplasty undergoes a paranasal sinus CT scan that can help detect polyps or such growths in the nose,” said Dr Anil Tibrewala, consultant plastic surgeon, Hinduja Hospital.