Functional Rhinoplasty: Septoplasty

What is septoplasty?

Septoplasty is a plastic surgery solution to correct and straighten the nasal septum, or in other words the partition dividing the two nasal cavities. In a perfectly functioning nose this partition runs down the middle of the nose, dividing the two nasal cavities equally. When the septum leans to one side or the other, also called a “deviated septum”, one of the cavities becomes smaller making breathing harder. Patients suffering from a deviated septum often suffer from breathing difficulties, snoring and sleep apnea.

Other Causes of Nasal Obstruction

An additional factor your surgeon may consider is the condition of the Turbinates. The Turbinates are normal structures inside the nose that warm and moisten air as it passes thru the nasal airway. The Turbinates can often become enlarged, or “hypertrophy”, which can cause or contribute to obstruction of normal airflow.

Also, many people who have experienced trauma, or previous nasal surgery can have weakening of the structural support of the nose. This can lead to inward collapse of the nose as one takes a breath, which can also be an important cause of nasal airway obstruction.

The restrictive airflow can be corrected by undergoing functional rhinoplasty restoring the balance between the two nasal cavities. Often septoplasty or functional rhinoplasty is performed together with cosmetic rhinoplasty improving both the appearance and the functionality of the patient’s nose at the same time.

Septoplasty: step by step

Septoplasty procedures can be performed both under local and general anesthesia depending on what the surgeon and patient decide prior to surgery. The surgeon reaches the septum through the nostrils so typically the patient is left with no visible scar after the procedure. After making a small incision in the lining of the septum the surgeon can reach the cartilage to readjust it to the center and trim if necessary.

The entire procedure takes around 60-90 minutes and in most cases the patient can go home straight after surgery. It can take up to a year for cartilage to completely settle into its new form but most patients feel significantly recovered after only a few weeks. During the first few weeks of the recovery period is it advised to avoid high intensity exercise. Functional rhinoplasty patients are also advised to keep their head elevated during sleep after surgery to minimize swelling.

Turbinate surgery: step by step

A procedure may be necessary on the Turbinates should they be a contributing factor to nasal airway obstruction. This may require that the one or both of the Turbinates may need to be shrunk, trimmed, or moved out of the way to help increase the airflow. This is often done in combination with a septoplasty.

Improving Structural Support of the Nose: step by step

When the structural support of the nose is weak or absent, the surgeon may need to rebuild these structures to prevent collapse of the nasal skin during inspiration. This is a done by repairing or adding cartilage and bone to the precise location where support is lacking. This can be a complex procedure and is usually done via an open rhinoplasty by surgeons familiar with the most up to date techniques.

The risks of Functional Rhinoplasty

Unfortunately there is no guarantee that functional rhinoplasty patients will not encounter nasal obstruction problems in the future and they might need to undergo a second surgery. Other risks include scarring, perforation of the septum and bleeding.