Deviated Septum Surgery

  • 101
    • Nasal Septum Anatomy
    • Treatment Types: Complete Guide
    • What is Deviated Septum Surgery?
    • Benefits of Surgery
    • Causes of a Deviated Septum
      • Deviated Septum from Drugs
    • Pain – How to Manage
    • Risks: Potential Complications
    • Symptoms: 7 Signs
    • Self-Test: How to Test Yourself
    • When to Do It
    • What Doctor to See
    • Surgeon: 4 Steps to Find the Best One
    • Surgery Videos
  • Effectiveness
    • Success Rates
  • Cost
    • Average Cost
    • Insurance
  • Types
    • Major Procedures – Overview
    • Rhinoplasty Surgery
    • Septoplasty Surgery
      • Pros & Cons
      • Complications
      • Recovery
    • Septoplasty & Rhinoplasty
    • Septoplasty & Turbinate Reduction
    • Balloon Sinuplasty Surgery
    • Laser Surgery
    • Turbinate Reduction
  • Recovery
    • Success Rates
    • Timeline
    • How Long Recovery Takes + Tips to Recover
    • Pain: Guide to Managing It
  • Home Treatments
    • Without Surgery: Complete Guide
    • 11 Home Remedies
    • 9 Non-Surgery Options
    • Ayurveda
    • Buteyko Breathing
    • Diet
    • Essential Oils
    • Homeopathy
    • Medication
    • Nasal Devices
    • Neti Pot
    • Nasal Dilators
    • Supplements
    • Yoga
  • Related
    • Side Effects
      • Breathing Problems
      • Headaches
      • Ear Problems
    • Sinuses
    • Sleep Apnea
    • Snoring

Deviated Septum Surgery: Success Rates & Things to Consider

January 17, 2020 by Marc Leave a Comment

source

A deviated septum is when the bone dividing the cartilage of the center of the nose is twisted and blocks the normal airflow in the nose. Many people don't have completely straight septums but not all conditions require serious medical attention. Combined with other symptoms such as allergies, congestion, or turbinate hypertrophy, breathing can be difficult and cause sleep apnea as well as other conditions.

A deviated septum can be caused by a childbirth injury as the baby passes through the birth canal. Another theory as to the cause of a deviated septum is that any trauma that could have occurred to the nose during childhood or adolescence can cause the septum to twist. As the person gets older the nose continues to grow in that twisted manner.

If after trying other medical means necessary to deal with symptoms and nothing seems to improve breathing, a surgical procedure called a "septoplasty" may be required. The outpatient procedure is done most commonly with general anesthesia and usually takes from 30 minutes to an hour and a half total.

source

During the procedure, the septum is straightened and repositioned in the middle of the nose. The surgeon does this by making an incision to separate the mucosa (the soft layer of tissue lining the nasal passages) from the cartilage and bone. The surgeon then trims or straightens the bent cartilage and replaces the mucosa over the cartilage and bone.

After the surgery, you may have a nasal splint or pack placed in your nostrils to keep the septum in place during the healing process. Breathing can begin to improve in as little as a week after the procedure and will continue to improve over the next 12 months.

As with most surgery, there will be a recovery period where you may experience pain, swelling, and other symptoms related to the procedure. The average recovery time for a septoplasty is 7-10 days.

By that point, the nose should be basically healed but care should be taken not to do any strenuous activity such as exercise, flying\traveling, blowing your nose, heavy lifting, or anything else that might cause injury to the nose, until at least 3 weeks after the surgery. If you smoke you should stop before the procedure. Smoking can cause increased risks during the procedure and slow down the healing process.

There are some risks involved in the procedure such as excessive bleeding, clotted blood that needs to be drained, and numbness in the nose or lip area. It is uncommon but, in some cases, the symptoms of nasal obstruction continue or return even after the procedure and additional surgery may be required.

In most cases, it will not change the nose (other than the position of the septum) or the shape of the nose. To decrease the chances of bleeding and swelling after the procedure, get plenty of rest and make sure to keep your head elevated when you're sleeping. Wear clothing that is loose in the front to avoid causing harm when putting on and taking off your clothes.

source

There are a few ways to speed up the healing process and ensure a smooth and successful recovery. When you get home, try to rest as much as possible with your head elevated. Try having someone around for the first few days to help you move around. You will have lost blood and therefore may feel weak and unsteady on your feet.

If you experience constipation, take care not to strain when using the bathroom and ask your doctor to prescribe you a laxative or stool softener. Avoid alcohol and smoking, even second-hand smoke, as it can cause irritation and even an infection. Be sure to only resume wearing contacts once any swelling has gone away.

Rinsing your nose with a saline spray (once any packing has been removed) can help prevent any crusting that may form in the nose as the skin heals. It helps prevent healing and protect against any infection that might try to set in. Your doctor will probably also instruct you to apply vaseline on a q-tip to soften and crusting and promote healing.

Peroxide is also another form of lubrication you can use. Take care not to try and remove the dissolvable stitches, they will come out on their own over the next few weeks.

Septoplasty procedures have over a 90% success rate, the key is getting the proper diagnosis and using an experienced and qualified surgeon. If the nasal obstruction is due to other things like allergies then the procedure won't help relieve the symptoms. The best way to guarantee a successful outcome of the procedure is to work with a surgeon who has plenty of experience performing these operations successfully.

The cost of the surgery is another thing to consider when weighing your options. The cost for a septoplasty procedure can be anywhere from $5,000- $12,000 depending on where you are having the procedure done and if there are any complications that would require additional medical attention.

There are websites such as costaide.com that can help you figure out what the upfront cost of the procedure is at different surgery centers across the US. Most insurances do cover the procedure if it is absolutely medically necessary but the cost is definitely a big factor in choosing whether or not to do the surgery.

Overall, the luxury of being able to breathe without any difficulty is something that most of us take for granted. Someone who was born with a deviated septum or has had a nose injury and as a result, their nasal airway was obstructed can suffer on a daily basis.

This procedure has helped thousands of people be able to do things that were very difficult for them in the past like participate in sports, get a good night’s sleep, and just breathe normally without any discomfort. The question of is it worth it depends on whether having a deviated septum affects your quality of life. If the answer is yes, you would definitely benefit greatly from having the operation done.

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER NASAL SURGERY | Post-Sinus (Septoplasty) Operation Recovery

Sources:

How Failures Occur With Septoplasty | Orange County Nose Job - Nose and Sinus Center

​How Much Does a Septoplasty Cost in 2020?

​Recovery & Support for Deviated Septum | NYU Langone Health

​Septoplasty - Mayo Clinic

​Septoplasty: Procedure, Risks, and Recovery

​How to Speed Up Deviated Septum Surgery Recovery | New Health Advisor

​How to Shorten Recovery Time After Septoplasty | New Health Advisor

​Septoplasty - Mayo Clinic

​Returning to work - Royal College of Surgeons

​Septorhinoplasty (Aftercare Instructions) - What you need to know

​Rhinoplasty/Septoplasty Recovery -Denver | Boulder Plastic Surgery

​Headaches After Deviated Septum Surgery | Deviated Septum Information & Advice

​Deviated septum - Symptoms and causes | Mayo Clinic


Best Nasal Dilator for Deviated Septum

Deviated Septum Side Effects: Can a Deviated Septum Cause…?

Deviated Septum and Turbinate Reduction Surgery: A Plain English Guide

After Deviated Septum Surgery: How to Ensure a Quick Recovery

Septoplasty Recovery: Complete Guide to Deviated Septum Surgery Recovery

Deviated Septum Causes: A Complete List

Filed Under: Effectiveness

Recent Post

Septoplasty Recovery

Septoplasty Recovery: Complete Guide to Deviated Septum Surgery Recovery

This is the most comprehensive septoplasty recovery guide on the Web. On this page we answer all of the most commonly-asked questions about recovering from deviated septum surgery – from how long it will take to how to deal with specific complications to tips on how to recover quickly and without problems. Table Of Contents Septoplasty […]

Is Deviated Septum Surgery Painful

Is Deviated Septum Surgery Painful? How to Manage Pain After Septoplasty Surgery

One of the concerns people have when deciding whether or not to do deviated septum surgery is the amount of pain after septoplasty.  In this guide we discuss what past patients have said about deviated septum surgery pain, and we also provide you with an extensive list of tips to manage the pain to a […]

Septoplasty and Turbinate Reduction Surgery

Septoplasty and Turbinate Reduction Surgery: Your Quick Guide

Turbinate reduction (also known as turbinoplasty) is a procedure that is commonly done along with septoplasty. In this article we answer common questions about having septoplasty and turbinate reduction surgery done at the same time. Table Of Contents What is Septoplasty and Turbinate Reduction Surgery?Benefits of Septoplasty Turbinate Reduction SurgeryWhat to Expect After Septoplasty and Turbinate […]

Copyright © 2022 · eleven40 Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in