Deviated septum operation

A deviated septum is one of the most frequent causes of poor nasal breathing. When the wall separating the two nasal passages is crooked, air does not circulate properly and congestion, snoring or recurrent sinusitis appear. A septoplasty is the surgery that straightens that septum to restore normal breathing. If you are looking for deviated septum surgery in Barcelona, Dr. Guilemany performs it without packing and, if you wish, together with a rhinoplasty.

What is a deviated septum?

The nasal septum is the structure of cartilage and bone that divides the nose into two passages. When it is deviated — through genetics or an injury — it narrows one or both passages and makes it harder for air to pass. It does not always cause symptoms, but when it does they affect sleep and quality of life.

Symptoms of a deviated septum

• Nasal congestion or obstruction, often more marked on one side.
• Snoring and poorer quality of sleep.
• Recurrent sinusitis or colds.
• Nasal dryness and, occasionally, nosebleeds.
• A feeling of not breathing well during exercise.

When is surgery worthwhile?

Surgery is indicated when the deviation causes symptoms that do not improve with medical treatment (sprays, rinses) and that affect your daily life. The first step is an assessment with a nasal endoscopic examination to confirm the cause and rule out other problems, such as enlarged turbinates.

What a septoplasty involves

A septoplasty is performed inside the nose, with no external scars. The surgeon straightens or removes the deviated portion of the septum and rebuilds it so the passages are aligned and stable. In most cases no nasal packing is used, which makes recovery far more comfortable.

Septoplasty and rhinoplasty together (septorhinoplasty)

If, as well as breathing better, you want to change the shape of your nose, both can be done in a single operation: septorhinoplasty. That way you correct function and appearance at once, with one recovery. We explain it under primary rhinoplasty.

Recovery

Recovery is usually quick and involves little pain; nasal breathing returns to normal in about two weeks. You have the day-by-day detail in rhinoplasty recovery.

Frequently asked questions

Does septum surgery leave a scar?

No. A septoplasty is done inside the nose, so it leaves no visible scars on the outside.

Will it change the shape of my nose?

A septoplasty is functional: it corrects breathing without altering appearance. If you also want to change the shape, it is combined with rhinoplasty in the same surgery.

Is nasal packing used?

In most cases we do not use packing, which makes recovery far more bearable. Nasal rinses begin the following day.

When will I notice I breathe better?

Congestion during the first few days is normal, similar to a cold. Nasal breathing returns to normal at around two weeks.