Can Septoplasty Help Airway Breathing Issues?
By Dr. Fowler
Our breath is with us from the moment we are born until the moment we pass on. Yet, the ability to take a deep breath is something that many of us take for granted—until we’re unable to do it. If you’ve suffered with breathing issues for any amount of time, then you know how difficult it can be to live, move, and even sleep. It affects just about everything.
Whether your breathing issues stem from a deviated septum or something else, you may be wondering if you can ever breathe comfortably again. For many of our patients, the answer is yes, thanks to a procedure called “septoplasty.”
Let’s examine how this procedure may help provide relief for you or a loved one experiencing breathing issues.
Whether your breathing issues stem from a deviated septum or something else, you may be wondering if you can ever breathe comfortably again. For many of our patients, the answer is yes, thanks to a procedure called “septoplasty.”
Let’s examine how this procedure may help provide relief for you or a loved one experiencing breathing issues.
What Causes Airway Issues?
In order to determine the best treatment plans for our patients, we need to understand what’s causing their problems in the first place. When it comes to airway breathing difficulties, the most common cause we see as plastic surgeons is facial trauma that results in a deviated septum. This can occur from a single trauma, such as a car accident, or from a series of facial traumas over time like those that occur in contact sports. For some patients, their deviated septa are present at birth.
When this cartilage that divides the nose into two chambers becomes misaligned or bent, difficulty breathing, chronic sinus issues, and sleep apnea can result.
One important thing to note is that you can’t always tell a deviated septum by looking at the outside of the nose alone. Yes, sometimes a deviated septum is apparent and results in a crooked appearance of the nose, but oftentimes it’s not noticeable until we look at the underside of the nose or conduct other diagnostic tests.
How Can a Plastic Surgeon Help Airway Breathing Issues?
Plastic surgery is not always the first solution that comes to mind when people think about breathing issues. Often, medications or breathing devices are utilized first, especially in the case of sleep apnea. While these treatments do help many patients, they don’t help everyone. This is when people start to really consider plastic surgery as a reasonable solution for breathing issues caused by a deviated septum.
During a septoplasty, a board-certified plastic surgeon will access the soft, flexible cartilage within your nose to reposition or straighten it. The incision is made in the tissue between your nostrils (septum). In some cases, cartilage may need to be removed in order to fix the bending. Splints may be added within the nose to support proper healing, and these are usually removed a few days after surgery.
The outpatient procedure usually takes 1-2 hours, and most patients return to work within a few days. In most cases, patients are able to breathe more easily after the procedure and feel much better overall.
What if My Nose is Crooked? Will Septoplasty Fix It?
Oftentimes, our patients come to us to address a deviated septum and a broken nose. In these cases, we perform a procedure called “rhinoseptoplasty.” This is a combination of a rhinoplasty, which is conducted to realign the bones and reshape the nose, and a septoplasty as we described above. Through this method, we can address both the airway issue as well as the appearance of the nose in one procedure. As plastic surgeons, we find procedures like this extremely rewarding as they provide incredible relief to our patients.
How Do I Schedule a Consultation for Septoplasty?
Our skilled, friendly, and board-certified plastic surgeons at Northland Plastic Surgery are happy to answer all of your questions about the procedure and determine if you’re a good candidate for surgery. During our consultation, we’ll ask about your breathing history, including any trauma history, in order to develop a treatment plan that’s right for you. To schedule your consultation, give us a call at 218-724-7363.