What is a Septoplasty?
When medicines are ineffective, a surgical sinus procedure known as a septoplasty may be necessary to reposition a crooked septum and improve breathing. This involves removing excess bone or cartilage in order to create a larger breathing space, and is typically performed in an outpatient setting using local or general anesthesia.
Septoplasty Procedure
What to Expect During Recovery
Septoplasty’s are done in an outpatient setting and patients go home the same day. During the first week of recovery patients will have splints in each nasal cavity to hold the septum straight. The splints can make breathing through their nose difficult this first week. Patients are instructed to sleep elevated at a 45 degree angle, not blow their nose, and avoid any bending or lifting as they recover. Nasal congestion, thick nasal discharge, and some mild bleeding/oozing is normal. Patients are seen back in office 1 week after surgery and splints are removed. At this time patients are reintroduced to normal activity slowly and started on nasal saline irrigation. Patients should start to notice the improvement in nasal breathing shortly after and as septum continues to heal over the next 1 to 2 months.