Deviated Septum: What It Looks Like and How to Treat It?

A deviated septum displaces the little wall separating the nasal cavity within the nose. Anti-inflammatory drugs and remedial procedures may be needed when symptoms make breathing difficult.

The nasal canal is divided into two compartments: a thin bone and a cartilage strip called the septum. A deviated septum is moved to one side, either naturally or due to an injury. It’s typical to have a slightly deviated septum, and most people don’t have any health issues. Snoring, difficulty breathing via the nose, obstruction of airflow, and blocked sinus drainage are all possible effects of a more severe deviation.

Cosmetic surgeons and Otolaryngologists (ENT) can assess the precise degree of septum displacement and evaluate whether any other factors are involved in a clogged nasal channel. The doctors develop a personalised care plan to handle any issues brought on by a deviated septum, ensuring that the remedy makes breathing easier for you.

Here’s what it looks like to have a deviated septum!

Most people believe they have the straightest septum in the world and have nothing to worry about when they look in the mirror. This is because most people don’t know what it looks like to have a deviated septum. If you think that deviated septum will be as clear to detect as a pimple on your face, you need to think again. 

The one worrying fact is that almost 70% to 80% of the global population doesn’t have a straight septum, but the good news is that not all of them need to take any medication or undergo surgery. In many cases, people with mildly deviated septum live their life without encountering a single symptom related to this nose issue, while others have to deal with the adverse effect. 

Even if you have read numerous articles, searched the internet, and believe you know what a deviated septum looks like, it is still a good idea to have your nose checked by an ENT specialist who may advise medication or surgery on your specific case. But before reaching the last remedy of deviated septum: Cosmetic procedure, we need to understand the symptoms, causes, and primary treatment of this issue related to the shape of the nose, and this is what we are going to do in this blog post. 

What is a Deviated Septum?

A deviated septum is a nose condition that occurs when the nasal septum (the cartilage and the bone that divides the nose into two parts with left and right nasal cavities) is instead of being straight, simply crooked or off-centred. In simple words, in the case of a deviated septum, the thin wall between the two nasal passages is displaced toward the left or right side. 

A deviated septum makes breathing more difficult because one side of the nose becomes obstructed or has less room for the air you breathe. In some cases, the drying effect of the airflow on the deviated septum leads to the drying up of the inner membrane, leading to nose bleeding. 

Some people might have to deal with nasal congestion or stuffiness because of a deviated septum. Many people think they have to go through the surgical process just because their septum looks deviated in the mirror, but that’s not the case. Only severe deviated septums with bothersome symptoms are referred to surgeons. 

What Can Cause a Deviated Septum?

There are only two leading causes of a deviated septum-

Genetics

Some people are born with a deviated septum, and there is no preventive measure in such cases. Although uncommon, people are born with a slightly misaligned nasal septum. The deviation is apparent early in life in some persons. So, a deviated septum can develop in the womb and can be present at birth. 

Injury

Another common reason for a deviated septum is an accident leading to a severe nose injury. A deviated septum is the outcome of this injury’s septum displacement. When giving birth to a baby, the nose may suffer damage. Adults who suffer nose injuries like a deviated septum usually do so in auto accidents or while participating in high-contact sports like rugby or football.

What Does a Deviated Septum Look Like?

You might have to use a visual test to know what it looks like to have a deviated septum. It is as simple as it sounds, and you need a mirror to do it. 

Visual Test

• Before you begin the test, you have to get rid of every bit of mucus present in your nose, and the presence of mucus might be mistaken for a deviated septum. 
• The exterior walls between the nostrils, known as the columella, must be examined in the mirror after removing the mucus.
• If you can see the columella tilted towards one side or pushed towards the left or right side, chances are you have a deviated septum. 

However, as a self-test carried out at home, you shouldn’t begin taking medicine or seek medical attention right away. Before taking action, you should consult an ENT specialist to receive their advice.

How to Treat a Deviated Septum?

A doctor may try to treat mild symptoms by suggesting drugs if they are discovered in a patient with deviating symptoms. Doctors typically advise using nasal strips, decongestants, nasal steroid spray, and antihistamines in most instances. However, if medication alone is insufficient and there is no change, doctors may recommend septoplasty, a nose procedure.

What is Septoplasty?

Septoplasty is the most common ENT surgery used to treat deviated septum and other nose issues that make it difficult for the person to breathe. If you have sinus issues, breathing problems, regular nose bleeding, or any bothersome symptom related to a deviated septum, you shouldn’t hesitate to undergo a cosmetic procedure if the doctors recommend it. 

The Initial Stage 

Before the procedure, the nurses and the surgeon will go through every minor detail of the surgical process and be ready to answer your questions and clear your doubts. You might have to undergo tests like an X-ray, electrical heart tracing, or blood test before you are taken to the procedure room. 

Apart from this, the nurse or the surgeon might ask you about your current health conditions, medications, and any allergy you already have. You will meet with the anaesthesia specialist as soon as you arrive at the hospital because it is their responsibility to explain every aspect of anaesthesia and how it affects the body.

The Preparation 

Before the surgeons begin the process, you will be given anaesthesia, putting you to sleep. It depends on whether the surgeon sticks with general anaesthesia or intravenous sedation. Always consult the patient before deciding on the anaesthetic method. You could be encouraged to keep eating and drinking up to the procedure or, in some cases, even the night before, just like with any other surgery. If necessary, a doctor or nurse may instruct you how much and when to take your drugs.

The doctor would even ask you to stop using oral blood-thinning medicines as it increases the chances of excess bleeding during the surgical process. You should inform the surgeon if you are already taking any blood thinner. 

The Process 

The surgeon tries to straighten the bone and cartilage inside the deviated septum during the cosmetic process. The surgeon begins the process by lifting the mucosa lining that covers the bone and cartilage. 

To straighten the septum, the surgeon may occasionally need to remove a piece of the nose. The lining is then returned to its original location after being straightened. All septoplasty procedures are done as outpatient procedures, and the entire procedure can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the complexity of the cosmetic procedure and the degree of the deviated septum.

Recovery 

You will be delighted to learn that septoplasty has one of the most significant success rates and that people who get the procedure feel a reduction in nasal obstruction. You might feel groggy and drowsy after the procedure, but you don’t need to worry about it, as it is a common effect of anaesthesia. But if you feel any severe side effects after the surgery, you should immediately contact the nurse. 

If there are no complications after the procedure, you might be sent home on the same day of the surgery, but you will have handed over a care list along with specific medications. If you wish to recover quickly, you must take all the medicines and follow the guidelines given by the surgeon. 

Wrapping Up!

The majority of septoplasty patients are tremendously appreciative. The cosmetic procedure is relatively straightforward and is frequently done with other surgeries to minimise further nasal blockages, such as a reduction in the lining of the inside nasal cavity or inferior turbinates. In other words, the patient has the best possible outcome because the nasal septum is corrected and the side walls are improved.

The results of the septoplasty are long-lasting. It only occasionally needs to be altered. Most patients recover in less than a week and return home the same day as their procedure. Most patients also claim that the post-operative discomfort is bearable enough that only a small percentage require prolonged painkillers.

With Rhinoplasty LDN, Recapture the Beauty of Self-confidence!

A deviated septum can sometimes become so severe that it starts interfering with the health and life of a person. In such cases, instead of procrastinating surgery, especially when your ENT doctor has already recommended it. Rhinoplasty LDN is one of the best places to get your septoplasty done by expert surgeons. We have first-rate facilities and an excellent track record for any nose operation. You may receive the greatest septoplasty in the UK via phone or online chat.

Choose LDN Rhinoplasty to Fix Your Deviated Septum. At Rhinoplasty LDN, you can speak with a deviated septum specialist if you are experiencing persistent breathing problems or sinusitis. We have successfully conducted thousands of septoplasty procedures; let us help you breathe easier!