Septoplasty (Straightening the Nasal Septum)

The septum is the wall of bone and cartilage that divides the nose into two passages. When this wall is crooked, one passage narrows and breathing through that side becomes hard. Septoplasty is the operation that straightens it.

A crooked septum is common. Many people are born with it, and a knock on the nose can cause it later. The crookedness alone is not a reason to operate. The operation is for people whose breathing, sleep or sinuses suffer because of it.

When the doctor recommends it

• You breathe through your nose with difficulty, often on one side
• You snore, or your sleep is broken
• Your sinuses become infected again and again
• Your nose bleeds often
• You get headaches that come from pressure inside the nose

How the operation is done

The surgeon works through the nostrils. Nothing is cut on the outside of the nose and no scar shows. The surgeon lifts the lining off the septum, removes or reshapes the crooked parts of cartilage and bone, then lays the lining back.

The operation takes about 30 to 60 minutes. Most patients go home the same day or the next morning.

Septoplasty changes the inside of the nose. It does not change how the nose looks. If you want the shape changed as well, the surgeon does septoplasty and rhinoplasty in one operation, which is called septorhinoplasty.

After the operation

Your nose feels blocked for the first few days, because the lining swells. That swelling settles within a week or two. Breathing improves clearly after it does.

• Do not blow your nose for the first week.
• Sleep with your head raised.
• Do not do heavy sport for two weeks.
• Use the nasal spray or rinse the doctor prescribes.

Come to your follow-up appointments. The doctor cleans the inside of the nose at these visits, and this speeds up healing.