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Trot singer Kim Hye-yeon has revealed that she recently underwent ear, nose and throat surgery after developing severe sinusitis and nasal congestion following a revision rhinoplasty.

Kim appeared on the YouTube channel "Geurae Jjyeo" hosted by Kim Ji-seon and Kim Hyo-jin, where she said she had her first rhinoplasty about 30 years ago and underwent a revision procedure two years ago. She said the sinusitis worsened to the point where breathing through her nose became difficult, and that mucus draining down the back of her throat made singing uncomfortable.

"I'm not sure whether the surgery two years ago went wrong, but pus built up," Kim said. "I couldn't breathe through my nose at all." She said she recently had sinusitis surgery and a septoplasty performed together at an ENT clinic.

The fact that nasal congestion or sinusitis developed after rhinoplasty does not necessarily mean the surgery was the direct cause. Chronic sinusitis occurs when inflammation, infection, nasal polyps, a deviated septum or other factors impair ventilation and drainage in the sinuses. When a previous nasal surgery has altered the cartilage or septal structure, it is important to examine both the airflow and the anatomy inside the nose.

Symptoms lasting more than 12 weeks signal chronic sinusitis

Sinusitis — commonly known in Korean as "chuknonjeung" — is a condition in which the sinuses, the hollow spaces inside the facial bones around the nose, become inflamed.

Acute sinusitis often follows a cold or infection and tends to resolve relatively quickly. When symptoms such as nasal congestion, yellow discharge and facial pressure persist for 12 weeks or more, the condition is classified as chronic sinusitis.

The hallmark symptoms include nasal congestion, a runny nose, postnasal drip, a reduced sense of smell, and facial pain or pressure. When drainage is impaired, the nasal passages can become blocked and a person may increasingly breathe through the mouth.

For someone like Kim who must sing professionally, these symptoms can be especially disruptive. A blocked nose makes breathing difficult, and severe postnasal drip can cause frequent throat-clearing, both of which affect vocal production and breath control.

Chronic sinusitis is not simply a matter of infection. Chronic inflammation of the nasal mucosa, nasal polyps and structural factors such as a deviated septum can all play a role. When the septum is severely deviated and narrows one nasal passage, breathing becomes harder, and any existing sinusitis can worsen as a result.

After rhinoplasty, breathing difficulty may point to a structural problem

Rhinoplasty changes the external appearance of the nose, but the nose is also the organ responsible for breathing.

The upper portion of the nose is supported by bone and the lower portion by cartilage. During rhinoplasty, the bone, cartilage and skin structures can all be adjusted, and the septum or tip cartilage may be addressed as well.

Most patients recover without significant complications, but persistent nasal congestion or breathing that is more difficult than before can occur. Known complications of rhinoplasty include not only bleeding, infection and scarring but also nasal airway obstruction and septal perforation.

When someone who has had nasal surgery develops breathing problems, it is important to look beyond the shape of the nose and also assess the septum, the nasal valve and the cartilage support structures.

The Mayo Clinic notes that in patients with persistent nasal obstruction after previous nasal surgery, weakened cartilage support, septal deformity or nasal valve stenosis may be contributing factors. Changes in shape during tissue healing can also affect airflow.

Kim's description of "bones that hadn't settled into place and were floating" is difficult to assess without medical records, but the underlying structural issue would require proper evaluation. Anyone who develops breathing difficulties or recurrent sinusitis after nasal surgery should undergo nasal endoscopy or imaging to assess the internal nasal structure and sinus condition.

Septoplasty: correcting the airway, not the appearance

The septoplasty Kim said she received straightens a deviated septum to widen the airway inside the nose.

The septum is the bone-and-cartilage structure that divides the two nostrils. When it is severely deviated to one side, the nasal passage on that side narrows, which can cause congestion and breathing discomfort.

When symptoms are mild, nasal corticosteroids or antihistamines may be used to manage associated inflammation. Correcting a structurally deviated septum itself requires surgery.

Septoplasty involves making an incision inside the nose, then trimming or repositioning the deviated cartilage or bone to bring the septum closer to the center. It is considered when nasal congestion is severe enough to affect daily life or does not improve sufficiently with medication.

When chronic sinusitis is also present, endoscopic sinus surgery may be performed at the same time to widen blocked sinus passages and improve drainage. The specific procedures required are determined after evaluating the condition of the septum, the degree of sinus inflammation and the presence of nasal polyps.

A dissatisfaction with the cosmetic result of rhinoplasty and a structural breathing problem are two distinct issues. Unhappiness with the aesthetic outcome and an airway obstruction caused by internal nasal anatomy call for different treatment goals and approaches.

Kim said the surgery she recently underwent was not intended to change her appearance but was a medical treatment aimed at restoring her ability to breathe and sing. Anyone who experiences persistent nasal congestion, yellow discharge or postnasal drip for several months after nasal surgery should not dismiss it as a cosmetic concern — consulting an ENT specialist to check the septum and sinuses is important.


rainbow@heraldcorp.com