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What is a septoplasty?
Septoplasty is the operation performed to straighten the septum.
Who is a good candidate for surgery?
The septum is the wall inside your nose that separates one nostril from the other. In some cases, it is deviated to the extent that it causes difficulty breathing on one or both sides. Deviated septums can also cause bleeding problems, sinus infections, and occasionally, headaches. In these cases, septoplasty can provide relief. Your surgeon should carefully analyze the inside of your nose. Be sure to tell your doctor about previous trauma and surgery that you may have had.
How is the septoplasty performed?
Most septoplasty operations are performed under general anesthesia in the operating room. Despite this, most patients go home the same day. The typical operation usually lasts for about an hour.
What is the recovery from surgery like?
As with rhinoplasty, for the first 24 hours, you may experience some nausea, and you should avoid eating substantial amounts of food. The incisions inside the nose are closed loosely, to minimize risk of hematoma (blood accumulation in the tissues). Because of this, the nose has a tendency to ooze blood for a few days. During this time, it is helpful to wear a small gauze pad (drip pad) beneath the nostrils. Limiting strenuous activity and keeping the head elevated will cut down on much of this oozing. Swelling will occur inside the nose, but most of the swelling is gone by two weeks.
Will my nose be packed?
The nose is almost never packed. Packing is reserved for those cases where substantial, unforeseen bleeding occurs. Many times, however, plastic splints are used to keep the cartilage portion of the septum from becoming crooked again as it heals. These splints can cause some temporary nasal obstruction.
When should I come back to the doctor?
Most patients need to come back eight days after surgery to have their plastic nasal splints removed. Your doctor will anesthetize the inside of your nose with a spray and remove the suture holding the splints in place. Some will also have sutures taken out at that time.
When can I go back to work?
Workers that perform heavy tasks should avoid work for two weeks. After 2 weeks, patients may resume their normal exercise routines. Some office-type workers are able to return to work after 4-5 days to read mail, make phone calls and do some work with the computer. Despite this, most patients are fatigued easily, and find that they can't work a full day until 9-11 days after surgery.
Will my insurance pay for this?
Most insurance companies will pay for septoplasty if a deviated septum is causing a functional problem.
