What if I only have breathing issues?

Some patients will choose to have septoplasty to help alleviate symptoms of a deviated septum. However, you might like the look of their nose and thus be worried that surgery will change this. While this surgery does aim to correct medical problems, it can alter the appearance of the nose just slightly, depending on how much cartilage is lost or if a graft is used to rebuild a portion of the bone. It is important to go to an experienced nose surgeon so that any visible changes are natural and subtle.

What causes a deviated septum?

Some individuals are born with a deviated septum, and for many, the symptoms worsen as they age. Experts believe that birth trauma is a cause of this condition; trauma later in life such as an injury is also a cause. The majority of the adult population has a deviated septum, but only a small percentage of those adults have symptoms severe enough for surgery.

Plastic surgeon or ENT?

Most ENT surgeons are skilled in performing septoplasty. The key in whether to use an ENT surgeon or a plastic surgeon usually revolves around results regarding physical appearance. Plastic surgeons are specially trained to preserve the look and shape of the nose or change it according to your personal desire. Some plastic surgeons may send their patients to an ENT for the septoplasty, while they focus on rhinoplasty. It is important to note that if a rhinoplasty surgeon cannot perform septoplasty, you should consider finding a different nose surgeon. The septum plays a critical role in rhinoplasty. A plastic surgeon with distinct nose surgery experience will understand this importance and thus be able to perform the surgery for both function and aesthetics.

Septoplasty

When your septum (the thin wall that separates your nasal passages) is off-center or displaced to one side, you may experience breathing issues or suffer from sleep apnea. Your nose may also appear crooked. A septoplasty is very low-risk outpatient surgery that straightens a deviated septum.

Is your deviated septum giving you breathing problems?

A deviated septum can cause a wide range of complaints including obstruction of the nostrils, noisy breathing or snoring and even facial pains or headaches. While these symptoms may sound relatively mild, they can significantly affect the quality of your life and your happiness, and you don’t have to live with them. You can temporarily treat symptoms with decongestants and nasal steroid sprays, but a septoplasty will provide you with lasting results.

The surgery could help you achieve the following desirable results:

Improved breathing
Better sleep quality
Fewer infections
Decreased snoring
A straighter and more aesthetically pleasing nose