Does nasal mask enlarge nostrils?

[floboots]

This may just be my overactive imagination, but I swear that after having used the Swift LT exclusively for the past 6 months, my nostrils look bigger to me when I look in the mirror. Does anyone else sense that their nostrils are being stretched?

When I turn on the CPAP (14 cm), I definitely feel the nasal pillows inflating and pressing outward to make their seal. Is it possible that they could stretch the skin over a long period of time?

Perhaps I'm imagining this, but my nostrils were not small to begin with, and I hate to think how big they could be 20 years from now (well, perhaps then I could just forgo the mask and insert the hose directly into my nose).

Does anyone else have this suspicion/experience?

[Scarlet834]

You know, I don't rule your theory out, esp. since I believe the nose continues to grow as we age. Plus we have sometimes nice new creases in the face. The trade-off is fine with me, though. I pick this over zombie-dom.

[kteague]

Well, I'm hoping you are right. I've always had slotted nares, and envied those who could flare their nostrils. (Did Hollywood give me the notion that's sensual?) But seriously, for a while in the mornings the opening is rounder. Just looked in the mirror and they are almost slits again, but not quite. I've been using nasal pillows for about 4 years with barely discernable difference. I do remember thinking that was more pronounced early on when I used the Swift. It must not have been the right size because it had to be pushed upgainst my nose so hard to get a good seal that in the morning I looked like Miss Piggy. Now, if I'd continued that for 4 years, maybe I could get a good flare going.

[scrapper]

See this link for prior discussion:

viewtopic/t49174/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=42 ... ed#p371552

[floboots]

Thanks for the link. Perhaps I am not as crazy as I thought--others have apparently had their nostrils stretched as well. On the bright side, it is a bit easier to breath during the day.