Do I need a Septoplasty for my Deviated Nasal Septum?
The nasal septum is just a wall or partition that is inside the nose dividing the air on the right side of the nose from the air on the left side. Of course the air comes together in the back of the throat and then goes down into the lungs. The septum is not visible from the outside and usually has nothing to do with the appearance of the nose from the outside. The main problem with a deviated septum is that it can cause airway (breathing) obstruction on one or both sides of the nose. It may be surprising thing to know that approximately 80% of the population of the United States has a deviation of their nasal septum. Fortunately, most people do not experience any breathing problems and require no treatment. In cases where the deviation causes breathing problems, a septoplasty can be performed to relieve the obstruction. As mentioned above, a deviated septum usually does not affect the appearance of the nose but there are cases where the deviation causes the nose to be crooked.