How to fix a deviated septum – Septoplasty

We give the low down on what exactly a deviated septum is, when it requires surgery, and what the surgery entails…

What is a Deviated Septum?

First things first, a nasal septum is the cartilage and bone in the nose separating your nasal cavity into two nostrils. This septum lies centrally, which allows the nasal passages to be symmetrical and open. However, when there is a deviated septum, the septum is significantly crooked or off-centre and becoming a barrier to the affected nasal passage. This can lead to poor drainage of the sinuses, and in some cases, difficulty with breathing. This can contribute to a range of nuisance symptoms, such as repetitive sneezing, bouts of sinus infections, facial pain and snoring.

When does a deviated septum require surgery?

If the deviated septum is blocking both or just one of your nostrils, restricting breathing through the nose, you may want to think about deviated septum surgery, also known as ‘septoplasty’. The stuffy nose can also cause significant bacteria growth, which can lead to infection and inflammation. If this occurs, septoplasty again would be appropriate.

If you have a deviated septum, but it does not impact your breathing, exercise, sleep or quality of life or lead to regular sinus infections (sinusitis), however, surgery is not typically required.

Although, for many patients suffering with severe symptoms from their deviated septum, a septoplasty can greatly improve their quality of life and health.

What happens in the deviated septum surgery?

During a septoplasty procedure, you will first of all be injected using general anaesthetic, so you will not feel any pain. Your surgeon will then make an incision on the septum lining. The septum will be re-aligned and after it has been corrected all of the incisions are stitched up.
The procedure can take up to 2 hours and often requires an overnight stay in hospital.

Septo-rhinoplasty (rhinoplasty and septoplasty combined)

If you have a deviated septum and were also interested in reshaping areas of your nose, you could be eligible for a septo-rhinoplasty procedure. This is a full nose correction procedure which can include natural-looking, subtle reshaping of the bridge, nose tip, and nostrils, in addition to alteration of the deviated nasal septum.
Sometimes, a deviated septum is discovered during an examination in patients’ rhinoplasty consultations, and surgeons may advise septo-rhinoplasty. If patients had not experienced any symptoms, patients may not have been aware that they had this condition.

Deviated Septum Correction at The Private Clinic

At The Private Clinic, we are proud to offer top UK Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons for our septoplasty and septo-rhinoplasty procedures who are extensively qualified and experienced in the procedures, achieving excellent results.

Our surgical teams are dedicated to outstanding care, aftercare and service. We are there for our patients at every step of the way, offering comprehensive care, which includes a 24 hour phone line, unlimited free follow up appointments for one year and a detailed patient guide. We also ensure our patients feel fully informed at every stage, providing honest, clear transparent information and advice.

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If you would like to find out more about septoplasty or septo-rhinoplasty procedures, or book a consultation with one of our surgeons, please call us on 0333 920 2471.

Best Rhinoplasty Surgeons

Our septoplasty and septo-rhinoplasty procedures are available with the following renowned expert surgeons:

• Mr Davood Fallahdar FRCS (Plast) Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (Plastic) GMC Number: 4686602
• Mr Navid Jallali BSc MB ChB (Hons) MD FRCS (Plast), GMC Number: 4404969
• Mr Adel Fattah, FRCS (Plast.) GMC Number: 4764599
• Mr Mrinal Supriya, FRCS, (OTOL-HNS), GMC Number: 6066458
• Ms Helena Antoniadou, MBBS, MD & Surg (Hons), FRCS (Eng), GMC Number: 3700956

Consultations for rhinoplasty procedures are available in our nose clinics in London Harley Street, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and Northampton.

We also offer consultations with highly knowledgeable patient advisors, of whom you can meet prior to meeting a surgeon for useful information and to help answer some of your initial questions.