Voice may alter following a rhinoplasty
Your nose certainly has some effect on the sound of your voice. Think of when you get a cold. Your nose is all stuffed up and your voice sounds entirely different. It may come as no surprise then to hear the results of a new study.
The February issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery reports a study by Dr. Kamran Khazaeni and colleagues of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Ir
an. The research indicated that patients who undergo nose surgery may notice changes in the sound of their voice. The changes in sound were noticeable to the patients and experts who examined their voices. Fortunately, the changes are minor and won’t cause impairments to the patient’s speech. The researchers emphasize the importance for potential patients to understand the risks of nose surgery. This is especially true for people who use their voice professionally.
The researchers studied 27 patients undergoing nose surgery within two hospitals in Iran. The patients consisted of 22 women and five men. Out of these patients, 22 percent use their voice professionally.
The sounds of their voices were studied by recording each patient before and after the surgery. The recordings were heard by trained listeners. While they were listening to the recordings, the trained listeners were not aware if they were listening to the before or after recordings.
The research indicated that the trained listeners were able to pick up on differences in the patient’s voices. The listeners reported an increase in hyponasality of their voices. This is the result of less air moving through the nasal cavity. This sounds slightly like a person with a stuffy nose.
Dr. Khazaeni stated, “This observed increase in hyponasality perception demonstrates that the change in the patients’ voices is perceptible to trained listeners, but does not address whether this change is apparent in everyday life and in routine conversations.”
The hyponasality is not an apparent problem. The likelihood of it affecting the patient’s everyday life is very minimal.
Each patient undergoing rhinoplasty filled out a questionnaire. This was used to determine if the patients noticed a change in their own voices. The questionnaire did reveal a decrease in the quality of voice after the surgery. Patients noticed a worsening in physical and emotional subscales.
The change in frequency and amplitude in certain sounds of the voice was determined by the use of an acoustic analysis. Changes in the patient’s voice can be directly related to the narrowing of the nasal cavity.
The researchers stated, “The changes in surface area of nasal cavity may increase airflow resistance and cause an increase in sound absorption and a decrease in passing sound amplitude.”
If you are considering getting a rhinoplasty in Las Vegas, schedule a consultation with Dr. Reynolds. He can discuss with you the risks of the surgical procedure. Nose surgery is a permanent procedure that should take serious consideration before undergoing. Dr. Reynolds is a board certified plastic surgeon with many years of experience performing rhinoplasty. If you would like to schedule a consultation, contact 702.410.9800.