Before surgery, breathing function is assessed primarily through physical examination — checking the internal nasal structure, septal position, and turbinate size — combined with your reported symptoms and, where relevant, your 3D CT imaging showing the internal airway structure in detail. In addition, our clinic can perform rhinomanometry (nasal airflow testing) when it's useful for objectively measuring how much air is passing through each nostril, giving a more precise, data-based picture alongside the physical exam.
After surgery, improvement is generally assessed through your own reported experience — whether breathing feels noticeably easier, congestion has reduced, and any symptoms like snoring or disrupted sleep have improved — evaluated during your follow-up visits as your internal healing progresses over the following weeks and months.
Consultation Tip
Keep a simple note of your breathing symptoms in the weeks before your consultation — noting patterns like time of day, side, or triggers gives Dr. Kim a more complete picture than a general "I have trouble breathing," and can help determine whether rhinomanometry would add useful detail in your specific case.
Ready to talk to Dr. Kim? Reach out on WhatsApp to book your video consultation: Chat with us on WhatsApp (+82 10-4434-6234)
— Dr. Hyung-taek Kim, KOWON Plastic Surgery