Can Nasal Surgery Improve My Sense of Smell?
- mrtimbiggs4
- Nov 19
- 3 min read
Losing or reducing your sense of smell can be deeply frustrating. Many patients in Portsmouth, Winchester, Southampton and across Hampshire assume that once smell is lost, you’re “stuck” with it. The good news is: in some limited cases, nasal surgery can help. If the problem is at least partly structural, for example, you have a degree of nasal obstruction, septal deviation or valve collapse, then improving airflow may enhance odorant delivery to the olfactory region, helping restore smell to a meaningful extent.
What Causes Smell Loss?
Several mechanisms can lead to reduced olfaction (sense of smell).
Some of these include:
Viral infection (e.g., post-COVID-19 anosmia)
Nasal polyps or chronic sinus disease
Trauma to the nose
Structural nasal obstruction (narrowing of airway or diversion of airflow)
Neural damage to the olfactory nerve
When nasal airflow is restricted by a deviated septum, collapsed valve or other internal block, less air (and fewer odour molecules) reaches the olfactory cleft (the roof of the nasal cavity where smell receptors are concentrated). Research shows that improving nasal airway flow can improve subjective olfactory function. PMC+2PubMed+2
What Does the Research Show?
A 2015 study (“Effect of Septorhinoplasty on Olfactory Function”) found that following septorhinoplasty, olfactory function may increase in addition to improved ventilation.
More recently, researchers from UCLH in London found that in long-COVID patients who had lost smell for over two years, functional septorhinoplasty (fSRP) significantly improved sense of smell. After surgery all patients in the surgical group reported improvement, compared with none in the control non-surgery group. The rationale was that widening the nasal/olfactory airway increased odour delivery to the olfactory region.
Other studies (e.g., in endoscopic sinus surgery) show subjective improvement in smell when nasal obstruction is relieved.
When Can Nasal Surgery Help Smell?
While not every case of anosmia (smell loss) can be treated by surgery, there are scenarios where it is more likely to help:
You have nasal obstruction (septal deviation, valve collapse, nasal bone asymmetry) and a reduced sense of smell.
You’ve had standard treatments (sprays, surgery for polyps, smell training) without sufficient relief.
Imaging or nasal examination shows airflow limitation or structural narrowing to the olfactory region.
The smell loss is not purely neural in origin (for example, complete nerve injury), there is some residual olfactory potential.
In those cases, a functional septorhinoplasty (which corrects the internal septum, strengthens or widens the nasal valves, aligns the external framework) may improve both airflow and smell.
What to Expect After Surgery
Most patients are able to breathe better through their nose shortly after surgery, aiding odour molecule delivery.
Smell improvement may be gradual, weeks to months, as the olfactory system responds.
It’s important to maintain realistic expectations: surgery may improve smell, but it is not guaranteed to restore it fully.
Aftercare (nasal washes, steroid drops, regular follow-up) helps optimise outcomes.
Summary
If you’re troubled by a reduced sense of smell and you have nasal structural problems (obstruction, deviation, collapse), nasal surgery might be part of the solution. Modern techniques allow us to improve airflow and potentially enhance smell recovery.
At Adnova Clinic, Fareham (serving Portsmouth and the Hampshire region), I offer consultant-led assessment and treatment of nasal obstruction using advanced methods and if smell loss is part of your story, we can review it together.
To enquire or book an assessment:
📍 Adnova Clinic
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