A deviated septum is a medical condition in which the nasal septum is crooked, often addressed with a septoplasty procedure. This occurrence can cause a person to have difficulty breathing, making them constantly feel as if they have a stuffy nose. In addition, a deviated septum can result in sleep apnea, which makes it difficult for the afflicted person to sleep at night. Between disrupted sleep and a permanently stuffy nose, a deviated septum can prove to be quite inconvenient. Patients who are suffering from a deviated septum should set up a consultation appointment with a qualified plastic surgeon who can help them determine if they need a septoplasty or a nose job.
Medical Troubles with Deviated Septums
While most surgical options available at a board-certified plastic surgeon’s office are strictly cosmetic procedures designed to improve a patient’s appearance, there also are some medical options for plastic surgery available. One of the most common medical procedures performed at plastic surgery practices is the septoplasty, which is a surgery that aims to correct a deviated septum. Patients are often surprised to find out that this is, in fact, considered a medical procedure. It is given this classification because it fixes a structural issue with the nose while at the same time providing patients with relief from physical symptoms.
The deviated septum is commonly misunderstood throughout the public and even the medical community. Many patients wrongly assume that they will need a rhinoplasty to fix a deviated septum. While a nose job would fix the appearance, the patient would likely still suffer from annoying symptoms such as trouble breathing, a stuffy nose, nose bleeds, and difficulty sleeping at night. The septoplasty addresses the functional issues, allowing a patient to live a better life. Some patients do require aesthetic work, and for these patients, the septorhinoplasty procedure is available. This procedure combines the structural work of the septoplasty with the cosmetic work of the rhinoplasty, providing patients with the best of both worlds.
Septoplasty
A septoplasty is not a cosmetic surgery procedure, but it is most often performed by board-certified plastic surgeons. This procedure is a medical surgery that is designed to fix the actual structure of the nose. By addressing structural issues, this surgery aims to allow a person to breathe better and enjoy improved sleep. As this is a medical procedure, many insurance companies will cover it as long as the patient is experiencing negative side effects, such as headaches, difficulty breathing, excessive snoring, facial pain, and nosebleeds.
Some patients who have a deviated septum do not appear to have a crooked nose. It is simply the innermost structure that is causing an obstruction. On the other hand, some patients do have a bump on their nose where the deviation occurs, and others have a crooked nasal bridge. If a person has a crooked nose, it is vital that they explore their cosmetic surgery options. The septoplasty procedure will not address this issue or fix the crooked nose.
Rhinoplasty
A rhinoplasty procedure is a cosmetic surgery that is commonly known as a nose job. The purpose of this surgery is to improve the appearance of the nose. Many patients who have a deviated septum want not only to fix the structure of their nose, but they also want to eliminate the bump, hump, or crooked bridge that has resulted from the septum’s structural deformity.
Most often, people who have a deviated septum as a result of an injury will experience a crooked nose. A rhinoplasty, or a septorhinoplasty procedure, is required in order to fix this aesthetic issue. As this is a cosmetic improvement, many insurance plans will not cover the cost of the rhinoplasty. It’s important to talk with your insurance provider and see what the financial impact will be for you.
Consulting a Plastic Surgeon for Surgery Plans
It is important to note that most patients who are born with a deviation in their septum will most likely only require a septoplasty surgery. However, if a patient has suffered an injury that resulted in a deviation, they will likely require a septorhinoplasty surgery. A primary rhinoplasty would not fix the injury, and the injured patient would find that their nose returned to its crooked shape within a few months’ time. Patients are asked to discuss their specific situations with their plastic surgeons at a consultation appointment.
After the consultation is complete, the professional plastic surgeon will develop a septoplasty plan for the patient. Some patients will have the deviated portion of their nose removed completely. Other patients will have the deviated portion taken out and reshaped by the surgeon. After the reshaping process is complete, the deviated portion is placed back into the nose. Patients should be aware that other cosmetic surgery procedures can be performed at the same time as the septoplasty. Other procedures patients might be interested in include the turbinectomy or the endoscopic sinus surgery, both of which could provide enhanced relief after the operation is complete.
Patients need to understand the differences between these two procedures before they head to their consultation appointment with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Many people wrongly assume that the rhinoplasty will correct their medical condition, and they might think that the septoplasty will address their cosmetic deformities. Some patients require one or the other procedure, while others require a combination surgery that addresses the medical issues and the cosmetic issues with the nose. For more information and to have an evaluation done, set up a consultation appointment with an expert plastic surgeon today.