Septoplasty · Deviated septum correction
Septoplasty: Compare practices from our network
Septoplasty straightens the wall of bone and cartilage that divides the two sides of your nose, so that air can pass more freely. It is functional surgery, done to improve breathing rather than to change how the nose looks. It is often medically indicated, which sets it apart from purely aesthetic treatments.
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How to choose a septoplasty surgeon
Board certification is the starting point. The details below are worth weighing carefully when you're choosing the surgeon who's right for your goals.
Here's what to look for before you decide:
They should examine inside your nose before proposing anything.
A deviated septum is diagnosed by looking, usually with a light or a small endoscope, not by listening to a description of congestion. A surgeon who proposes surgery without that examination cannot know whether the septum is the cause of your blockage.
They should tell you what surgery will not fix.
Allergy, chronic rhinitis, sinusitis and enlarged turbinates cause very similar congestion and are treated differently. A surgeon who separates out which part of your blockage is structural, and says plainly that the rest needs medical treatment, is giving you an accurate picture.
They should be explicit about function versus appearance.
Septoplasty is done for breathing and does not change how your nose looks. If a consultation about breathing drifts into reshaping without you raising it, ask directly whether they are now describing a septorhinoplasty, and why.
Ear, nose and throat training or facial plastic surgery experience both count.
Septoplasty is performed by ENT surgeons and by facial plastic surgeons. What matters is that this is regular work for them and that they are comfortable with the whole nasal airway, including the valve and the turbinates, rather than the septum alone.
They should set expectations for the healing period, not just the operation.
Weeks of congestion, crusting and extra mucus are part of a normal recovery. A surgeon who explains this in advance, and tells you when to come back if the blockage has not lifted, saves you a great deal of unnecessary worry.
Before your consultation, prepare this question
“How much of my blockage is caused by the septum, and how much by something else?”
A surgeon who has examined your nose properly can answer this specifically. A vague answer, or one that promises surgery will clear everything, is worth a second opinion.
Find a Septoplasty ProviderAbout the treatment
About septoplasty
Septoplasty is an operation to straighten a deviated nasal septum, the partition of bone and cartilage that separates the left and right nasal passages. When that partition is bent or displaced, one or both sides of the nose are narrowed and air cannot move through them properly.
The work is done from inside the nose. Your surgeon lifts the lining off the septum, removes or repositions the crooked sections of cartilage and bone, and returns the septum to the midline so that the airway on each side is opened. Internal splints are then often used to hold the septum in place while it heals.
Septoplasty is functional surgery. It is intended to improve how you breathe, not to change how your nose looks from the outside, and it is frequently carried out for a clear medical reason such as persistent nasal obstruction that has not settled with medical treatment. Sinus symptoms, snoring and sleep that is broken by a blocked nose can accompany a deviated septum, but they are assessed in their own right rather than being reasons to operate on the septum. Where a change in external shape is also wanted, that is a different and larger operation, described further down this page.
What is septoplasty?
Septoplasty straightens a deviated nasal septum, the partition of bone and cartilage dividing the two nasal passages, so that air can move more freely through both sides.
The work is done from inside the nose. The lining is lifted, crooked cartilage and bone are trimmed or repositioned, and the septum is returned to the midline. Internal splints often hold it in place while it heals.
It is functional surgery, performed to improve breathing rather than to change how the nose looks, and it is frequently carried out for a clear medical reason.
Septoplasty, rhinoplasty and septorhinoplasty
Septoplasty is functional and works inside the nose on the septum; it does not alter the external shape.
Rhinoplasty is aesthetic and reshapes the external bone and cartilage.
Septorhinoplasty genuinely combines the two in one operation, straightening the septum and changing the outward shape together, with a longer recovery than septoplasty alone.
Ask your surgeon to say explicitly which of the three they are recommending and why.
Are you a candidate?
Septoplasty suits people in reasonable general health whose breathing is genuinely obstructed by a deviated septum, particularly where sprays and medical treatment have not helped. Snoring and disturbed sleep have other causes, and septoplasty is not a treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea. Your surgeon may advise waiting or reconsidering if you:
- Are still growing, as the septum continues to develop into the late teens
- Have congestion driven mainly by untreated allergy or sinusitis, which should be managed first
- Smoke, which impairs healing of the nasal lining
- Have a condition affecting healing or blood clotting, or take medication that thins the blood
- Are expecting the operation to change the appearance of your nose, which it is not designed to do
The treatment, step by step
01 Consultation and assessment. Your surgeon examines inside your nose to see where the septum is deviated and whether the turbinates, nasal valve or lining are also contributing.
02 Preparations. You may need to stop medicines and supplements that affect bleeding, and stop smoking well in advance. Plan for a week or so of congestion and mouth breathing at home.
03 Anaesthesia. Usually general anaesthesia, though some straightforward corrections can be performed under sedation with local anaesthetic.
04 Access. The incision is made inside the nostril, so there is no external cut and no visible scar, and the lining is lifted off the septum.
05 Straightening. Deviated sections of cartilage and bone are trimmed, scored or repositioned while enough central support is preserved, and the septum is returned to the midline.
06 Closing and support. The lining is closed with dissolvable sutures, and internal splints, sometimes with soft packing, hold the septum steady during early healing.
Recovery and aftercare
The first week is the most restrictive. The nose feels blocked, mouth breathing is normal, discomfort is usually moderate, and minor nosebleeds are common in the first few days. Internal splints usually come out at three to five days, any external splint at one to two weeks.
Sleep with your head elevated above the level of your heart, and avoid sleeping on your stomach or side
Do not blow your nose for at least one to two weeks; dab gently instead
Use saline rinses as advised for mucus and crusting, avoiding forceful sprays or suction
Shower 24 to 48 hours after surgery, keeping the surgical site dry and the splints undisturbed
Keep to soft, nutrient-dense food for at least a week, and avoid alcohol for at least a month
Avoid strenuous exercise for one to two weeks, starting with daily walks
Much of the swelling improves within two to four weeks. Some blockage for six to eight weeks is normal, and in some cases the airway takes around three months to feel completely clear.
Risks and side effects
Septoplasty is well established and generally safe in experienced hands, but it carries specific risks you should understand:
Persistent or returning blockage, if scar tissue forms, the cartilage shifts back, or allergy or enlarged turbinates are also involved.
Septal perforation, a small hole through the septum that can cause whistling, crusting or nosebleeds.
Bleeding, minor in the first days for most people, occasionally heavier and needing attention.
Numbness or referred pain in the upper teeth, gums or nose tip, usually temporary.
Change in smell or taste, usually temporary while the lining is swollen.
Loss of structural support, which can alter the shape of the nose, as well as infection or reaction to anaesthesia, all uncommon but possible.
Contact your surgeon's practice directly, or seek emergency care, if you have any of the following:
- Heavy or persistent bleeding that does not settle with gentle pressure
- Fever, or increasing redness, warmth, swelling or unusual discharge suggesting infection
- Pain that worsens rather than improves
- Sudden change in vision or severe headache
- Breathing that becomes more difficult rather than gradually easier
Warning signs
When to seek medical attention
- Heavy or persistent bleeding that does not settle with gentle pressure
- Fever, or increasing redness, warmth, swelling or unusual discharge suggesting infection
- Pain that worsens rather than improves, or is not controlled by your prescribed medication
- Sudden change in vision or severe headache
- Breathing that becomes more difficult rather than gradually easier
If you notice any of these, contact your surgeon's practice directly, or seek emergency care.
Common questions
Septoplasty questions, answered.
If your question isn't here, ask us directly. A real person answers, and we won't push you toward anything.
Talk to us →Will septoplasty change the way my nose looks?
Not in the way a rhinoplasty would. Septoplasty works on the septum inside the nose, through an incision within the nostril. It is not designed to alter the external shape, and it leaves no visible scar. People who have a septoplasty alone generally look the same afterwards. A change in shape is an uncommon but recognised risk, because the septum also provides structural support to the nose. If you want both better breathing and a change in appearance, the operation you are looking for is a septorhinoplasty. Ask your surgeon to state clearly which one they are proposing.
How painful is a septoplasty?
Pain levels vary, but most people describe moderate discomfort rather than severe pain, and it is managed effectively with prescribed medication. Over-the-counter pain relief is often enough once the initial days have passed. Much of what people find hardest is the blocked, congested feeling rather than pain itself.
Why do my teeth hurt after septoplasty?
Aching in the upper teeth is common and is referred pain. The nerves in the nasal passages connect with other areas of the face and head, and they can be irritated during surgery. The sinuses also sit close to the roots of the upper teeth, so changes in sinus pressure or inflammation are felt there. If the pain is severe or does not settle, follow up with your surgeon.
When are the splints removed?
Internal splints are usually removed three to five days after the procedure. If an external splint has been used, it generally stays in place for one to two weeks. Removal is straightforward and is done by your surgeon. The splints hold the septum steady in its new position, support the structure and help reduce bleeding while the tissue heals.
When can I blow my nose again?
Avoid blowing your nose for at least one to two weeks, as it can cause bleeding and disturb healing. Dab gently with a tissue instead if you need to clear your nose. After that, blow gently and only if your surgeon has told you it is fine. Saline rinses are the safer way to manage mucus and crusting in the meantime.
When can I exercise again?
Most people are advised to avoid strenuous exercise for one to two weeks, though the exact timing depends on your case and your surgeon's advice. Exercise raises your heart rate and blood pressure, which can cause nosebleeds, and it increases swelling and makes breathing through a healing nose uncomfortable. Start with daily walks and build the duration and intensity back gradually.
What should I eat afterwards, and can I drink alcohol?
Soft, nutrient-dense food is easiest for at least the first week, and sometimes up to two: broths and soups, smoothies, yogurt, mashed potato, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, avocado and pureed vegetables. Avoid crunchy snacks, spicy and acidic foods, sticky foods and very hot drinks. Alcohol is strongly discouraged for at least the first month. It slows healing, contributes to swelling and increases the likelihood of bleeding.
How should I sleep after the surgery?
Sleep with your head elevated above the level of your heart, propped up on pillows, which reduces swelling and helps drainage. Avoid sleeping on your stomach or your side in the early weeks so that nothing presses on your nose.
Why has my sense of smell or taste changed?
A temporary reduction in smell or taste is common after septoplasty and is caused by swelling and congestion rather than by damage. It usually resolves within a few weeks as the swelling decreases and normal nasal airflow returns. Mention it to your surgeon if it persists beyond that.
Is septoplasty medically necessary?
It often is. Unlike purely aesthetic procedures, septoplasty is usually carried out for a functional reason, such as obstructed breathing that has not responded to medical treatment, or repeated nosebleeds from a deviated side. That said, a deviated septum that causes no symptoms does not need correcting. The decision should rest on what an examination inside your nose shows and how much your breathing actually affects your daily life.
