Many people do not realize that a deviated septum can be addressed with a septoplasty, which is a specialized surgical procedure. Most patients who suffer from a deviated septum are under the impression that they will need a nose job in order to correct their structural issues, but that is not true. Expert plastic surgeons have been performing the septoplasty procedure on patients for a decade now. As an expert facial plastic surgeon knows, this specialized procedure is the best option for patients looking to address issues associated with a deviated septum.
As one of the most commonly misdiagnosed and misunderstood afflictions of the face, people who suffer from a deviated septum often do not know what options are available to them in order to fix their symptoms. People who have a deviated septum often suffer from difficulty breathing, excessive snoring, and trouble sleeping. Some primary physicians or inexperienced surgeons might recommend a rhinoplasty, but an expert facial plastic surgeon knows that septoplasty is the best procedure to fix these issues. A septoplasty is a facial plastic surgery that specifically addresses a deviated septum. It is a procedure designed to resolve functional issues, not necessarily address aesthetic issues with the nose.
The Purpose of a Septoplasty
The goal of any septoplasty procedure is to address symptoms that are associated with a deviated septum. Some common symptoms that disrupt the lives of people with this affliction include trouble breathing, excessive snoring, and constantly feeling that they have a stuffy nose. In addition, the deviated septum can sometimes cause a bump or hump, which some patients want to eliminate. While it can address aesthetic issues, it is vital that patients recognize that the septoplasty procedure is not simply a cosmetic surgery. It is a medical procedure designed to correct functional problems in the nose.
While a standard septoplasty will provide patients with physical relief, expert plastic surgeons recognize that some patients want additional aesthetic improvements during their procedure, as well. For these patients, the septorhinoplasty is an option. This procedure combines the structural fixes of a septoplasty with the visual improvements of a nose job. As a result, it provides patients with the best of both worlds — they are breathing better and sleeping better, and also enjoy the person they see in the mirror more.
When is a Septoplasty Necessary?
Numerous board-certified facial plastic surgeons perform the septoplasty procedures on patients who require it at their practices. In order to determine if this is the correct procedure for you, it is crucial to understand the definition of a deviated septum. When the nasal septum is crooked or deviated, it can block the nasal passageways, making it hard for a patient to breathe and sleep. The person might feel like they constantly have a stuffy nose and may suffer from regular nose bleeds.
The septoplasty will fix the actual septum itself, which sometimes also provides an aesthetic benefit. However, patients who want to truly recreate the appearance of their nose while at the same time fixing a deviated septum need to have a septorhinoplasty performed. This combines a nose job with a septoplasty procedure.
Consult an Expert about Septoplasty and Other Procedures
The surgeon will help a patient decide which surgery is the best option for them during a consultation appointment. Patients who were born with a deviated septum often only require a septoplasty, while those who have a deviation as a result of an injury will require a septorhinoplasty procedure. Patients who have been in an accident or have been injured need to know that a traditional rhinoplasty might provide a temporary fix, but a septorhinoplasty is ultimately required in order to provide physical relief, as well as a long-term fix.
After a thorough consultation and exam of the patient, the cosmetic surgeon will determine which technique they will use to perform the procedure. For example, some septoplasty procedures require an open technique, while others require a closed technique. Typically, a plastic surgeon will complete the procedure using small incisions in the nose. They will then lift the septal membrane, and the next step is either removing or reshaping the crooked portion of the septum. Patients should note that other cosmetic surgery procedures can be done at the same time as this one. Examples of such procedures include turbinectomy procedures, endoscopic sinus surgeries, and rhinoplasty procedures.
Patients who have a deviated septum need to know that there is a specific surgery designed to fix the medical issues with their nose. A surgeon who says a deviated septum can be fixed with a rhinoplasty rather than a septoplasty should be avoided. Expert facial plastic surgeons recommend that all patients who suffer severe breathing issues or sleeping issues because of a deviated septum have this procedure done as soon as possible.
Interested patients should set up a free consultation appointment with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Set up a free consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon today to find out more information about this particular surgery. Other surgeries they might consider including is an endoscopic sinus surgery or a turbinectomy procedure as these can be done at the same time as a septoplasty.