Syphilis Can Cause Saddle Nose Deformity. Plastic Surgery Can Repair It

Syphilis is a prevalent and easily spread sexually-transmitted disease. It is a bacterial infection with numerous potential health implications, including lesions and ulcers that can cause nose damage. The lesions and ulcers attack the nose cartilage or tissue and weaken the nasal bridge support. The nose’s delicate tissues are vulnerable to infections like syphilis.

Like all bacterial infections, syphilis can impact many areas of the body and unfortunately, the face is one of them. However, medical professionals can cure the disease with antibiotics (penicillin), but the damage caused before treatment is permanent. Luckily, it is not irrevocable, because plastic surgery can repair it.

What is Saddle Nose?

Saddle nose deformity is when the nose bridge collapses, creating an abnormal shape. The nasal bridge is concave and looks like a saddle from the profile. Furthermore, the lack of support can turn the tip of the nose upward, creating a “pug” nose. The condition can dramatically alter the nose’s shape and cause functional breathing problems.

Syphilis and Nose Damage

Syphilis can go undetected for many people because the symptoms are very mild and easily ignored. The symptoms can also be easily misdiagnosed. The disease progresses when left untreated and may eventually cause saddle nose deformity in the tertiary phase.

Between 15% to 30% of people infected with syphilis develop tertiary syphilis. Saddle nose deformity is one of the later signs, including teeth deformities and deafness.

In addition, a mother can infect her child at birth. A child with congenital syphilis can have nasal cartilage damage that causes saddle nose deformity if the case is extreme.

Plastic Surgery Can Repair Saddle Nose Deformity

If this has happened to you later in life or at birth, do not worry. Although the damage is permanent, Dr. Maurice Khosh offers rhinoplasty for nasal deformities from syphilis at Saddle Nose Repair in NYC. He also offers non-surgical saddle nose repairs (injectable cosmetics) if the damage is not too severe.

Sometimes both rhinoplasty and injectables are needed to reduce the appearance of a collapsed nasal bridge and upturned nasal tip. Fortunately, Dr. Khosh is an expert on all types of saddle nose deformities and repair methods, surgical and non-surgical.

Contact our office to schedule your saddle nose repair consultation and discuss your options. Together we can select the best reshaping option to restore the natural shape of your nose so you can feel better and be happier about your appearance.