Winter is coming with its cool breeze and all those fancy holiday scents that are a joy to breathe in. However, this is just a distant dream for those with a deviated septum, especially when your nostrils decide to give up on you. Whether you are dealing with difficulty breathing or constant nasal congestion, a deviated septum can significantly affect your day-to-day life.
“All I want for Christmas is to breathe” is what about 70 percent of the population would say at this point. Fortunately, there is a way for you to fix this situation, and that’s septoplasty with Dr. Shaw. In this blog, you may find out whether or not this surgical option is a good fit for you.
What Is Septoplasty?
Septoplasty is a procedure designed to fix a deviated septum by straightening the cartilage and bone inside your nose. The “septum” is a 7-cm structure that separates the nose into two different chambers (i.e., your nostrils).
When the septum is bent or crooked, it can cause one nostril (or both) to become smaller, preventing the air from properly flowing. You are either born with this condition or get it as a result of an injury (i.e., a broken nose). It’s similar to rhinoplasty, but rather than focusing on the aesthetical aspect, it deals with a medical issue instead.
Benefits of Septoplasty
If you decide to get septoplasty, here are the advantages you can enjoy:
1. Better Breathing
One of the first things you may notice is that you’ll no longer struggle to breathe as much through your nose. Typically, when you have a deviated septum, you tend to breathe through your mouth when walking or exercising, which can feel quite uncomfortable on your throat. Once your nose heals after the procedure, you should be able to take full breaths through your nose without the constant congestion.
2. Better Sleep
When you have a deviated septum, you have a higher chance of developing sleep disruptions such as snoring or sleep apnea. Even with minor cases, you could still wake up tired, as your snoring or poor breathing constantly wakes you up at night. Sleep apnea can also be quite dangerous as you temporarily stop breathing, increasing your risk of heart failure.
3. Fewer Sinus Infections
When you have a deviated septum, it’s much easier for mucus to get trapped in it, creating a blockage. This can lead to recurrent sinus infections, which consistently bring symptoms such as congestion, facial pressure and pain, headaches, and sometimes even fever. Undergoing septoplasty can help clear those nasal passages, keeping the mucus from getting trapped and maintaining the health of your sinuses.
What to Expect After Septoplasty
Septoplasty is a low-risk procedure, so it should not involve much downtime. However, you might want to take off the first few days after the septoplasty; most people need an average of one week off. During this time, your nose may feel more blocked than before, but that’s a normal side effect of the procedure. Your nose will swell before you can take that first “good breath” of air, so you will breathe through your mouth during this time.
The first signs of improvement often show after one week, with your breathing improving more and more. Your nasal congestion should have significantly faded, and while there will still be some swelling, you may return to your daily activities. Depending on the severity of the deviated septum and the complexity of the procedure, it may take around one to three months for your breathing to be entirely changed.
Book Your Septoplasty Consultation Today!
Septoplasty can help you regain control of your life when your nose seems to want to suffocate you on a daily basis. By getting septoplasty, you can correct the flow of air going through your nostrils, so you won’t have to rely on your mouth to breathe. Schedule an appointment for septoplasty with Dr. Travis Shaw and start the new year with a fresh breath of air!
For more information about the septoplasty procedure, contact Dr. Travis Shaw at 804-775-4559. He can offer you all the details you need to determine if the procedure is right for you. As an alternative, you can fill out the provided online contact form, and we will get in touch with you shortly.
