What Is Septum Plastic Surgery And What Does It Involve?

Septumplasty is a surgical procedure to repair the nasal passages and facilitate breathing. It is an operation that is usually performed on patients with a deviated nasal septum, recurrent rhinitis or sinus problems.

Septum plastic surgery is also known as septal reconstruction. It is important to clarify that this is not an aesthetic procedure. Although it creates a change in the shape of the nose, the purpose of the procedure is not to improve the appearance but to avoid health difficulties.

What is septum plastic surgery?

Septumplasty is a corrective surgical procedure to correct aberrant nasal septum. The nasal septum should be in the center of the nose. If it is not adjusted correctly, one of the nostrils risks becoming narrower. This will prevent normal airflow and cause difficulty breathing.

The presence of a deviating nasal septum is known as septal dysmorphy. It is a change whose origin may be congenital or acquired. In the first case, it is the result of pressure during pregnancy, birth traumas or changes in craniofacial development. In the second, it is due to trauma or change in balanced growth.

Also read: Enlarged Nasal Mussels: Causes and Symptoms

Nasal abnormality can cause obstruction, predominantly oral breathing, tendency to sleep apnea and dry mouth. It is a problem that is often the result of allergies or narrow nasal passages.

What does this procedure involve?

In most cases, septum plastic surgery involves general anesthesia. It is an outpatient surgery, which means it does not require hospitalization.

The patient undergoing this procedure lies on the back of a stretcher. The patient’s head should be raised above the torso by approx. 30 degrees.

The procedure begins with vasoconstrictive and anesthetic infiltration into the septal mucosa. This allows the correct dissection between cartilage and bone. Then surgeons lift the lining, which is the inner lining of the nose. In this way, they expose the tissue that requires remodeling.

Sometimes it is necessary to remove small pieces of bone and cartilage. The next step is to put the mucosa back in place and close it with sutures. The surgeon usually leaves a nasal plug in place for 48 hours so that no bruising or bleeding occurs.

Differences between septum plastic surgery and rhinoplasty

In general, rhinoplasty refers to any nose surgery. However, septimplasty and rhinoplasty are not the same. On the one hand, septum plastic surgery aims to correct a malformed nasal septum. On the other hand, rhinoplasty seeks to change the shape of the nose.

A nose correction is an operation that changes the outer nose structure and improves its aesthetic appearance. Although in some cases it may help the proper functioning of the nose, this is not the specific purpose of the surgery. In conclusion, the biggest difference is that where septum plasticity has a medical origin, rhinoplasty is of aesthetic origin.

Before and after surgery: What to consider?

To have a septum plastic surgery, talk to your doctor about how to prepare yourself and what risks it can cause. You should have your medical history available to answer any questions that your doctor may have about your medical history.

Your doctor will perform a physical examination where they scan the skin on the inside and outside of your nose. The doctor can take photographs that serve as a reference for you during the upcoming surgery.

Also read: The risks of bleeding after surgery

Before this surgery it is best not to take any medication like ibuprofen or aspirin. This is because they can increase bleeding. If you smoke, your doctor will ask you to stop smoking days before the operation. The day before, do not eat too much or drink alcoholic beverages.

After surgery, consider the following:

• Rest with your head slightly raised.
• Avoid brushing your nose for a few weeks.
• Wear clothing that opens and closes at the front or back to avoid pulling the clothing over your head.
• Do not perform strenuous activities such as aerobics.
• Avoid foods that are very hot and avoid alcohol.

• Do not smoke for the first few months.

Healing after septum plastic surgery

It is normal to feel slight swelling of the face, headache and nasal obstruction on the first day after the septum. The discomfort is usually mild during the healing period and can be easily controlled with oral painkillers. Blockage tends to disappear after a week.

Generally, your doctor will ask you to rest all day after surgery. To help relieve the swelling, you can place cold compresses on your face without moisturizing your nose. During the first 24 hours, do not take a bath or shower. To clean the area, follow the instructions given to you by your doctor when you are sent home.

If you have trouble breathing or heavy nosebleeds that do not stop, call your doctor or go to the emergency room. The same is true if you experience pain that does not go away with pain medication, high fever and chills, disorientation or a stiff neck.