Last Updated: Mar 10, 2023
Septoplasty is a surgical procedure whereby the deviation and / or crookedness in the nasal cartilage and bone is corrected so the airflow through the nose improves and breathing becomes easier.
Parts of your nose may also get blocked by turbinates,a name for enlarged bone structures. Long term sinusitis, nasal polyps also create blockages in the nasal airway making it difficult for one to breathe freely. Septoplasty is also conducted as a cure for long term sinusitis and nasal polyps. It is the most common ENT surgical procedure.
In simple terms, septoplasty originates from septo i.e. wall or partition, and plasty i.e. moulding, grafting or forming any part of the body. Septoplasty therefore means, repositioning of the deviated or corked wall or partition of the nose.
A cartilage and a bone in our nose serves the purpose of dividing the cavity of the nose into the right and the left. This cartilage and bone is known as the nasal septum. Sometimes, this nasal septum may be off-center or deviated. The reason for such deviation may be a broken nose, trauma or an injury. Such deviation or crookedness may also be completely natural. You are likely to experience difficulty in breathing with a deviated or crooked septum. This difficulty arises from the blockage to the nasal cavities due to the same.
An ENT specialist needs to examine the insides of your nose to detect a deviated septum. An endoscopic examination is the usual process to do this. Sometimes, a CT scan may also be conducted for confirmation of the diagnosis.
Yes, there are other causes that may obstruct breathing and free flow of air through the nasal cavities. Nasal blockages may arise out of polyps. Sometimes allergies too may be the culprits. There may also be long ridges of tissue and bone protruding into your nostrils inside your nose. These are known as turbinates and are also responsible for nasal passage obstructions when overgrown.
Other conditions like sinusitis, nasal polyps, turbinates may be treated using medication, nasal sprays etc., septoplasty surgery is the only known treatment for a deviated septum.
Your deviated septum makes breathing through the nose extremely difficult. You have no option other than breathing through the mouth. This will make your mouth feel dry most of the time and is often the cause of disturbed sleep. You will often observe that you need to sleep on one side only to fall asleep and you are likely to make noise while you sleep with a deviated septum. Septoplasty surgery is the only remedy for this condition.
Septoplasty also treats sinus, nasal polyps and enlarged turbinates.
There are five primary reasons arising of a deviated or crooked septum that necessitates septoplasty surgery. Here’s a brief on them:
Septoplasty is a type of reconstructive plastic surgery. It is performed to straighten or reposition a deviated or crooked septum and enable normal flow of air through both sides of the nose.
Here’s an outline of the septoplasty surgery procedure with steps:
You may seek more information by contacting Pristyn Care, a one-stop guidance, consultation, surgery with comprehensive pre and post operative care packages for septoplasty and other ENT procedures.
Septoplasty involves an out-patient procedure lasting about 30 to 90 minutes. The entire surgery takes place inside the nose. It is executed under general anaesthesia or local anaesthesia, as decided upon by the surgeon on the merit of the case. Most patients are discharged on the day of their surgery. There is no breaking of the nose in the surgical procedure.
During septoplasty surgery, you shall be undergoing the septoplasty steps detailed in seriatim hereafter:
Your ENT surgeon will choose the best alternative among local or general anaesthesia for you and you will be administered the same to numb the site of surgery or make you unconscious.
Incisions shall be made inside the nasal cavity.
The next step, lifting of the mucosal lining, is critical. A fragile membrane that covers the surface of the septum (mucosal lining) needs to be carefully lifted away from the septum to one side. This procedure is done to both sides of the septum.
The bone and / or cartilage of the deviated septum is removed, reshaped and repositioned.
With the straightened and corrected septum in its desired place, the nasal mucosal lining is brought back to its place around the septum. Thereafter the mucosa is sutured back together.
Splints or packing are used to keep the reconstructed and repositioned septum in place. These are removed within a short time after surgery. The internal sutures get to dissolve away with time.
If you seek further information regarding septoplasty surgery and its care, call Pristyn Care to receive complete consultation and pre and post surgery care details from them.
Some small degree of pain with some pressure on the sinus and the nose in general is unavoidable in sinus surgery. It is akin to a sinus infection and resembles a dull aching sensation in your sinuses. This lasts for just a few days.
Despite being one of the safest and most successful procedures, there are instances of complications that have arisen with septoplasty surgery.
Some such complications and septoplasty risks that have been observed are:
Conditions to consult a doctor for septoplasty, if:-
After a septoplasty procedure, call the doctor or surgeon if you have:-
Septoplasty is an extremely safe surgery. However, as with any other surgery, some risks remain. Risks include bleeding and infection. The anaesthetic used may cause an adverse reaction. In rare cases, symptoms like nasal obstruction, inability for regular breathing etc. may continue.
You need septoplasty to relieve you of all symptoms associated with a crooked or deviated septum, like:-
The success rate for septoplasty is very high, ranging between 85 to 90 per cent across most countries. Most patients have reported significant improvement in nasal breathing within a fortnight of their septoplasty surgery, curing their symptoms from a badly deviated septum.
Septoplasty surgery cost in India varies from Rs. 35,000/- to Rs. 60,000/-. The variation depends not only on the cost of living of the city where the treatment is being done, but also varies based on the severity of the condition, its necessary treatment, need for any additional surgical procedures (e.g. rhinoplasty i.e. reshaping of the nose) required, etc.
For information on septoplasty with comprehensive guidance, pre and post surgery care and expert surgery at reasonable cost get in touch with Pristyn Care.
As preparation for septoplasty, your surgeon is expected to meet and discuss the risks and benefits of the surgery with you. As per practice, your discussions are expected to cover:
There are no restrictions for your normal diet with septoplasty. If you encounter an upset stomach, plain rice, broiled chicken, toast, plain curd and such bland, low-fat foods are advised.
After surgery irregularity in bowel movement is common. To avoid constipation and straining with bowel movements, include plenty of fluids, fleshy fruits and fibrous food in your diet.
Foods and drinks to avoid after septoplasty surgery are:-
A septoplasty procedure is usually an outpatient one. Septoplasty procedure consumes about 30 to 90 minutes and septoplasty recovery is quite fast. Most patients are discharged and leave for home on the surgery day itself. Septoplasty recovery time in terms of swelling is about two to three days, and complete recovery usually happens in about three months.
Septoplasty is the only permanent solution for a deviated or crooked septum. All other measures may usher some relief, but those are strictly temporary with all symptoms returning after some time. The cartilaginous septum continues to grow up to the age of about 16-17 years. Septoplasty done at ages lower to this, may see re-deviation happen to the cartilage due to its growth with age. Hence, septoplasty for permanent relief is best done after the age of 17.
Septoplasty surgery is a very frequently done and most common of all ENT procedures. It is a safe procedure with extremely favourable long term outcomes reported in a vast majority of patients. Cure has given permanent relief from septal deviation causing obstructive symptoms in patients. Septoplasty, whether through an endonasal procedure, or endoscopic septoplasty done with a zero degree Hopkins rod endoscope used instead of the nasal speculum with a headlight in the endonasal method and complex septum deviation difficulties where extraction of the entire septal cartilage needs removal and correction, have all produced excellent results. It will continue to play its stellar role in the cure for septum deviation or crookedness causing obstruction to flow of air through the nose.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If the inside of the nose is not completely sterile, there may be an occasion for infection.
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