The thin wall of bone and cartilage that separates your nostrils is called the nasal septum. If the septum is too far off-center, it’s known as a deviated septum. This condition can increase your risk of sinus infections, and it may make it more difficult to breathe through your nose.
If a deviated septum keeps you from breathing freely, nasal surgery can straighten out your septum. As a nasal and sinus specialist, Dr. Conrad McCutcheon performs a range of nasal surgeries, including septoplasty. Here, we cover what you can expect before, during, and after septoplasty.
You may benefit from a septoplasty if a deviated septum is contributing to increased infections or makes it hard to breathe out of your nose. Before undergoing surgery, we clear you for the procedure, meaning we ensure that there are no underlying medical problems that may interfere with your surgery.
You can expect to receive a list of pre-op do’s and don’ts before your surgery. General pre-op instructions include:
During your pre-op consultation, we provide you with specific instructions and answer any questions you may have.
Anesthesia is used to keep you comfortable during your surgery. When you come out of anesthesia, it’s normal to feel groggy or a little nauseous. You should plan to arrange for a friend or family member to drive you home after Dr. McCutcheon releases you.
During septoplasty, your cartilage and bone may be trimmed and repositioned. Because of this, you can expect some pain and swelling, but you can help reduce swelling by:
In addition to managing swelling, it’s important to allow your nose plenty of time to recover, including:
Rest assured, Dr. McCutcheon and our team provide you with a detailed list of post-op instructions that covers everything from showering to managing swelling to changing your bandages. Diligently following your post-op care instructions has a big pay-off: You can expect to breathe freely.
The only way to correct a deviated septum is with surgery. If you’re struggling with nasal problems such as difficulty breathing, nosebleeds, or increased sinus infections, give us a call to learn more about septoplasty. Call Memorial Village ENT at 281-822-3777 or request an appointment online.
