Free nasal breathing is the guarantee of a healthy and high quality of life. One of the most common causes of systemic nasal breathing disorder is a deviated nasal septum. This problem cannot be solved with drops and tablets. Only plastic surgery can help here.
Why do you need a nasal septum?
The nasal septum is a plate that includes bony and cartilaginous parts and is covered with mucous membranes. She divided her nose into two parts. This feature of anatomy is not accidental.
The nose is necessary to filter and heat the air. If it were a single cavity, it would quickly deplete and would not be able to perform its full function. Thanks to the baffles, each half of the nose works in turn, ensuring continuous air filtration.
In addition, the nasal septum supports the shape of the nose and is its skeleton.
crooked symptoms
Patients with this disorder are concerned about:
- nasal congestion;
- Headache;
- dry mouth after sleeping;
- bleeding;
- Common inflammatory diseases of the nose and upper respiratory tract (pharyngitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis);
- Decreased work ability and quality of life;
- Fatigue quickly.
Plastic surgeons cite the following statistics:
According to recent research, less than 25% of the world's population has a uniform diaphragm. Many of them are not bothered in any way because the curvature is negligible and does not interfere with breathing through the nose. This group of patients did not require any treatment. However, if these symptoms are present, then this is a direct indication for surgical treatment - a septoplasty.
How is septum correction surgery performed?
Before a septoplasty is performed, it is necessary to consult with an otolaryngologist and conduct a thorough examination. First, a CT scan is performed. It allows you to fully study the structure of the diaphragm and determine the operating range. You also need to pass a few tests:
- Clinical analysis of blood and urine;
- blood chemistry;
- blood clotting;
- blood for various infections (syphilis, viral hepatitis, HIV);
- electrocardiogram;
- Fluoroscopy.
All of these are necessary to rule out possible contraindications to surgical intervention.
Correction of the nasal septum is performed under anesthesia by adding a local anesthetic. After anesthesia, the surgeon intervenes according to a well-defined algorithm:
- Open the nasal mucosa. The incision is made in the nasal cavity, completely eliminating the presence of post-operative aesthetic defects.
- Further actions depend on the type of defect. If there are isolated spikes or ridges, remove them. If the curvature is complex, S-shaped, the partition is partially destroyed and "created" again.
- Mucosa is sutured. Apply self-absorbing thread.
- A silicone splint is inserted into the nasal passage and sutured. These plates maintain the correct shape of the nasal septum, prevent the development of a septal hematoma and speed up the healing process.
The duration of a septoplasty depends entirely on the complexity and volume of the work, ranging from 40 minutes to 2 hours.
After surgery, the patient must spend 1-2 days in the hospital.
Rehabilitation correcting diaphragm after surgery
After surgery, the patient needs a still state. Antibacterial, hemostatic, and pain relievers are prescribed. The splints also need to be taken care of, constantly washing them with a salt solution. After septoplasty, hematoma and swelling may appear on the face, which disappears after 3-5 days. During this period, nasal breathing is difficult due to swelling of the nasal cavity and splint.
The splint was removed on days 7-10. Nasal breathing improved, but not completely due to persistent swelling.
After that, the patient should rest at home for 4-5 days. For the first 2 weeks, you will need:
- Give up hot baths, saunas, and baths;
- limit physical activity;
- Do not blow your nose vigorously;
- Limit sleeping on your back and wearing glasses.
Doctors may also recommend drops and sprays designed to speed mucosal healing and restore nasal epithelial cells.
Final results can be assessed after 2-3 months, when the edema has completely disappeared and the healing process is complete.