What Is A Septoplasty?

We speak with Mr Joe Marais, consultant ENT surgeon at Clementine Churchill Hospital, about having a septoplasty. Links: For more information, please visit: Private Deviated Septum Surgery | Septoplasty (circlehealthgroup.co.uk) To find a consultant near you, visit: https://www.circlehealthgroup.co.uk/find-an-appointment Chapters: 00:49: What causes a deviated septum? 01:29: What are the symptoms of a deviated septum? 02:27: How do you prepare for a septoplasty? 03:24: What happens during the surgery? 03:50: What is the recovery process like? 04:50: Why are the success rates? Content: What is septoplasty? First things first, a septoplasty is surgery to correct a deviated nasal septum. Your nasal septum is the bone and cartilage that separates your two nostrils – it is around 7cm long in adults. A deviated septum happens when the bone and cartilage become crooked or off-centre. This can cause a number of issues related to your breathing. Most people won’t notice you have a deviated septum unless they examine your nose closely, so surgery is treatment to improve the symptoms that a deviated septum causes. What causes a deviated septum? A deviated septum can be caused by various factors. Causes include physical injury to your nose from contact sports or accidents. Even minor trauma that goes unnoticed at the time can cause your septum to become misaligned. Some people are born with a deviated septum. During childhood and adolescence, growth spurts can cause your septum to develop abnormally or become misaligned. The natural aging process can also cause changes in the nasal structures, potentially leading to a deviated septum over time. Surgical procedures on your nose, such as those intended to correct other nasal problems or cosmetic surgeries, can sometimes result in an unintended deviated septum, which will need surgically repaired. What are the symptoms of a deviated septum? The main symptoms of a deviated septum include nasal congestion, in other words a stuffy nose, which is often more pronounced on one side of your nose. You will also have trouble breathing through one or both of your nostrils. This might get worse with exercise or when lying down. Frequent nosebleeds and recurrent sinus infections are common symptoms due to impaired drainage and dryness of the nasal passages. Many people also experience headaches and facial pain, as well as throat irritation and coughing. A deviated septum can also cause noisy breathing or snoring during sleep, potentially leading to sleep disturbances, and in some cases, a reduced sense of smell. These symptoms can significantly impact daily life and overall quality of life. Consultant details: To see how Clementine Churchill Hospital can help you, visit: https://www.circlehealthgroup.co.uk/hospitals/the-clementine-churchill-hospital Mr Joe Marais is a consultant ENT surgeon at Clementine Churchill Hospital. To find out more about his expertise, visit: Joe Marais - Nasal Plastic Surgeon in Middlesex (circlehealthgroup.co.uk) If you have any of the concerns outlined in this video, seek professional medical help as soon as possible. Leave a comment below and we will plan future videos on your suggested topics. #septoplasty #breathingdifficulties