How to Fix a Deviated Septum One and for All
Deviated septums are very common. Roughly 80% of people have a deviated septum, and if left untreated, the deviation can lead to serious issues, including chronic sinus problems, nosebleeds, and disrupted sleep.
Living with a deviated septum can be challenging, but fixing it is easy. With all of our new technology, deviated septum surgery is an outpatient surgery that leaves you with little to no scarring.
Read on to learn more about how to fix a deviated septum once and for all.
What Is a Deviated Septum?
The bone and cartilage that separates the inside of the nose in half are called the nasal septum. A septum is made up of left and right nasal passageways that are equal in size. It is considered a deviated septum when the nasal septum is off-center.
There are a few ways that deviated septums occur; rough childbirth is the most common cause; in some cases, you can develop one in the womb. You can also develop a deviated septum through a nose injury.
Deviated Septum Symptoms
Many people are not aware that they have a deviated septum; they think the symptoms of a deviated septum are normal for them, but living with a deviated septum can have many negative impacts on your life.
If you are living with a deviated septum, you may experience one or more of the following:
- Trouble breathing in one or both nostrils
- Sinus infections
- Nosebleeds
- Mouth-breathing during sleep in adults
- Noisy breathing during sleep in infants and young children
- Trouble sleeping, causing sleep apnea
How to Fix a Deviated Septum
Fixing a deviated septum can be quick and relatively painless, as far as surgeries go. Deviated septum surgery is generally an outpatient surgery, and you can go home the same day.
There are no external incisions, external swelling, or bruising. The surgery takes place on the inside of the nose, leaving you with as little scarring as possible. Because nasal packing is no longer necessary, there is minimal pain or discomfort associated with this surgery.
How to Pick a Rhinoplasty Surgeon
Finding the best rhinoplasty surgeon can be difficult if you don’t know what to look for. Let’s walk through a few things that you will want to look for when it comes to your deviated septum surgery.
You want to ask around; maybe some of your friends or mutual friends can recommend a surgeon. From there, start forming a list of surgeons you want to research.
Do the research, don’t just go off of a suggestion. Pay attention to the surgeon’s credentials, experience, and reviews.
Make sure whoever you pick comes from a reputable, clean hospital that has good performance reviews.
Most importantly, make sure your insurance covers the surgeon you pick. You want to make sure you know your cost upfront.
Now What?
Taking care of yourself is one of the best things you can do. If you notice that you have some of the symptoms listed above, talk to your doctor, you may find out that you have a deviated septum.
If you found this article on how to fix a deviated septum helpful, check out our other articles for more helpful advice.
