When the bone and cartilage dividing your nasal cavity is off center or crooked, the condition is referred to as a deviated septum. If a patient also has structural issues on the outside of the nose that prevent them from breathing well, this is called nasal valve collapse. These can cause breathing difficulties and sinus conditions that require treatment.
What Are the Most Common Reasons for This Procedure?
- Breathing through the nose is difficult
- Traditional sleep apnea treatments are not effective
- Severely deviated septum requires correction
- Cosmetic reshaping of the nose
- Reconstruction after a nasal fracture or other trauma
What Causes a Deviated Septum or Nasal Valve Collapse?
Deviated septum and nasal valve collapse are conditions that occur during facial development in the childhood and teenage years and into adulthood. In other cases, trauma or injury to the nose causes the structural change. Sometimes prior surgery can contribute to this as well.
What Are the Symptoms of a Deviated Septum or Nasal Valve Collapse?
Symptoms include difficulty breathing through one or both nostrils, frequent nosebleeds and sinus infections, facial pain and pressure, headaches, postnasal drip, and noisy breathing during sleep.
How Is a Deviated Septum or Nasal Valve Collapse Treated?
If the obstruction isn’t too severe, symptoms may respond to treatment with medications. Antihistamines, anti-inflammatory treatments, and nasal steroid sprays can reduce congestion and inflammation in some patients.
When medicines are ineffective, surgical procedures may be necessary to reposition a crooked septum, change the structure of the outside of the nose, and improve breathing. This involves removing excess bone or cartilage and reshaping the structure in order to create a more functional breathing space. These procedures are called septoplasty, septorhinoplasty, nasal valve repair, and/or functional rhinoplasty.
A cosmetic rhinoplasty – surgery to reshape the nose to enhance the appearance – can be performed at the same time.
Deviated Septum Surgery / Functional Rhinoplasty
Septoplasty is a minimally invasive surgery generally performed in an outpatient surgery center using both local and general anesthesia, and generally takes 60 minutes or less. Incisions are made inside the nostrils so there is no external scarring, bruising or changes in appearance. Your surgeon will reposition the septum by trimming and straightening the bent cartilage and bone, working through the nostrils.
If patients also need nasal valve reconstruction (septorhinoplasty / functional rhinoplasty), there may also need to be an incision between the nostrils to address the structural issues on the outside of the nose.
The incisions are stitched shut with absorbable stitches, and soft silicone sheeting is often placed inside the nostrils to support the septum and prevent scar formation. The nose is not packed with sponges, gauze, or large plastic pieces as it was in years past.
Afterward, you’ll be given instructions that will help prevent swelling and bleeding. As things are healing for the first few weeks, you’ll want to avoid blowing your nose, limit strenuous activities and elevate your head while sleeping.
Symptoms improve in the vast majority of people undergoing this procedure, and complications are rare.
Surgical Procedure
Septoplasty is generally performed in an outpatient surgery center using either local or general anesthesia, and should take 60 to 90 minutes. Your surgeon will reposition the septum by trimming and straightening the bent cartilage and bone, working through the nostrils. The incisions are stitched shut with absorbable thread, and silicone splints are often placed inside the nostrils to keep the septum straight as it heals. Packing may be placed in your nostrils to prevent bleeding.
Afterward, you’ll be given instructions that will help prevent swelling and bleeding. You’ll want to avoid blowing your nose, limit strenuous activities and elevate your head while sleeping.
Symptoms improve in the majority of people undergoing this procedure, and complications are rare.
Call Aspen Facial Plastic Surgery at (801) 567-0516 for more information or to schedule an appointment.