WHAT IS A SEPTOPLASTY ?
WHAT IS A SEPTOPLASTY ?
The nasal septum is the partition dividing it into the right and left sides on the inside of the nose. It is made up of hard bone at the back, and flexible cartilage at the front towards the tip.
Twists and bends of this partition may cause your nose to feel blocked on one or both sides, and a septoplasty is an operation on the inside of the nose to straighten the septum, which will improve the breathing through your nose.
WHAT IS THE AIM OF SEPTOPLASTY?
To improve the breathing through the nose by straightening the nasal septum, without changing the appearance of the nose on the outside.
By unblocking the nose, septoplasty may improve snoring.
Septoplasty may also be used to improve the access to the sinuses on the inside of the nose if an operation on the sinuses is needed.
If the nose is twisted on the outside as well as the bend in the nasal septum on the inside of your nose, the nasal bones may need to be reset as well as the septum via a Septorhinoplasty to achieve optimal results.
HOW IS THE OPERATION DONE?
Septoplasty is carried out with you asleep (general anaesthetic), and takes between ½ hour and an hour. Cuts are made inside your nose, so there is no visible scars or bruising on your face. On very rare occasions where the nasal septum is very badly twisted, a small cut across the bridge of skin between the nostrils at the bottom of the nose may be necessary. The twisted parts of the nasal septum are straightened by the removal of small amounts of bone and cartilage from the septum which are not needed. The septum is then held in place with internal dissolving stitches.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE OPERATION?
You may have small dressings (called packs) in the nose for a few hours following surgery, to prevent bleeding. Small sheets of plastic may be placed inside the nose at the end of the operation to prevent scar tissue forming as the nose heals. These are usually removed in the outpatient department one week following surgery.
It may be possible to go home on the same day as surgery or the following day.
Your nose will feel stuffy for 2 weeks following your operation, and it may take 6 weeks for your breathing to become clear. As your nose will feel blocked and you will be breathing through your mouth, you may have a dry throat. Drink plenty of clear fluids if this is the case.
If you have to sneeze, do so freely through your mouth without ‘bottling it up’ in your nose. You should avoid smoky or dusty surroundings.
A small amount of blood stained mucus from the nose is quite normal during the first week or two, and you may be given some nasal drops or sniffs to help this.
It is important not to blow the nose or to cough and strain during the first week to prevent bleeding.
You should avoid strenuous activity, sports or exercise for about 2-3 weeks as this may cause discomfort and bleeding.
You will need to be off work for 2 weeks following your operation, but possibly longer if your work is strenuous or involves a lot of lifting.
DOES IT HURT?
Your nose will be slightly uncomfortable and blocked due to the inevitable short term swelling of the nasal lining following your operation, but is not usually painful.
Paracetamol is usually sufficient if required, but try to avoid aspirin containing drugs, which may thin the blood and cause bleeding.
DOES SEPTOPLASTY HAVE ANY RISKS OR COMPLICATIONS?
Septoplasty is a commonly performed operation and is very safe, but as with any operation involving a general anaesthetic carries a small risk. This risk is greater if you are in poor general health and have serious long term medical conditions such as heart disease or diabetes.
Possible risks with septoplasty are:-
q Bleeding from the nose, which may need you to return to hospital and your nose to be packed.
q Infection in the nose, usually requiring antibiotic treatment.
q Septal perforation. If the septum does not heal fully following your operation, a hole may be left in it between one side of the nose and the other. Usually this will not cause any problems, but may cause minor intermittent nose bleeds or crusting, and sometimes a whistling sound when you breathe through the nose. If troublesome, the hole may be repaired later.
q Scar tissue may form between the septum and the side wall of the nose as the septum heals. This may need to be treated by further minor operations usually in the outpatient department with local anaesthetic (the nose being numbed by drugs placed into the nose with you awake), or occasionally with a further general anaesthetic.
q Alteration of the shape of the nose may occur up to some months following septoplasty, as the nose heals fully. There may be subtle dips or depressions in the bridge of your nose, in the shape of the tip or in the skin bridge between the nostrils at the bottom of the nose. If they happen, these changes are usually minor and don’t need any treatment, but if noticeable, they can be corrected by another operation later.
q Numbness of the upper teeth very occasionally occurs, but often settles with time.