Chances of Septum Deviation Due to Memory?

asked 3 years ago by wimto in UK
Latest answer by William Portuese, MD
Question viewed 1,743 times
Tags: deviated septum, septum

After breaking my nose at 4, I've had a 4-hour open Septo-Rhinoplasty only 3 days ago at the age of 27. I still have the cast on. I have to admit, even at this early stage, my nose looks so straight with the cast on it and my breathing has gone ABSOLUTELY amazing. The surgeon said it went really well. What are the chances of the septum deviating due to memory?

5 answers to Chances of Septum Deviation Due to Memory?

Depends on the procedure

I also had a 3 hour open septoplasty (no rhinoplasty) 8 weeks ago today. The resulthas been great. The chance of your cartilage warping and re-obstructing would depend on what was done. In my case most of the cartilage was removed leaving only an "L strut" to support the dorsum and columella. A columellar strut graft was also placed for further support. I also had spreader grafts and the small remaining piece of cartilage was replaced between the leaves of septal mucosa to... more

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Shifting in the 5% range

The septum can shift through memory in the first few months after nasal surgery. The chance of it shifting is probably in the 5% range. This really depends upon what the septum looked like preoperatively, as well as the techniques used to straighten it.

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

Probably will not redeviate.

The chances are small but some noses will re-deviate but only slightly if at all. It sounds like your surgeon did a good job, so relax and don't worry.

Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Not likely for nasal cartilage to warp too much

It is well known that cartilage does indeed have a tendency to warp. We routinely do a host of maneuvers to minimize this risk: strut grafts, battens, fixation the septum to the nasal spine, etc. In most cases, any warping that occurs is thus minimized. Your nose is not going to end up perfectly: this never occurs. But, it is likely to heal well and you should be satisfied. Occasionally, however, despite ones best efforts, the cartilage will warp some. This is very frustrating to the... more

Patrick Byrne, MD
Baltimore Facial Plastic Surgeon

Septal resection should not reccur

It depends on the technique used in the septoplasty. Most commonly a septal resection is used which removes the deviated portion of the cartilage. This way the deviated septum should not reccur. Scorring of the cartilage has less effect and might reccur but it is also used in milder cases.

Hisham Seify, MD, PhD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

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