A septoplasty is a medical procedure used to correct a deviated septum. The naval septum is the cartilage and bone partition the separates and divides the two navel cavities in the nose. Ideally the septum separates the nose into two equal halves. When the septum deviates or shifts to one of the nasal cavities more than the other, it limits airflow, often times resulting in serious sinus problems.

Nasal obstructions, sinus inflammation problems and chronic nosebleeds are often underlying problems associated with a deviated septum. Often times before a septoplasty procedure, a turbinate reduction is ordered in an attempt to enlarge the blocked nasal cavity. When this method is not successful, the next option is usually a septoplasty.

Procedure information
Before the septoplasty procedure, patients are put under local or general anesthesia. The general anesthesia causes the patient to fall completely asleep and remain unconscious for the duration of the surgery, where as the local anesthesia simply numbs the area and the patient remains awake during the procedure.

The doctor must remove a portion of the cartilage as it is a surplus of cartilage or bone that causes the deviated septum. After anesthetics are administered the surgeons go in through the nostrils to reach the cartilage. The excess cartilage or bone is then removed and plastic tubes or a suture are used to stabilize the septum after the septoplasty procedure.

Recovery time
Immediately after septoplasty surgery patients will experience a significant amount of swelling and bruising. Depending on the amount of excess blood, the nasal cavities are often packed with gauze and other surgical material for absorption. Most patients are advised to refrain from blowing their nose to reduce the amount of bleeding. The excess blood dries up after a couple of days, at which point the gauze and packing can be removed. To reduce pain and swelling, ice pack treatments are placed on the nose every 20 minutes throughout the day and are quiet helpful. Patients can blow their nose after roughly two weeks. Full recovery after a septoplasty procedure usually takes up to a month.