What is a deviated septum?
The septum consists of cartilage and thin bone that runs down the center of your nose and divides the right and left nostrils. When the cartilage is off-center or crooked, you have a condition called a deviated septum.
Many people naturally have a small deviation that doesn’t cause symptoms. But when you have a severe deviation, it affects the appearance of your nose and blocks the airway.
Though an injury can cause a deviated septum, many people have a deviated septum even though they never suffered trauma or had a broken nose.
What symptoms develop if I have a deviated septum?
A deviated septum can make it hard to breathe and increase your risk of developing nasal and sinus infections. You might have symptoms associated with an infection, or a severe deviation alone may cause problems such as snoring and difficulty breathing.
You may experience:
- Nasal congestion
- Nasal obstruction
- Nosebleeds
- Chronic rhinitis
- Sinus infections
- Difficulty breathing
- Postnasal drip
- Noisy breathing while sleeping (in infants and young children)
- Mouth breathing (in adults)
These symptoms often interfere with your ability to sleep.
How is a deviated septum treated?
If you have a minor deviation with occasional congestion, you may only need over-the-counter decongestants, antihistamines, or steroids. These medications can ease your symptoms and restore breathing, but they don’t treat the deviated septum.
If you have difficult symptoms or a severe deviation, there’s only one way to fix the problem: You need septoplasty, which is surgery to correct the deviated septum.
How does septoplasty correct a deviated septum?
During a septoplasty, your Desert Cities Allergy & Otolaryngology provider straightens your septum and secures it in the center of your nose. The procedure typically involves trimming away the deviated part, replacing cartilage and/or bone as needed, and then repositioning the new septum.
The team at Desert Cities Allergy & Otolaryngology usually does the procedure through your nostrils, so you won’t have any scars. However, the incision placement can vary in special circumstances.
They also can’t do the surgery on young children. They need to wait until the facial bones stop growing in their teen years.
After surgery, you have swelling and nasal drainage that lasts a few days. Your provider gives you instructions to follow to prevent bleeding while you recover. For example, you won’t be able to blow your nose, and you should sleep with your head elevated.
If you have chronic nasal congestion or visible signs of a deviated septum, call Desert Cities Allergy & Otolaryngology today or use the online booking feature to request an appointment.
