We do it every day and don’t even realize it, but if your nose is stuffy or crooked on the inside, breathing is really difficult. It’s estimated that the majority of people have something called a deviated septum, when that thin wall of tissue in the nose isn’t straight. It creates breathing, snoring, or being runny all the time. One of the first surgeries for it is a procedure called septoplasty.
Septoplasty is a procedure that is done routinely by doctors to fix the septum so that one can breathe normally. It is not cosmetic in any way but is done to enhance the nose’s ability to work. People suffering from difficulty breathing, sinusitis, or nasal passage obstruction feel better after this surgery.
What is Septoplasty?
Septoplasty is a surgery that straightens a deviated septum. Your septum is the bone and cartilage that separates your two nostrils, dividing your nose. If the separating partition is bent or crooked, it will restrict the breathing on one or both sides of the nose. Septoplasty straightens the partition to improve breathing.
In contrast to cosmetic nose surgery (rhinoplasty), septoplasty is not to change the way the nose looks on the outside. Instead, it is to correct the inside so you can breathe more comfortably.
Why Is Septoplasty Performed?
Doctors will suggest septoplasty for any of several reasons:
- Trouble breathing – When one nostril is permanently blocked.
- Sinusitis – A curled septum can trap mucus.
- Nosebleeds – Ongoing irritation can make you bleed.
- Snoring or sleep apnea – Nocturnal noisy breathing caused by an obstructed airway.
- Headaches or facial pain – Pain is a result of reduced pressure because of obstructed airways.
When medication, sprays, or other therapies are unsuccessful, surgery is the solution.
Preparation for Septoplasty
Your physician will, before the procedure:
- Get your disease history.
- Ask about drugs and allergies.
- Physically examine your nose.
- Occasionally order tests such as a CT scan.
Patients may need to stop taking medications, like blood thinners, before surgery. Smoking also needs to be stopped as it retards healing.
How Septoplasty Surgery is Performed
Septoplasty is usually performed under general anesthesia (you are asleep) or local anesthesia with sedation (you are awake and relaxed). Surgery takes 30–90 minutes.
This is what they do:
- The surgeon creates an incision within the nose.
- The soft inner lining of the nose (mucosa) is pushed upwards.
- The curved bone and cartilage are removed or recontoured.
- The mucosa is replaced.
- Soft stitches or splints are placed at times to ensure that everything is straight.
Incisions are hidden inside the nose and there are no visible scars.
What to Expect After Surgery
A majority of patients undergoing septoplasty are discharged the same day. The healing process is easy, but nose healing takes a long time. A majority of patients experience the following:
- A mild pain or discomfort.
- Nasal stuffiness for a few days.
- Bruising and swelling.
- A few patients experience bleeding from the nose.
- Fatigue for a few days.
Doctors often prescribe pain medication and nasal sprays to ensure an easy recovery process.
Tips for Recovery for Septoplasty Patients
Patients recover fast following surgery by:
- Resting for 3 or more days.
- Sleeping with the head elevated in an attempt to allow swelling to decline.
- Blowing your nose as little as possible during the first week.
- Avoiding straining, i.e., lifting heavy weights or excessive exercise, until so notified by the doctor.
- Following medication as directed.
- Follow-up as planned so that the doctor is able to check on healing.
The majority of patients get much better in 2–3 weeks, but recovery takes 2–3 months.
Risks and Complications of Septoplasty
With any surgery, septoplasty has some risk, which is small. Possible complications which may occur are:
- Bleeding.
- Infection.
- Anaesthetic reaction.
- Septum will not heal in a straight line (will need further operation).
- Perforation of septum (septum hole).
- Loss of sense of smell (rare).
Surgical methods are employed to reduce such risks, and the overwhelming majority of patients recover uneventfully.
Septoplasty benefits
The benefits of septoplasty are:
- Better nasal breathing.
- Fewer sinus infections.
- Better sleep and less snoring.
- Less nasal congestion, allergy, and headache.
- Better quality of life.
Patients generally report that they did not know how much their deviated septum was impinging on them until after surgery was done.
Septoplasty vs Rhinoplasty
Everybody confuses septoplasty and rhinoplasty. Here’s why:
- Septoplasty – Fixes the inside of the nose to improve breathing.
- Rhinoplasty – Reduces the outside of the nose for appearance.
- Septorhinoplasty – One procedure that does both.
If a person has breathing issues and comes to mind, physicians may recommend septorhinoplasty.
Who Makes a Good Septoplasty Candidate?
Septoplasty is recommended if:
- You have a deviated septum that’s causing it to be difficult to breathe.
- Other treatments (like sprays or medication) aren’t making a difference.
- You are well enough physically to have the operation.
- You are older than 15–16 years (the nose must be fully developed).
In very bad breathing, children may require septoplasty, but most surgeons prefer to wait until growth is finished.
Life After Septoplasty
Most patients experience a tremendous difference after recovering. It is easier to breathe, there are fewer infections of the sinuses, and they sleep better. Outcomes vary from person to person, but research agrees with septoplasty’s very high rate of success.
Most of the patients with breathing issues on a day-to-day basis or noisy breathing can be relieved for the first time in years.
FAQs
Is septoplasty painful?
Some mild discomfort is to be expected but excruciating pain is not the norm. Pain medication is effective.
How long will it take to get better?
Most people will be fine within a week to resume school or work, with full recovery after 1–3 months.
Will septoplasty alter the appearance of my nose?
No, septoplasty is a procedure done within the nose and will not generally alter its external shape.
Will the septum become crooked again?
Yes, occasionally. If this is the case, another operation will need to be done.
Is septoplasty permanent?
Yes, in most cases, the correction is permanent. Most individuals do not need surgery once.
Does septoplasty cure snoring?
Yes, if due to a blocked nose. But if due to other causes (such as the throat), then it may not work at all for you.
Septoplasty is an easy, painless surgery for someone who has trouble breathing because of a deviated septum. While it may sound strange to have surgery in one’s nose, it is easy to have done and not hard to recover from, and its positive effects last a lifetime. From breathing easier to sleeping better, septoplasty truly improves one’s life.
If you, or someone in your family, find yourselves dealing with chronic nasal congestion, sinus infections, or wheezing breathing, perhaps the time has arrived to speak with an ENT specialist about the prospect of septoplasty. Having it done could be the difference between struggling to breathe and, finally, breathing freely and easily every day.
