Deviated Septum

Nasal septum is a wall that is made of bone and cartilage, separating the two sides of the passage airway or the nasal cavity of the nose. A deviated septum may be associated or cause a "crooked" external nose appearance which can also be caused by impact trauma (a broken nose). Deviated septum can also be the result of a congenital disorder that is caused by compression of the nose during childbirth. Congenital disorder can also be caused by aging. It is an abnormal condition in which the wall (nasal septum) is not situated in the center of the nose and instead leans towards the left or the right. This situation creates a blockage of air flow within the nose and can create a number of problems, mainly difficulties in breathing, allergies, poor drainage of the sinuses, snoring and headaches.

According to Dr. Sam Rizk, who was selected as one of the top nose job surgeons in the world by Tatler magazine, although most people don’t have a perfectly straight septum, a good surgeon should evaluate the septum and determine if it is contributing to a crooked nose. If it is, a facial plastic surgeon who can correct both conditions. If there is a pain or a difficulty breathing caused by a deviated septum, it is necessary to correct it surgically since no medication can correct it.

The surgery in which the septum is straightened is called septoplasty. During the surgery, the surgeon may apply other surgical techniques to treat chronic sinusitis or to correct sleep apnea (snoring). The doctor may use endoscope (a thin, light instrument) to look at the nasal passages, evaluate the shape of the patient’s septum and devise a route that will minimize bleeding and inflammation. The patient will receive local or general anesthesia for the 45 minutes operation on to correct a deviated septum.

Other Links:

• Deviated Septum FAQs