Introduction

Various annoying symptoms indicate a nasal problem, these can be headaches, allergies, nasal obstruction, stuffy nose, snoring, and deformation of the nose, among others. Along these lines, many of the patients who suffer from some of these inconveniences choose to undergo a rhinoseptoplasty since it combines two aspects, the aesthetic and the functional,

What is a rhinoseptoplasty?

Rhinoseptoplasty is a surgical intervention that, in addition to the aesthetic objectives pursued by this surgery, treats the morphology of the nasal septum to improve the patient’s respiratory function.

It is important to note that the nasal septum is made up of cartilage and bone, which vertically separates the nasal cavities. Many times and for various reasons, the septum is deviated, causing the patient to have difficulty breathing, says

The name rhinoseptoplasty is divided into two concepts:

rhinoplasty: the general appearance of the nose is improved, such as sharpening the tip or resecting nasal humps.
Septoplasty: This intervention allows for to repair of respiratory functionality, correcting the deviation of the septum, and improving the patency of the nose.

What are the main causes of nasal obstruction?

Several causes can influence nasal obstruction:

deviated septum: for the patient to breathe correctly, it must be straight (midline)
Hypertrophied nasal turbinates: May occur due to allergies or genetic factors
tumors: these are more atypical, but nasal obstruction may indicate one of the first symptoms

How do I choose my doctor?

As a first step, the patient must make some inquiries to correctly choose their doctor. In Spain, the doctors who perform these interventions, as well as rhinoplasty, are plastic surgeons, specialists in otorhinolaryngology, who are registered or are members of formal organizations such as the Spanish Society of Plastic and Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, SECURE; or the Spanish Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, SEORL.

After confirming their specialty, studies, and trajectory, it is advisable that the patient can attend more than one appointment with different doctors to choose the one who inspires the most confidence and security. On this occasion, you may be asked for some images of before and after surgeries of former patients to check the success rate of your interventions.

How is the first date?

During this first visit, the patient should come accompanied to expose all doubts about the procedure and the results.

Then, the main expectations about the final results will be detailed and the specialist will proceed to review the complete medical history of the patient.

As a second step, the surgeon will perform an examination called endonasal endoscopy, in which the morphological problems of the nose can be observed. A sinus scanner may also be needed to evaluate the size and position of the turbinates and the septum. Finally, a rhinomanometry is performed which measures the pressure and force of inspiration, to determine how much effort the patient must make to get air into the nose.

After knowing the results of the diagnosis, the specialist must evaluate the emotional state of the patient to ensure that he is in perfect condition for surgery.

How is a rhinoseptoplasty performed?

A rhinoseptoplasty can include the repair of the septum and nasal turbinates, in addition to improving the morphological appearance, so the duration of this surgery will vary according to each case.

During this surgery, general anesthesia is used and can be divided into three parts:

Septoplasty: during this operation the specialist will make a small incision in the anterior part of the septum, detaching the mucosa. Importantly, the septum is made up of cartilage and bone, the ethmoid, and the vomer. To treat a deviated septum, it is dried out or weakened. If the bone has to be corrected, it is done through a chisel.
Nasal turbinates: Surgery to correct the nasal turbinates is called turbinectomy. For patients with nasal obstruction, three types of techniques are performed depending on the specific condition in each one.
- On the one hand, if the turbinates are too large, it is decided to cut them completely.
- As a second technique, a so-called submucosa is used, which acts as a kind of liposuction of the turbinate.
- This technique is the most frequent and consists of performing a radiofrequency with needles that are placed in the turbinate and heated, which causes them to gradually become smaller.
Rhinoplasty: It can be done through open or closed nose surgery. In the open one, an incision is made in which the skin is lifted to make the pertinent corrections and in the closed one, internal incisions are made to correct them.

“This intervention aims to correct a possible deformity, giving the patient a natural appearance, aesthetic balance, and also improving their respiratory function,” says Dr. Barret.

What are the main advantages of this surgery?

Among the main advantages it can be highlighted that:

Patients improve their breathing considerably.
There is an important boost to self-esteem and confidence.
Improves the appearance of the nose and the face in general.
If the person is an athlete, this intervention will help improve athletic performance.

How is the recovery?

This is generally an almost painless surgery. After the intervention, the patient must stay overnight in the clinic for follow-up. After being discharged, it is recommended that a family member or friend can pick you up to take you home since driving is not recommended during the first days.

At home, the patient should stay with silicone tubes for about 5 to 7 days to safely and correctly stabilize the septum. He will also wear a plastic patch for a week. After this period, the patient must return to the consultation for a follow-up evaluation where a transparent cloth will be placed on the back of the nose. The patient must follow all the instructions of the doctors. When the septum stabilizes, it is advisable to perform massages and cures.

After surgery, the patient must rest, avoiding physical activity. Neither can you take baths or showers for 48 hours after the intervention?

Some tips after surgery:

Avoid exposing yourself to the sun (especially the first few days)
Avoid blowing your nose
Putting ice packs on to reduce possible swelling
Do not wear glasses until the surgeon tells you to.
Take painkillers prescribed by the doctor, in the case of pain

The final results can be observed 6 months after the intervention.

Complications

The patient may feel some unpleasant but normal symptoms such as a stuffy nose, pain or numbness in the area, or some disorientation in the hours after surgery.

In case of presenting a strong nosebleed, difficulty breathing, hearing problems, or severe pain that is not relieved by painkillers, fever, or chills, it is better to see a doctor.

There is also a low percentage of people who are not satisfied with the final results at the aesthetic level, so a second surgery would have to be evaluated.

What are the results?

definitive effects
more harmonious face and features
substantial improvement in breathing capacity
substantial improvement in physical performance
increased self-esteem

Frequent questions

How do I know if I am breathing badly or have a deviated septum? You can do a fairly simple test to see if you have a blocked septum. On the one hand, you must cover a hole in the nose with a finger and inhale deeply, then repeat the exercise with the other hole, so you will see which of the two has a greater air intake. In any case, you must go to your ENT doctor to carry out the necessary medical tests that show if the problem is of the septum, turbinates, among others, highlights

Can I correct my cosmetic problem at the tip of my nose along with my difficulty in breathing? That’s right, you can have a rhinoseptoplasty to correct both problems, on the one hand, the functional part, and on the other,

Can I have a post-operative rhinoseptoplasty without splints? In some cases, it is not necessary to put on a nasal splint, depending on the type of surgery and combination of techniques, as explained from

Can a rhinoseptoplasty be performed without general anesthesia? For each case, it is important to make a personalized assessment to review the possibility of doing it without general anesthesia and using only localized sedation, explains

Can I have a rhinoseptoplasty if I am 15 years old? No. It is best to wait until the patient completes his development, that is, between the ages of 17 and 21, says
I had a rhinoplasty 3 days ago and I wanted to know if I can use my dental plaque for jaw osteoarthritis again, I did not put it on these days just in case but I do not want to not use it for a long time If your facial soft tissues, especially cheeks and peri-oral area allow it, considering a recent postoperative period of nasal surgery, you should use the splints as soon as possible. Logically, this question, like so many others related to convalescence that it mentions, should have been specified well in advance, both verbally and in writing, by the person who operated on him, since he must know better than anyone his personal health circumstances.
Normally, it is swollen between the eyebrows, I am 8 days after my rhinoplasty … The micropore tape was not put on me, is it normal? The swelling that explains, in the first place, depends on the anatomical area treated: your glabella (between the eyebrows), which is extraordinarily vascularized, so the inflammatory response can be expressed with temporary deformity. Secondly, the forcefulness of surgical management, a circumstance that is currently being promoted by some to disclose techniques that propose “magical” effects, is almost absent swelling. The bands of redefinition of the contour: micropore, can be useful, but they depend on the criteria of the person who intervened.

Is it feasible to undergo another operation to fix the deviation of my nose? It is necessary to establish an exact correlation of each image with the procedures performed. The presence of misalignment of the vault – septum axis, the vagueness of the tip with a rounded appearance, and the disproportion between the previous ones, maybe a subsidiary of surgical revision, which should be ambitious if any improvement is intended, but at the same time, also realistic, since previously performed procedures not only complicate the possible result but also the resulting perception. Consult diverse opinions, avoiding promises, modern cutting-edge techniques, and magical recreations. Be very careful, as some ended up making their initial problem worse.