SEPTOPLASTY

The interior of the nose is separated into two chambers by a partition made of cartilage and bone, known as the septum. Sometimes this wall is crooked, or deviated, from birth, while other times it may incur defects due to an injury. Drug addiction may also play a role in damaging the septum. As a result, a patient may experience obstructed breathing, sinus infections, postnasal drip, headaches and even nosebleeds. Persons with a deviated septum may breathe noisily during the day and snore at night. Insomnia, or sleep apnea, is a common complaint as well. Dr. Shabdiz offers Septoplasty treatment to his patients in Orange County, CA. If you’re interested in deviated septum surgery, visit Dr. Shabdiz for a consultation.

BENEFITS OF SEPTOPLASTY

Although sleep aids, decongestants and allergy medications may provide some temporary relief for these troublesome symptoms, only the septoplasty procedure can permanently correct the source of the problem, straightening out the septum cartilage in order to relieve the blockage. Septoplasty is most often accompanied by rhinoplasty, for cosmetic changes. However, if the patient does not wish to make any cosmetic changes to the exterior of the nose, septoplasty can be performed on its own, or in conjunction with sinus or nasal valve surgery.

DETAILS OF THE SEPTOPLASTY PROCEDURE

Septoplasty can be performed under general or local anesthesia at an ambulatory surgical center or affiliated hospital, and generally takes about one hour. Unlike most cosmetic procedures, septoplasty is usually covered in full by insurance companies.

The same as rhinoplasty, the Septoplasty is performed as a closed procedure, with all incisions made invisibly inside the nose.

After the incision is made, the mucus membrane covering the septum partition is elevated, exposing the bone and cartilage, which can then be reshaped, or in some cases partially removed. With the breathing passageways successfully cleared, the mucus membrane is then sutured back into place, accompanied by silastic splints.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT SURGEON FOR YOUR SEPTOPLASTY

Scores of deviated septum clients have experienced restored breathing and nasal functioning as a result of Dr. Shabdiz’s expertise. Septoplasty is a technically demanding, complex procedure requiring a background in both facial plastic surgery and ear, nose and throat medicine (otolaryngology). As such, choosing a board certified specialist such as Dr. Shabdiz–who has spent thousands of hours in training, residency and practice focused exclusively on the nose–ensures the most precise and successful outcomes.

Every septoplasty begins with a detailed private consultation, during which Dr. Shabdiz will assess your medical records, prior surgeries, any medications or supplements you may be taking, your anesthesia preferences, and your goals for the procedure. This is a good time to let the doctor know of any allergies or discomfort you may be experiencing. Once he has formulated your customized treatment plan, Dr. Shabdiz will walk you through what to expect from start to finish.

RECOVERY FROM SEPTOPLASTY

Septoplasty patients typically return home the same day as their surgery. The sutures used during the procedure will dissolve on their own, and silastic splints will be removed within 3-4 days. Some drainage and swelling is to be expected, but clients can help remedy this by sleeping with their head in an elevated position for a few weeks. Strenuous activities and vigorous nose blowing should be avoided for 10-14 days. Because this procedure is performed within the nose structure, there will not be a visible scar on your nose. As healing progresses, deviated septum patients will find their breathing has improved significantly, along with their quality of life.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A RHINOPLASTY AND A SEPTOPLASTY

If you’re not a specialist, and you’ve never really investigated the subject of nose surgery, it might be easy to view any “nose job” as pretty much the same sort of procedure.

While it’s true that the term “rhinoplasty” can be applied to the whole topic of nose surgery, including procedures that are strictly for cosmetic purposes, the word “septoplasty” has a very specific meaning.

THE SEPTUM

There is a wall of cartilage and bone inside your nose that separates your nostrils. This is known as the septum. If this wall is moved too far to one side, you don’t really have two functioning nostrils. This is known as a “deviated septum.”

Some people are born with this condition, but an injury to the nose can also push the septum out of place.

PROBLEMS FROM A DEVIATED SEPTUM

As you might imagine, having one side of your nose constantly blocked can create problems. Aside from the most obvious one – difficulty breathing – individuals with a deviated septum can experience the following:

FREQUENT NOSEBLEEDS
A DRY MOUTH, AS A CONSEQUENCE OF REGULARLY BREATHING THROUGH THE MOUTH
SLEEPING DIFFICULTIES RESULTING FROM BREATHING PROBLEMS
REGULAR SINUS INFECTIONS, WHICH CLEARLY DO NOT HELP WITH BREATHING PROBLEMS

THE SOLUTION

Septoplasty is a surgical procedure in which the septum is moved into its normal position, enabling the patient to breathe normally. This is not a cosmetic procedure, but a surgery undertaken to restore normal function of the nose.

AM I A CANDIDATE FOR THIS PROCEDURE?

Not every deviated septum is sufficiently out of place to cause problems that require surgery. However, if you experience the following symptoms, this procedure could bring relief to you:

YOU HAVE SIGNIFICANT TROUBLE BREATHING.
YOU CAN’T SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO BREATHE PROPERLY.
YOU HAVE A PERSISTENT STUFFY NOSE.
YOU ARE AN EXCESSIVE SNORER, EVEN TO THE EXTENT THAT YOUR SNORING IS PREVENTING YOUR SPOUSE OR PARTNER FROM BEING ABLE TO SLEEP COMFORTABLY, AND YOUR QUALITY OF SLEEP IS AFFECTED.