Septum moving after septoplasty?

Question

I had Sinus/ Septoplasty/ Turbinates/ and Rhino surgery 5 1/2 weeks ago. I saw my surgeon yesterday and he confirmed that my septum is starting to move but could also move back again. ( from deviated to not deviated). Pre surgery I was 80% blocked. Now I'm 40% blocked. What are the chances it could move back to correct itself once rather than move back to its memory? Also if I do need a revision what are the chances it would move again to its stubborn deviated self? It took him 15 times to get it straight

Robert S. Schmidt, MD · Answer

It is possible for a corrected septum to move after surgery, but it depends on how the septoplasty was done and what part of your septum was deviated. In most cases, the cartilage and bone of the septum inside your nose is considered "extra" and is physically removed in surgery. In that case, there's no way it can shift because there's no structure to move. Sometimes surgeons will try to preserve this in which case it may move.The external nose is a different story. We can't remove too much before we risk the nose collapsing. In this case we will frequently need to break the nasal bones and use cartilage grafts to straighten things. Even then there's a chance of things moving back. You should expect improvement from your baseline, but even the most skilled surgeons get humbled sometimes by cartilage bending back. Good luck!

Septum moving after septoplasty?

Answers (1)

More Septoplasty Questions

Septum moving after septoplasty?

Answers (1)

More Septoplasty Questions

8 months post op, spreader graft widened nose. Is it possible to remove, or replace with thinner graft at this time?

Does a septoplasty include manipulation of bones/cartilage in the bridge of the nose?

When going into surgery to fixed a deviated septum, can you also get free rhinoplasty?