A deviated septum occurs when the cartilage or bone is not straight. And to solve the problem, deviated septum surgery takes place. The septum can be deviated at birth (congenital) or because of an injury, such as a broken nose. Very few people have a perfectly straight septum. A crooked septum can make breathing difficult.

Before surgery, the doctor may use an endoscope to look at your nasal passages and to see the shape of your septum. The patient will receive anesthesia for the 60 to 90-minute operation, which is usually done in an outpatient surgery center. The septum and nasal passages are lined with a layer of soft tissue called the nasal mucosa. To repair the septum, the surgeon works through the nostrils, making an incision to separate the mucosa from the underlying cartilage and bone. The doctor trims or straightens the bent cartilage and then replaces the mucosa over the cartilage and bone. This surgery is called “septoplasty”.

During the recovery period of deviated septum surgery, the patient should perform nasal irrigation by using saline solution or as per the directions of the physician. Normal or harsh nose blowing is strictly not recommended. Deviated septum surgery is the most effective treatment method for chronic sinus infections, in which septum displacement is the sole reason for causing the condition. The procedure also helps in treating symptoms like recurrent difficulty in breathing, nosebleeds, and nasal congestion.

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