The septum is the cartilage separating the left and right sides of the nasal passages. It allows air in through the nostrils to go directly into the back of the nose and the lungs. Without the septum, there would not be direct air transit into the lungs. Ideally, a septum should be a straight wall that follows an up and down direction. However, everyone has some degree of variation, which may be due to an injury or natural development of the nose. A crooked septum is common, but severe deviation can block one side of your nose, causing breathing difficulties. Although anatomical abnormality doesn’t respond to medical therapy, corrective surgery procedures like septoplasty Newport Beach can straighten the nasal septum.

What is septoplasty?

Septoplasty is a surgical procedure that straightens a crooked or deviated septum to improve breathing and reduce the risk of sinus infections due to poor drainage. For this procedure, a surgeon may need to trim parts of your nasal septum before aligning them properly. Most people find it easier to breathe after healing from the process.

How you prepare for septoplasty

First, you need to meet with your provider to ensure that you are eligible for the surgical procedure. A good candidate is unhappy or self-conscious about the size and shape of their nose but otherwise healthy. Septoplasty may not be an option for you if you have health problems that put you at risk of surgical complications like poor wound healing. Some conditions that can impact surgery include poorly controlled diabetes, bleeding or clotting problems, and heart or lung dysfunction. Your surgeon may inform you that smoking needs to cease six weeks before and after septoplasty.

During the consultation, you and your doctor discuss your expectations and what the procedure can and cannot do. Your surgeon also reviews your medical history and asks about your current and previous medical conditions. You may also need to list all the medications and supplements you are taking. Expect a physical exam whereby your doctor inspects the inside and outside of your nose. Any medication containing aspirin or ibuprofen may increase bleeding and should be avoided before and after surgery. An assistant may take photos of your nose from different angles for reference during and after surgery.

If you are not a good candidate for septoplasty, your provider may discuss non-surgical options such as dermal fillers. These, however, offer more subtle results which are not permanent but can last up to a year.

What happens during surgery?

Your provider will administer local or general anesthesia depending on the complexity of your surgery and what the surgeon prefers. The surgeon works through incisions in your nose to effectively straighten the septum. After correcting the deviated septum, the surgeon closes the incisions with absorbable sutures and may insert soft silicone splints in each nostril to support the septum. Septoplasty is often performed on an outpatient, so you will more likely go home on the same day.

If you have further questions about septoplasty, consult your surgeon today at Alexis Furze, MD.