Empty Nose Syndrome – Raphaël’s Story After Septoplasty and Turbinate Reduction
Raphaël lived in Chaumont-Gistoux in the Brussels region of Belgium. The source material describes severe Empty Nose Syndrome symptoms after septoplasty and turbinate reduction, followed by an unsuccessful nasal implant procedure and a further decline in his health.
Background and First Nasal Surgery
Raphaël lived in Chaumont-Gistoux, a town in the Brussels region of Belgium. He was born on January 25, 1987, in Brussels (Ixelles).
In adult life, Raphaël underwent septoplasty and turbinate reduction and subsequently developed symptoms that the source material identifies as Empty Nose Syndrome.
The source names Dr. Philippe Rombaux as the surgeon and states that a septal perforation was also created during the operation. That statement is retained here as part of the original account.
Video About Raphaël’s Case
The Nasal Implant Procedure
As Raphaël’s condition worsened, he sought further treatment and decided to undergo a nasal implant procedure with Dr. Gilles Ayoun.
Nasal implants are used by some ENS specialists in an attempt to restore lost volume, increase airflow resistance, redirect airflow and reduce dryness in patients who have lost turbinate tissue.
According to the source, Dr. Ayoun used acrylic implants made from polymethyl methacrylate, commonly abbreviated PMMA.
The source questions why this material was chosen, noting that other reconstructive approaches may use auricular cartilage or costal cartilage. It states that Raphaël’s body did not tolerate the acrylic implants and that his condition worsened after the procedure.
What Empty Nose Syndrome Is
Empty Nose Syndrome is described in the source as a postoperative condition associated with injury to the nasal mucosa and excessive reduction or removal of turbinate tissue.
The source also notes that ENS-like symptoms have been reported after sinus surgery, rhinoplasty and septoplasty, particularly when these procedures alter the turbinates or nasal airflow.
Patients may describe a paradoxical sense of obstruction or suffocation even though the nasal passages appear physically open. The source emphasizes the profound impact this can have on breathing comfort, sleep, daily function and mental well-being.
Common Symptoms Described in the Source
- A sensation of suffocation or inability to breathe normally.
- Nasal dryness and crusting.
- Frequent nasal or respiratory infections.
- Abnormal breathing patterns, including hyperventilation or hypoventilation.
- Changes in smell and taste.
- Severe insomnia.
- Persistent fatigue.
- Sensitivity to smells, smoke and airborne particles.
- Anxiety and depression associated with constant breathing distress.
Concerns About Informed Consent and Recognition
The original text strongly criticizes the way turbinate procedures are discussed with patients and argues that many people are not adequately warned about the possibility of severe postoperative breathing problems.
It also states that some patients did not realize their turbinates would be operated on and later felt dismissed when they returned with persistent symptoms.
The source claims that some surgeons interpret these postoperative symptoms as psychological even when patients believe the underlying problem is physical and directly related to altered nasal anatomy and sensation.
The original page cites an estimate that around 20% of turbinate reductions may lead to Empty Nose Syndrome. This figure should be treated as a claim from the source and not as an established population-level prevalence rate.
Raphaël’s Final Decline
Raphaël, like many patients described in ENS communities, experienced severe and persistent symptoms.
After the implant procedure failed to provide relief, the source describes continuing suffocation sensations, insomnia and other ENS-related problems.
At age 26, Raphaël was lost after a final crisis. He passed away on March 7, 2013.
The original article places his case among a larger number of tragic outcomes that the site has compiled following nasal surgery. Those case counts are community-collected observations and should not be interpreted as verified epidemiological statistics.
Why Raphaël’s Story Remains Important
The original text asks how long patients with severe postoperative breathing problems will continue to feel ignored and how many more people will have to experience devastating outcomes before the risks of turbinate surgery receive greater attention.
It argues that society and the medical profession should listen more closely to people who describe severe loss of nasal function after surgery, particularly when those problems affect sleep, breathing comfort, the ability to work and everyday quality of life.
The source also refers to an extreme case in China in which a patient later attacked the doctor he blamed for his condition. That example is presented in the original material as an illustration of how intense unresolved suffering and anger can become when patients feel unheard.
Raphaël’s case is preserved here as part of a broader call for better informed consent, improved recognition of Empty Nose Syndrome, careful preservation of turbinate tissue and more effective treatment options for patients who develop severe symptoms after nasal surgery.
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