Rhinoplasty has been around for centuries; millennia even. The first record of plastic surgery techniques for the nose comes from India circa 800 BC. Theirs was a noble endeavor; they sought to fix the noses of people whose original noses had been amputated as a form of capital punishment. Fast-forward 2800 years however, and rhinoplasty has become something of a joke, especially in the United States. This is because people forget that while rhinoplasty can refer to the sort of vain, attention-seeking surgeries experimented with by the Hollywood elite, it is also regularly used as a legitimate medical procedure to help with breathing problems caused by everything from trauma to congenital defects.

By the very first word of the very first sentence of this article, I would be willing to wager that the same name popped into the head of at least half of the people reading this article—Michael Jackson. Renowned and reviled for his penchant for plastic surgery, Michael Jackson’s rhinoplasty procedures likely changed his appearance more than anything besides his vitiligo (the disease that removed his skin’s pigmentation). What many people may not know is that Jackson’s decision to get rhinoplasty was not a spur of the moment, indulgent whim, but a reaction to an injury he had. Trying to perform a dance move, he broke his nose in such a way that his breathing was obstructed; a singer with energetic dance moves like Jackson’s see a breathing problem as a career killer, so he got his very first rhinoplasty. While its rumored that he became addicted to plastic surgery as a result, it is important to remember that plastic surgery is far from inspired by nothing but vanity; Jackson’s rhinoplasty likely saved his career.

Another great example of this that may hit a little closer to home than "rhinoplasty can save my singing and dancing career," is that rhinoplasty can be a boon to those who suffer sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a disorder in which breathing is irregular and/or obstructed during sleep; while this may be a problem with one’s throat or general respiratory system, it is often caused by misshapen nasal passages. This restless type of sleep commonly causes daytime sleepiness and fatigue, and perhaps even more importantly, can cause undue stress in a relationship. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSN) is frequently accompanied by extremely loud snoring; it therefore not only effects the sleep of the sufferer, but their significant other as well. I’m sure you see where this is going, but guess what type of surgery can be used to alleviate nasal OSN? You guessed it, rhinoplasty.

While rhinoplasty is available to people as a way to boost their self-image, its other uses in increasing breathing quality are becoming more and more well documented. It is obvious that rhinoplasty is coming into its own as a reasonable surgical measure to increase the quality of life of the patient; whether their needs are medical or psychological.