Septoplasty

Name: Septoplasty
Brand: Elanic Medical
Rating: 4.4 (137 reviews)

Septoplasty is a life-changing procedure that promotes unobstructed breathing, improved sleep quality, and an overall elevated quality of life.

What is Septoplasty?

Septoplasty is performed to unblock the nasal passages by restoring symmetry and balance to the wall of cartilage and bone separating the nostrils (the septum.) The surgery is known to provide relief from conditions like sinusitis, sleep apnoea, and chronic nosebleeds. While septoplasty can be performed on its own as a functional solution, many patients take the opportunity to undergo cosmetic rhinoplasty at the same time, correcting any aesthetic concerns they have with the outside of their nose.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of a Deviated Septum?

When one side of the nose is consistently blocked, patients may experience a wide range of problems that interfere with their daily lives. These include:

Chronic nosebleeds
Headaches
Congestion
Facial pain
A dry mouth
Sleep apnoea
Snoring
Insomnia
Noisy breathing
Chronic sinusitis
Sinus infections
Allergies

What are the Benefits of Septoplasty?

While medications can often provide temporary relief from symptoms like insomnia, headaches, and allergies, they do not address the root causes of the issues. In contrast, septoplasty can provide significant, lasting relief from discomfort and poor breathing. Advantages include:

Enhances nasal airflow
Improves sleep quality
Corrects structural asymmetry
Reverses chronic sinusitis
Reduces nosebleeds
Can improve sense of smell
Boosts quality of life and peace of mind
Can be combined with cosmetic rhinoplasty

Who is a Good Candidate for Septoplasty?

While not every patient with a deviated septum will require or want surgery, when the nasal structure is causing unmanageable symptoms such as chronic nosebleeds or sleep disorders, septoplasty may be the ideal solution. If any of the following are problematic for you, you may qualify for septoplasty:

Chronic breathing issues
Congestion that interferes with sleep
Headaches
Sinusitis
Snoring
Sleep apnoea
Respiratory problems
Nasal injuries or trauma

Our experienced team at Elanic Medical in Glasgow will conduct a thorough consultation to ensure the surgery is a safe and effective choice for meeting your goals. We will thoroughly review your medical history, go over any current medications, and perform a detailed physical evaluation. Candidates should be healthy non-smokers who have realistic expectations for their results and are willing to follow our team’s instructions before and after surgery.

How is Septoplasty Performed?

You will be unconscious during septoplasty, sleeping peacefully under general anaesthesia. This ensures you feel no pain or discomfort throughout the treatment process. Surgery can extend from 1-3 hours, depending on the extent of the structural issues within the nose. If you have opted to undergo cosmetic rhinoplasty in tandem with septoplasty, the procedure can take even longer.

As a first step, your surgeon will create a tiny incision within the base of the nose between the nostrils. From there, they will straighten and modify the septum’s bone and cartilage, resolving imbalances while also excising polyps or excess tissue that may be contributing to the nasal blockage. Once the changes are complete, your incision will be sealed with state-of-the-art suturing techniques.

What Will My Recovery Entail After Septoplasty?

Once the anaesthesia has worn off, you will be permitted to return home accompanied by a friend or family member. Your nose will be bandaged, and packing may be placed inside the nostrils. A split may also be affixed to the outside of your nose. Packing is usually removed within 1-2 days, while splints are removed after one week. Swelling, bruising, and soreness will peak during the first week of recovery and then gradually subside with time. For this reason, it can sometimes take a few months to experience your final results. Your surgeon will prescribe pain medications to help offset discomfort. To flush out any surgical debris or crusting, nasal irrigation with salt water may be recommended.

Our team will provide detailed and customised instructions regarding caring for your incisions, sleeping, bathing, resuming exercise, and going back to work or school. While you can expect to re-engage with most normal activities within a few weeks, you will need to avoid strenuous exercise, swimming, contact sports, and heavy lifting for 4-6 weeks, as directed by your surgeon. For the first week after septoplasty, take care not to blow the nose, sneeze, or make exaggerated facial movements like large yawns. We will continue to follow up with you, ensuring your healing process is seamless and without incident.

Getting Started with Your In-Depth Septoplasty Consultation

Because septoplasty is an intricate and delicate procedure, it is critical that you meet with us for a detailed consultation, during which we will answer all your questions with precision and explain our customised approach for resolving your breathing issues. We will thoroughly assess your nose and delve into your medical and surgical history, getting to the root causes of your symptoms. Preoperative photos may be taken for reference as well.

If you are ready to learn more about how septoplasty can help restore your breathing and peace of mind, contact us at Elanic Medical in Glasgow today!