Do I Need Septoplasty for a Deviated Septum?

Patients who experience asymmetrical and labored breathing from a deviated septum often wonder whether surgery is necessary. The short answer is yes: surgery is the only known way to correct a deviated septum. But does that mean it’s always necessary? It depends.

One of the main diagnostic questions we ask before committing to nasal septal surgery, also known as septoplasty, is whether the issue is causing other health problems. Some patients may have trouble exercising, or find themselves more prone to infection.

And as this recent Q&A addressed, these problems can linger:

Dr. Miller: So how often do you find the patients with need to have surgical correction for a deviated septum?

Dr. Alt: It’s actually quite common. It’s one of the most common procedures we perform. Not only is it bothersome in the sense that they can’t breathe but it substantially affects patients quality of life, which has been shown over and over again by improving the way we breathe through our nose substantially affects how we feel in our day-to-day activities. And this is most likely partially contributing to the way we sleep and the way we get good night’s sleep. If we can’t breathe through the nose, it forces us to breathe through the mouth and we may have more obstructive events and it can also potentially lead to what we call obstructive sleep apnea.

Here at the Los Angeles Sinus Institute, we perform nasal septoplasty on a regular basis, and proudly boast an exceptionally high success rate. If you have been dogged by the many miseries of a deviated septum for years and want to get the problem resolved for good, please reach out to the Los Angeles septoplasty doctors today.