I want to know how plastic surgeries can affect the human voice, especially nose surgeries, and if it affects the human voice is it a change that can be observed only with our ears? or do we need to analyze the sound to observe the change?
The answer greatly depends on the type of plastic surgery. Shaving of the thyroid prominence, for example, could cause swelling in the laryngeal region which may temporarily affect the fundamental frequency of the voice (edema of the vocal folds = more mass = slower rate of vibration). In contrast, surgery on the nose is unlikely to affect the *voice* but is quite likely to affect resonance. Resonance is the way that the vocal tract tissues above the level of the larynx filter the fundamental frequency of the voice and all its harmonics, magnifying some harmonic frequencies and dampening others. In particular, nasality can be affected. These changes can certainly influence the sound that is being perceived by a listener, and may be observable via spectrogram analysis but since there aren't many published norms for resonance you'd need a pre- and post-surgical recording to quantify any differences across frequency/amplitude distributions.
Plastic surgeries, particularly those involving the nose (rhinoplasty), can potentially affect the human voice in several ways:
1. Nasal Resonance: The structure of the nose plays a significant role in vocal resonance. Altering the shape or size of the nose through surgery can impact the way sound resonates within the vocal tract. For example, if the surgery results in narrowing of the nasal passages or changes in nasal airflow, it may affect the resonance characteristics of the voice.
2. Airflow and Breath Support: Rhinoplasty can also affect airflow and breath support, which are crucial aspects of vocal production. Changes in nasal airflow or air pressure within the vocal tract can influence vocal tone, volume, and control.
3. Articulation and Pronunciation: The position of the nasal passages and surrounding structures can influence articulation and pronunciation of certain sounds, particularly nasal consonants like "m" and "n." Altering the nasal anatomy through surgery may potentially impact the clarity and precision of speech sounds.
4. Perceptible Changes: In some cases, changes to the voice resulting from rhinoplasty may be perceptible to the ear, particularly if there are significant alterations to nasal resonance or airflow. For example, a person's voice may sound more or less nasal after surgery, depending on the specific changes made to the nasal structures.
5. Acoustic Analysis: While changes to the voice may be noticeable through listening, acoustic analysis can provide more detailed insights into any alterations in vocal characteristics. This may involve measuring parameters such as vocal pitch, resonance frequencies, and spectral characteristics before and after surgery to assess changes in vocal production.
Overall, plastic surgeries, including nose surgeries, have the potential to affect the human voice, primarily through alterations in nasal resonance, airflow, and articulatory mechanisms. While some changes may be evident through listening alone, acoustic analysis can provide a more objective and comprehensive understanding of any vocal changes following surgery.