I recently went to a ENT doctor to look at my nose to give me some
options. I am 21 and about 4 to 5 years ago I had a basketball come in
contact with my nose quessing about 4 times in practice and street ball.
Now I can breath 100% through one nostril but only 25% through the other.
Plus I have a knot on the very top of my nose.
My question for the doctor:
The doctor circled Nasal Septal Deviation on my receipt.
Can you please tell me all of the advantages and /or side effects of this
operation .
Thank you very much for your time.
Reply: -----------------------------
The answer to the first question is yes, nasal airway obstruction can worsen with increasing age when a septal deviation is present. This is because the outer cartilages of the nose weaken somewhat with advancing age resulting in less support to the nose in general and greater liklihood of constriction of the breathing passages. However, this does not imply that septoplasty should necessarily be done earlier than later. The time to consider a septoplasty is when the symptom of nasal airway obstruction is sufficiently bothersome for you. I would recommend that you consult with an ear, nose, and throat specialist for nasal septal surgery as opposed to a plastic surgeon unless the plastic surgeon has a unique reputation for nasal surgery. In the vast majority of situations the average ENT specialist will have much greater expertise in functional nasal surgery than the average plastic surgeon. As far as the operation itself, in my personal surgical experience, septal surgery is not very painful. It is uncomfortable from the standpoint that septal splints or packing are typically used to maintain the septum in a straight midline position during the initial post-operative healing period. The nasal airflow obstruction is often the most bothersome aspect in the post-operative period. Most of my patients require mild narcotic pain medication only for the first day or two.
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Steve Dankle, MD
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Milwaukee, Wis
NOTICE: OFCN is not engaged in the rendering of professional medical services. The information contained on this system or any other OFCN system should not supplant individual professional consultation. It is offered exclusively as a community education service. Advice on individual problems must be obtained directly from a professional.
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