Septoplasty

FAQs 

• HOW MUCH PAIN WILL I HAVE 

Most patients either take only Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or nothing at all. However, in the small chance that you do have pain, a prescription for narcotics will be given to you after the operation. On average, if you do have pain, it will last 3-5 days. 

• WHY IS MY SEPTUM DEVIATED? 

Although trauma can cause a septum to become deviated (crooked), most people with deviated septums have never suffered any trauma. During development, the upper jaw is very narrow and high, but during development during the early childhood years, your jaws widen and the roof of your mouth should drop. If the roof of your mouth (floor of your nose) doesn’t drop enough, as your nasal septum grows, it can bulge to one side or the other. Sometimes it gets wider. It’s important to remember that most people with deviated septums will also have swelling of the turbinates (see below) and flimsy nostrils, in addition to a more narrow nasal sidewalls. 

• WHEN IS SURGERY NEEDED FOR A DEVIATED SEPTUM? 

Surgery is usually recommended when medical therapy doesn’t help your stuffy nose. Oftentimes, over-the-counter and prescription allergy medications are prescribed. Everyone has a slightly deviated septum. Just because it’s deviated is not a reason to undergo surgery. The only reason to consider surgery is if you’re having problems breathing though your nose, despite medical treatments. 

• WILL THE OPERATION CHANGE THE SHAPE OR APPEARANCE OF MY NOSE OR FACE? 

Not with septoplasty and/or turbinoplasty alone. Procedure for nostril stiffening or external cosmetic procedures may change the nose, so this possibility must be discussed with your surgeon. 

• CAN I BLOW MY NOSE AFTER SURGERY? 

Yes, very gently, after irrigating with nasal saline. Ignore what the hospital tells you. 

• WILL MY FACE BE SWOLLEN OR BLACK AND BLUE? 

No, not from simple septoplasty and turbinoplasty. Usually, only if the nasal bones are broken for rhinoplasty or after nasal trauma will you have black and blue eyes.                                                                                          

• WHICH MEDICATIONS SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN BEFORE THE OPERATION? 

No Aspirin, Ibuprofen or blood thinning medications. If you are on blood thinning medications, please let your doctor know. Please pick up a few bottles of nasal saline and squirt it up both your nostrils every 3-4 hours during the day. This should be continued for 7 days after the procedure. Please pick up a few bottles of nasal saline and squirt it up both your nostrils every 3-4 hours during the day. This should be continued for 7 days after the procedure.