Addressing Your Deviated Septum

Nasal obstructions and sinus problems lead to a host of breathing and other problems that impact your day-to-day life. The good news is that the underlying causes can be addressed and the symptoms can be permanently eliminated. The persistent and painful headaches, fatigue, post-nasal drainage, congestion will no longer be a source of constant frustration.

Deviated Septum Surgery Facts by Houston Texas ENT and Facial Plastic Surgeon Dr. Cecil Yeung

Do you find that you are unable to breathe through your nostrils and often face respiratory infections?

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgery, one of the most common causes of breathing impairment is a deviated septum.

And sometimes, a deviated septum could result in sinus infection.  Along with infection, a deviated septum may cause nasal congestion (sometimes one sided), frequent sinus infections, facial pain, headaches, postnasal drip, noisy breathing during sleep in both infants and young children, and frequent nosebleeds.

Don’t panic; this can be treated with surgery—the conventional operation is called submucous resection of the septum. Although, deviated septum surgery can correct breathing problems, sinus infection and nosebleeds, it also has few complications.

Postoperative Care for Nasal Surgery – Septoplasty

• After surgery, keep the splint dry.
• Gently clean dried blood from the inside of the nose with a Q-tip and dilute hydrogen peroxide.
• For two weeks, refrain from blowing your nose or sneezing if possible.
• If a sneeze is inevitable, sneeze through your mouth to avoid pressure in your nose.
• Sleep with your head and chest elevated so that your nose is above your heart. The best situation would be resting in a reclining chair. If you don’t have a recliner, use three or four pillows while in bed. Also during the day, sit upright as much as possible. These steps will minimize the swelling.
• To increase air moisture, use a humidifier and petroleum jelly outside the nostrils.
• If you want to promote positive surgical results and faster healing, avoid smoking and alcohol. These are just a few important postoperative care tips.

Dr. Yeung will list out a few more after the surgery.

Dr. Yeung is a Board Certified Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon in Houston Texas. He is double board certified with the American Board of Otolaryngology and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Complications can be avoided, if you follow the preoperative care. Without adequate preoperative and intraoperative assessment of the deviated nose, an incomplete correction of the nasal deformity and function is inevitable. Inadequate straightening in turn contributes to the recurrent or continued nasal deformity.

Hemorrhage

• You will observe bleeding after few days. The bleeding may be primary or secondary. Secondary hemorrhage may occur after 5-6 days and could be due to infection.

Flapping septum

• Excessive removal of the septal structure results in a weak septum which yields to inspiratory negative pressure in the nose. This may lead to nasal obstruction.
• Depression of the cartilaginous dorsum may occur.
• Adhesions may develop between the septum and turbinate because of the trauma at the time of surgery.

To avoid these complications, it is advised to ask questions and know how the treatment will give successful results.

To learn more about the cost of Deviated Septum Surgery in Houston or to get your questions answered contact the office at Houston Sinus Surgery and set up a consultation with Dr. Yeung today!