Difficulty breathing through your nose? A deviated septum may be complicating your breathing.
When breathing is complicated, it impacts nearly every moment of your life. Whether you’ve been diagnosed or are suspicious that a deviated septum is the cause of your inability to breathe unrestricted, learning more about the issue and addressing it will put you on the path towards relief.
What is a deviated septum?
A septum, which consists of bone and cartilage, serves as a wall. The septum in your nose separates the inside of your nose into two cavities. The septum should be centered in the nose, allowing both the left and right sides of your nose to contribute equally to your breathing. When the nasal septum is not straight or unevenly situated, favoring one side, breathing becomes more complex.
Although the majority of people have nasal passages that are different sizes, a severely off-center septum forces one side to be significantly smaller than the other. This smaller space can block or limit airflow in one of your nasal passages, and without proper airflow, breathing becomes difficult. It can also cause crusting and bleeding, which can be both painful and embarrassing.
A deviated septum is common, with an estimated 80% being off-center (1). Symptoms of a deviated septum include:
- Nasal blockages (one or both nostrils)
- Difficulty breathing through the nose
- Nasal congestion
- Nosebleeds
- Sinusitis (chronic or recurrent sinus infections)
- Facial pain
- Headaches
- Postnasal drip
- Snoring and noisy breathing
Deviated Septum Surgery: What is septoplasty?
If your chronic or recurrent sinusitis is caused by a deviated septum and nothing else, septoplasty will bring you relief fast!
Deviated septum surgery is called septoplasty. Septoplasty is a surgical procedure that corrects the displacement of the bone and cartilage that separates your two nasal cavities. The procedure allows the doctor to straighten or reposition the septum, equalizing the space in each of the nostrils so air can flow through each evenly and without obstruction. Portions of the septum may be readjusted and reinserted or removed during the procedure depending on the current position of your septum.
If undergoing septoplasty, you can expect a 1-1.5 hour procedure with no external bruising after the surgery unless combined with a rhinoplasty procedure. To correct sinusitis, if a deviated septum is not the only cause of your nasal blockage, the procedure may be performed in conjunction with endoscopic sinus surgery.
The surgery is typically an outpatient procedure and is followed by nasal packing to catch any potential bleeding that occurs after the surgery.
How to Know if Deviated Septum Surgery is Right for You
An Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) doctor can diagnose your deviated septum and determine if a deviated septum is the cause for your sinusitis. The ENT will discuss your symptoms during an examination, learn about your medical history, ask about prior nasal surgeries, and if a diagnosis is made, create a plan for treatment.
This treatment plan may include surgery, which is the only way to correct a deviated septum fully. When nosebleeds or recurrent sinus infections are symptoms of your deviated septum, surgery can fix these issues. In certain situations, additional tests may be performed to ensure that your problems are thoroughly analyzed before a course of treatment is decided.
Act now with North Texas Sinus Center and Dr. Gilmore!
Correct your nasal obstruction issue and experience relief with North Texas Sinus Center.
Deviated septum surgery is one way to relieve nasal obstruction but is it right for you?
To further explore your issue and investigate if deviated septum surgery is the right option, continue reading and then schedule an appointment to discuss your options with Dr. Gilmore at the North Texas Sinus Center.
Schedule Your AppointmentDr. Gilmore is an experienced ear, nose, and throat specialist with over 30 years of experience treating sinusitis and deviated septums. The first step in your path to relief from your deviated septum is by scheduling an appointment with Dr. Gilmore.
Our process begins and ends around you and your needs, consisting of four steps, including:
- Detailed Exam
- Diagnosis
- Treatment Plan
- Track Treatment Results
To discover if deviated septum surgery is the best course of action, schedule an appointment today. Better breathing, a less complicated life, is right around the corner, but you have to take the first step.
