
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 minimum, should you choose to have the surgery.
Is Deviated Septum Surgery Painful? What Patients Say?

Research suggests that most patients experience low levels of pain for 2-3 days after deviated septum surgery. Only a few patients experience severe pain for a longer duration. However, such conditions can be managed with analgesics (pain killers).1Sclafani AP, Kim M, Kjaer K, Kacker A, Tabaee A. Postoperative pain and analgesic requirements after septoplasty and rhinoplasty. The Laryngoscope. 2019 Sep;129(9):2020-5.
The postoperative pain depends on several factors such as premedication given, duration of the procedure, type of procedure performed, the effectiveness of general anesthesia used, and patient’s sensitivity to pain. Research suggests that people undergoing septoplasty experience less pain when compared to people undergoing complex septorhinoplasty procedure.2Szychta, P., & Antoszewski, B. (2010). Assessment of early post-operative pain following septorhinoplasty. The Journal of Laryngology & Otology, 124(11), 1194–1199.
Researchers reported a correlation between anxiety before the surgery with post-operative pain. While some found that people with increased anxiety experience greater postoperative pain, others rejected these claims.
Also, it was found that elderly patients perceive less pain and have a lower requirement for post-surgery painkillers. Some researchers have reported difference in pain perception among men and women, with women reporting negative response to pain than men.3Ocalan R, Akin C, Disli ZK, Kilinc T, Ozlugedik S. Preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain in patients undergoing septoplasty. B-ent. 2015 Jan 1;11(1):19-23.
Pain After Septoplasty: Tips to Speed Up Recovery & Minimize Pain
In this section we provide proven tips for reducing the pain you feel after deviated septum surgery and speeding up your recovery:4Ishii LE, O’Connor SS, Strike DJ, Walsh SA. Plain Language Summary: Improving Nasal Form and Function after Rhinoplasty. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 2017 Feb;156(2):220-7.5Simpson JC. Postoperative Care of The Patient After Nasal Surgery
Sources:
- 1Sclafani AP, Kim M, Kjaer K, Kacker A, Tabaee A. Postoperative pain and analgesic requirements after septoplasty and rhinoplasty. The Laryngoscope. 2019 Sep;129(9):2020-5.
- 2Szychta, P., & Antoszewski, B. (2010). Assessment of early post-operative pain following septorhinoplasty. The Journal of Laryngology & Otology, 124(11), 1194–1199.
- 3Ocalan R, Akin C, Disli ZK, Kilinc T, Ozlugedik S. Preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain in patients undergoing septoplasty. B-ent. 2015 Jan 1;11(1):19-23.
- 4Ishii LE, O’Connor SS, Strike DJ, Walsh SA. Plain Language Summary: Improving Nasal Form and Function after Rhinoplasty. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 2017 Feb;156(2):220-7.
- 5Simpson JC. Postoperative Care of The Patient After Nasal Surgery
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