Deviated septum surgery recovery

Deviated Septum

Deviation of the nasal septum is a medical condition in which nasal septum is inclined to one half of the nasal cavity causing difficulties with breathing, recurrent sinus infections and nose bleed. The recovery time after surgical repair lasts approximately 3 days to a week.

Nasal septum deviation is a problem which affects a lot of people. The septum normally separates left and right nasal cavity. Its upper part is made of bone and lower one is made of cartilage. The deviation affects cartilage of the septum. The septum is normally positioned if it is centered and if it symmetrically separates nasal cavity. In nasal septum deviation the septum is inclined to either left or right part of the nasal cavity causing its blockage. This medical condition can be congenital or acquired.

Some people are not aware of the presence of nasal septum deviation. They feel no symptoms and this is why they need no correction at all. On the other hand, people who are suffering from chronic sinus infections, those who have recurrent nosebleeds or even those who cannot sleep at night and snore are perfect candidates for this type of surgery.

Deviated Septum Surgery and Recovery

Surgical repair of deviated nasal septum is called septoplasty. This surgical procedure can be done alone or in a combination with other surgical procedures such as rhynoplasty or sinus surgery. There are no incision lines on the very nose and all the cutting is performed inside the nose.

The operation is most commonly performed under general anesthesia. Still in some patients it can be also performed under local anesthesia. Septoplasty lasts around an hour and a half.

The patient's cartilage is taken out, straightened and then placed back on its original spot. Sometimes the doctor needs to manipulate on the bony part of the septum to achieve desirable results. After the surgeon has finished the nostrils are filled with nasal packing. They prevents bleeding. Additional gauze can be placed onto the top of the nose. The function of this gauze is to collect blood. The gauze needs to be changed regularly. After the surgery patients are given antibiotics to prevent possible infections.

Patients recover from septoplasty completely within a week and they can start working again. During the recovery and after the nasal packings are removed the patient can irrigate nasal cavities with saline solution.

Septoplasty is a surgical procedure with not so many possible complications. The results of the operation are excellent.