Would Septoplasty Straighten my Nose? (photo)

   While septoplasty may have some effect on the look of the nose, the septal deviation surgery usually involves removal of a nasal obstruction.  The cosmetic portion of the septoplasty would be altering of the L-strut.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Looking at your photos I would say that your nose is crooked both from a deviated septum with is the lower half and deviated bones which is the upper half. A traditional septoplasty done from inside the nose (also called endonasal) would not do much to straighten your nose. If you had an open septoplasty where both the septum up high and where the nasal cartilage attaches to it can help straighten the nose. This open septoplasty can be done alone or as part of a rhinoplasty. You need to find an expert at both functional and cosmetic nasal surgery to help you with this problem.

I hope this helps.

A septoplasty will not straighten your nose.  You should undergo a septorhinoplasty which would  include removing the crooked part of your septum and straightening  your nose with a combination of cartilage grafts and breaking the bones of your nose.

Septoplasty alone is designed to improve the function of an obstructed nose and it is usually covered by your insurance. Rhinoplasty is designed to improve the aesthetic shape of a nose. You need both of these procedures, which is known as septorhinoplasty.  

A deviated septum can contribute to nasal obstruction and can also cause the nose to be crooked.  If your goal is to have a straight nose it would be best to discuss having a rhinoplasty at the same time as the septoplasty.

Fixing a deviated seputm from a functional and insurance point of view is correcting the inside of the nose so you can breathe better. A crooked nose, as you have is also due to a crooked septum but the top portion that is away from the breathing passages. This can certainly be straightened at the same time as a septoplasty but is considered cosmetic or a rhinoplasty by insurance companies. If you are considering both, don't do the septum by it self then the  outside later. To straighten the external nose we use grafts of your own cartilage and the best source is your septum.

I agree with the other doctors.  To reshape your nose, a septorhinoplasty needs to be performed, where the nose is reshaped, along with your nasal septum. 

Insurance covers reconstructive surgery, which is done to restore or improve function. Cosmetic surgery is done to improve appearance, and is NOT covered by insurance.

Too many rhinoplasty surgeons years ago did "reconstructive septorhinoplasties" for "breathiing" when in reality what the patient wanted (and got their surgeon to fraudulently go along with) was cosmetic rhinoplasty that may or may not have even included septal "work" at the same operation. Insurance companies quickly caught on, and now the cosmetic and reconstructive portions are separated, and the "cosmetic" portion is billed to the patient, along with the attendant operating room and anesthesia charges.

This commonly results in total costs that FAR EXCEED what would have simply been paid for by the patient as cosmetic rhinoplasty and appropriate airway repair (septoplasty, partial turbinectomies, etc.) done at the same operative setting.

Sorry, but if you want to improve your breathing, this will be covered by insurance, and your nose may look exactly the same as it does now (yes, crooked). Most surgeons will be happy to do the septal centralization (septoplasty or submucous resection) at the hospital or surgicenter where insurance covers the septal surgery, operating room, and anesthesia charges. Howefer, changing your nose's appearance is considered cosmetic, and the surgeon will charge "extra" for this, and the hospital or surgicenter charges you for the "cosmetic portion" of the OR and anesthesia bills. That's where the HUGE unanticipated costs come in, since these bills are usually sent later.

And, of course, the patient thought that their bill would be "less" since there was an insurance-reimbursable part of the whole operation. This is the main reason I now perform rhinoplasty in my nationally-accredited office surgical facility for the total cosmetic rhinoplasty charge, and do whatever is surgically needed to maintain or improve airways at no additional cost (or reduction). I do not bill insurance and do not accept their reduced fee payment. This keeps it both honest and fair--and the cost doesn't change, or additional bills arrive later! Dr. Tholen

Your insurance will cover any breathing surgery. Most will only cover a percent(80) of what they feel is customary.  Choose an experienced surgeon so u don't do this twice. 

Straightening a nose is one of the most difficult things to accomplish in nasal surgery. It requires performing both a septoplasty and a rhinoplasty. The septoplasty straightens the septum, the cartilage inside the nose that divides one side from the other. The rhinoplasty procedure straightens the outside of the nose. My best advise is to wait until you can have both done at the same time. Good luck!