What is a septorhinoplasty?
The purpose of a septorhinoplasty is to improve the appearance of your nose (rhinoplasty) and to improve your breathing through the nose (septoplasty). Hence, it has an aesthetic as well as a functional outcome.
What are the benefits of a septorhinoplasty?
The benefits of this surgery are twofold; firstly, from an aesthetic perspective, you can change the appearance of your nose to suit your liking. And secondly, from a functional standpoint, you can breathe better from both nostrils, further improving your quality of life.
Are there any alternatives to a septorhinoplasty?
Where your nose is blocked because of a deviated septum, you could only go for a septoplasty. However, this would not change the appearance of your nose.
For changing the shape of your nose, rhinoplasty is your only option. When a blocked nose is caused due to damaged or crooked nasal bones, a rhinoplasty (usually with a septoplasty) is the only option to improve breathing.
What does the surgery involve?
The surgery is performed under general anaesthesia and hence the patient does not feel any pain during the procedure. It usually lasts around 1 to 2 hours, after which the patient is woken up and taken to their room.
The surgery is performed by making an incision in the inner lining of the nose. Hence, there are no visible scars or marks. The bent or damaged bone and cartilage would be straightened and placed back in the nose.
If you want a sharper tip, the surgeon can refine the tip by removing some cartilage and in case you have a hump on the nose, the surgeon can shave it down.
At times, the surgeon may use a bone graft, cartilage graft or an artificial graft to support or rebuild part of your nose.
After the procedure, the surgeon may pack your nose with a cotton bandage to prevent excessive bleeding. Also, a plaster bandage is applied over the nose to ensure proper alignment postoperatively.
What complications can happen?
Some common complications include:
- Pain
- Bleeding
- Local infection on the site
- Redness
- Swelling
- Temporary nasal blockage
- Tiny hole in the septum
- Possible graft rejection (mainly in the case of artificial grafts)
However, these complications are rare, and utmost care is taken during the pre-operative planning to ensure that none of these complications arises.
Post-Operative Management
Usually, septorhinoplasty patients can leave the day after surgery. The nasal packing is removed after a day or two. The plaster bandage is taken off a week after surgery. This is to ensure that the bones and cartilage heal well and in a straight manner.
Patients can return to work after a week but are advised not to carry out any heavy tasks. This is to ensure proper healing and minimise the risk of complications. Even blowing your nose hard could cause a problem. Hence, patients are advised against it.
It usually takes about a month or two for the wound to heal. After that, patients can return to their routine lives.