Septoplasty
Septoplasty (Lat. septum — partition + Ancient Greek πλαστική — plastics) is a surgical operation to correct a deviated nasal septum.
Unlike rhinoplasty, the purpose of the operation is not to restore the correct shape of the nose, but to improve nasal breathing.
If correction of the shape of the nose needs to be combined with septoplasty, a complex operation called rhinoseptoplasty is performed.
Contraindications
- Presence of blood clotting disorders, oncological and infectious diseases, severe diabetes mellitus;
- Severe pathologies of internal organs, diseases in the acute stage;
- It is not recommended for women to undergo the operation during menstruation.
Stages of the Procedure
Preoperative Period
- One week before the nasal septum correction surgery, the intake of aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as blood-thinning medications, is discontinued.
- A day or two before the operation, medical tests are performed, including a complete blood count, urinalysis, ECG, etc.
- Eating food is prohibited less than 12 hours before the operation. On the day of surgery, eating and drinking anything in the morning is strictly prohibited!
Surgical Intervention
The operation is performed under general anesthesia and involves conservative excision/reconstruction of a part of the bone and/or cartilage in the nasal cavity.
The duration of the operation is 45–60 minutes and depends on the individual structure and condition of the nasal septum.
No external incisions are made. The main part of the nasal septum is left in the nose; only the deviated areas are removed.
Postoperative Period
- During the first day after septoplasty, special hemostatic sponges are placed in the patient’s nose, which makes nasal breathing impossible. They are removed the morning after the operation. The sutures are absorbable and do not need to be removed.
- The patient remains in the clinic for 1 day.
- The duration of the recovery period for nasal breathing ranges from 2 to 6 weeks.
Restrictions
A patient with a corrected septum must avoid physical exertion, hypothermia, and overheating for 4 weeks, and exclude alcoholic beverages and hot food from their diet for 2 weeks.
