Few people are born with the perfect nose. Most of us have a bone to pick with our noses, especially if we’ve suffered an injury that has resulted in deformity. Rhinoplasty, once of the most popular plastic surgery procedures in the nation, has helped millions of people – both women and men – who have suffered from crooked, overly long or overly wide noses. The treatment creates symmetry with a patient’s facial features by reducing the length and width of the nose or altering its shape altogether. But while many are aware of the cosmetic benefits of the procedure, not everyone knows about the medical benefits. Rhinoplasty surgery can also assist individuals suffering from a deviated septum.
The septum is name given to the bone and cartilage between the two nostrils that separates the nasal cavity. Usually, the septum lies in the center of the nose, ensuring the individual’s nasal passages are also symmetrical. A deviated septum, one of the most common physiological disorders of the nose, refers to a displacement causing the bone and cartilage to lean toward the left or right side.
The displacement can be caused by an injury to the nose but can also be the result of a congenital disorder resulting from compression of the nose during child birth. Regardless of what caused the issue, a deviated septum can pose serious problems for those who suffer from it.
A deviated septum can lead to a number of symptoms that can entirely disrupt an individual’s life. When the deviation is severe, the range of symptoms consequently increases, often resulting in unbearable pain for the individual. The most common symptoms include:
- Frequent sinus infections
- Difficulty breathing
- Snoring
- Loss of smell
- Frequent sneezing
- Sleep apnea
- Post nasal drip
- Nose bleeds
- Headache
- Facial pain
Some people struggle with the effects of a deviated septum their whole lives, never realizing that the problem can be easily fixed through plastic surgery. While the procedure to correct cosmetic nasal defects is known as Rhinoplasty, correction of a deviated septum is referred to as Septoplasty. For many patients, both medical AND cosmetic correction can be performed in a single surgery, resulting in superior aesthetic results. In this case, the treatment is referred to as a Septorhinoplasty procedure.
Septorhinoplasty is recommended in most cases, especially when the deviation is the result of an injury. Nasal injuries often lead to fractures, which can heal improperly, causing subsequent issues within the nose and greater obstruction within the nasal passages. Septorhinoplasty corrects all the issues associated with a deviated septum and treats any cosmetic imperfections as well.
Surgery – in both cosmetic and medical cases – usually takes about an hour, but the benefits last a lifetime. Once the nose is healed, the patient will no longer experience difficulty breathing or any of the other common symptoms of a deviated septum.
If you are suffering with a deviated septum, contact Dr. Leonard Grossman today for a consultation. Dr. Grossman is an experienced plastic surgeon in New York who has successfully performed hundreds of Rhinoplasty, Septoplasty and Septorhinoplasty procedures and will help you achieve relief for your symptoms.
