Septoplasty

Nose Jobs - Who Is A Candidate For Rhinoplasty Surgery?
Rhinoplasty is consistently one of the most requested forms of plastic surgery and the .....

A deviated septum can cause several problems in the patient. If the septum is not straight, as it should be, a person may experience headaches, sinus infections and may feel like they have a permanently blocked nose. Ear ache has also been linked to problems with the septum. Septoplasty will straighten out the septum and improve the ability to breathe through the nose, reducing the unpleasant symptoms.

During the operation, which will need to be performed under a general anaesthetic, the surgeon will make a small incision to allow him to operate. He will then remove a small amount of cartilage from the septum to straighten it before stitching up the incision. A splint will be applied to the nose to allow it to heal properly and the nostrils will be packed. Although the pain should not be unbearable it is normal to feel discomfort after the operation, especially as the packing in the nostrils will necessitate breathing through the mouth.

The splint can be removed after around 48 hours and there may be some bleeding as the packing is taken out. The bruising and swelling will gradually disappear over a period of several weeks. Some patients will notice numbness in the tip of their nose, but full sensation should return within a month of the operation. As with any form of rhinoplasty, minor nose bleeds are common, particularly if undertaking strenuous activity, and there may be a noticeable increase in mucus production. The patient should avoid blowing their nose for a couple of days.

Complications are rare but the patient should be made aware of potential risks before undergoing surgery. As previously mentioned, it is normal for the nose to bleed after the splints have been removed but in a minority of cases the bleeding may be persistent and medical assistance might be necessary. Infection is another risk and patients may notice an unpleasant smelling discharge or develop a fever. However, the infection should clear up within a couple of weeks with a prescription of antibiotics.

Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty - commonly referred to as a nose job - is surgery to improve the appearance of the nose or repair its function. As the nose is such a .....

The final complication that may arise is that the surgery may be unsuccessful. If the body does not heal as expected a hole may develop in the septum, it may heal crooked or the appearance of the nose may be disfigured. Revision rhinoplasty will be necessary to correct these problems.