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Will a Nose Job Change Your Voice?

Andrew | February 11, 2014 | Posted in Rhinoplasty Surgery

Nose Job NYC - Researchers Study Rhinoplasty Voice ChangesA study published in the February issue of the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery found that patients who undergo a nose job in NYC may find subtle alterations to the sound of their voice as a result. While the surgery did not impact the overall function of the voice, changes to vocal quality were apparent to both expert listeners and the patients themselves. These new findings should be carefully considered by those who use their voices professionally before a nose job is performed.

Iranian researchers study patients before and after surgery

Researchers at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in Iran looked at 27 patients who had rhinoplasty procedures in Iran. The majority (22) of those patients were women, while the other five were men. Nearly one-fourth of the patients observed said they used their voices for professional reasons.

The patients completed a questionnaire after their plastic surgery to rate the quality of their voice after surgery. Vocal quality was rated on three subscales: functional, physical and emotional. Functional quality referred to daily use of voice, physical involved discomfort while speaking and perceived vocal quality, and emotional evaluations involved the patient’s response to vocal changes.

Tapes of the patients’ voices before and after their procedures were also evaluated by trained listeners, who were not told which recording was done before surgery and which was done after. Listeners were instructed to rate subjects’ nasality in the voice on a scale of 1-100 for both recordings. A computer software program was also used to measure specifics in vocal quality, including bandwidth, frequency and intensity of various vowels and consonants in the subjects’ speech patterns.

Function of voice remains consistent, other qualities change slightly

Subjects perceived that while their functional vocal quality remained the same after rhinoplasty, physical and emotional quality were significantly altered. Trained listeners found the nasality of the subjects’ voices went up after surgery, possible due to a narrower nasal cavity as a result of the procedure. Computer analysis also confirmed changes to amplitude and frequency of some sounds.

For those considering rhinoplasty in New York, this information could be valuable. Patients that use their voice for professional purposes should discuss the possibility of vocal changes with their surgeon prior to surgery. If it is determined the risk is too great, less invasive procedures may produce a similar effect without altering the vocal quality in any way.

Finding a qualified New York plastic surgeon

For others considering a nose job in NYC, this study shows the surgery does not alter the functionality of the voice in any way. Vocal changes that might occur will likely be too subtle to be noticeable to most people. However, the results of this study also indicate the importance of locating an experienced surgeon to perform your rhinoplasty procedure, to ensure possible changes to the voice are as negligible as possible.

Dr. Thomas Loeb performs rhinoplasty at his surgical suite in Manhattan. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. Most patients experience little discomfort after the surgery and a faster recovery time than they typically expect. To learn more about your options in rhinoplasty or other plastic surgery procedures in New York, or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Loeb, contact our Fifth Avenue office at 212-327-3700.

+ Resources
- Resources
  1. American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Patients Perceive Differences in Voice Quality, but not in Function, http://www.plasticsurgery.org/news-and-resources/voice-may-change-after-rhinoplasty.html
  2. American Academy of Facial and Plastic Surgery, Rhinoplasty, http://www.aafprs.org/patient/procedures/rhinoplasty.html
  3. U.S. National Library of Medicine, The Potential Effects of Rhinoplasty on Voice, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24469181
  4. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal, The Potential Effects of Rhinoplasty on Voice, http://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/Fulltext/2014/02000/The_Potential_Effects_of_Rhinoplasty_on_Voice.11.aspx
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