Functional Nasal Surgery

nasal-surgey

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My doctor said that my septum is deviated, what does that mean? 

The nasal septum is in the middle of the nose and separates the left and right side of the nose like a wall.  Occasionally, whether due to natural growth or trauma, the septum can be pushed to one side of the nose narrowing that side of the nose.  This may cause nasal obstruction but doesn’t necessarily mean that it will cause trouble breathing.  If you feel that you can’t breathe through your nose well AND you have a deviated nasal septum, you may benefit from correction of the septum.  If you have a deviated septum, come see one of our nasal surgery experts today.

 

What is nasal valve collapse? 

The nasal valve is typically the narrowest portion of the nasal airway.  It acts as a flow limiting structure.  Sometimes this area can be too narrow or the structure of this area is too weak which can lead to nasal obstruction. There are a variety of methods to fix nasal valve collapse and there is not one method that is suitable for all patients.   The best way to talk about the options is to see one of our experts in consultation.

 

 

What are the turbinates and what is a turbinate reduction? 

Everyone has turbinates on the inside of the nose attached to the outside wall of the nose.   The purpose of the turbinates is to provide surface area so that the nose can heat and humidify the air we breathe.  Sometimes the turbinates, specifically the inferior turbinate, can enlarge and stay enlarged.  By reducing the size of the inferior turbinate we can create more airspace in the nose.

 

What is the downtime after nose surgery? 

The typical recovery time after nasal surgery is about 1 week.  It is important to avoid any heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for this week to avoid a nose bleed. In addition, it is advisable to take off from school or work for a week as there is usually some pain after surgery and also possibly some bruising after surgery.

 

What kind of pain can I expect after surgery? 

You can expect some nasal soreness for the first day or two after surgery. The pain subsides fairly quickly for most people and is usually gone by one week.   Occasionally some small splints are used in the nose that can cause some mild congestion, but these do not usually cause pain.