A septoplasty, refers to correction and surgery to the septum of your nose, which you cannot see on the inside of your nose. Commonly a septoplasty can be done at the same time as a rhinoplasty to help improve the breathing difficulties as well as improve the cosmetic outcome of the nose. However, severe breathing difficulties through the nose should be first assessed by an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) surgeon prior to obtaining a rhinoplasty.
The decision to have plastic surgery is extremely personal, and you’ll have to decide if the benefits of the surgery outweigh the risks and potential complications of surgery.
You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure and any risks. It is important that you address all your questions directly with your surgeon.
Rhinoplasty surgery is typically done under a general anesthetic. It can be done using a closed approach, where the incisions are hidden inside the nose, or an open procedure, where an incision is made across the columella, the narrow strip of tissue that separates the nostrils. Through these incisions, the skin that covers the nasal bones and cartilages is gently raised, allowing access to reshape the structure of the nose. If the intent of the rhinoplasty is to reshape the nose this is done by removing bone or cartilage from the septum (the partition in the middle of the nose). If the intent of the rhinoplasty is to correct breathing difficulties, this is done by straightening the deviated septum. Usually black non-dissolvable stitches will be used to close your surgical incisions. Sometimes dissolvable stitches are used as well, and your surgeon will make this decision during your surgery.
During the surgery, a splint will be placed on top of your nose. The splint is meant to support and protect your nose during initial healing. The splint and stitches will be removed at your first follow up in 5-7 days. Sometimes packing will be placed inside your nose during the surgery for additional support of your nose during the initial healing. You will remove the packing yourself, in 1-2 days at home.
The recovery process can be long and you should be prepared for it to take up to a year for your new nasal contour to fully define itself. During this time though you will notice gradual changes as your nose settles. Some patients have very obvious swelling and bruising in the first month. We advise that you are able to comfortably take time off work and social activities in order to have peace of mind.
A good candidate for surgery is a patient who is relatively healthy and has realistic expectations for post-operative outcomes. It is also strongly advised that you be a non-smoker at the time of surgery. If you are a smoker we recommend you quit smoking at least 3 months prior to surgery as nicotine can interfere with blood supply and potentially cause complications with healing after surgery.
