The hole in my septum is getting bigger! Any suggestions?

Question

The hole in my septum is getting bigger and I don't know how to stop it! I'm not touching and don't do drugs etc. Can it be closed? What is the success rate of closing perforations? I'd say mine is around 0.6cm. Is it treatable? I'm really embarrased by it and don't know who I can talk to. I have an appointment with a surgeon to take a look at it but couldn't get one for a month and I'm scared it will have grown even bigger by then. What can I do to look after it and stop it getting any bigger?

Anil R. Shah, MD · Answer

Septal perforations range in size and symptoms.  Typically, posterior septal perforations can be left alone that are asymptomatic while the more anterior the perforation the more likely it will become symptomatic.  If a perforation is stable in size (especially if the patients is using nasal saline, gel and other nasal emollient) then observation is fine.  If the perforation continues to grow in size or becomes symptomatic, repair can be considered.

Marcelo Ghersi, MD · Answer

Unfortunately there is not much you can do to stop the perforation from enlarging.You should obviously see rhinoplasty specialist as soon as you can, to get it fixed.It is a tough operation, but in the right hands, you should be able to have your septum be made whole again.Good luck. Dr. G

Curtis Perry, MD · Answer

You don't say how you got this perforation. Did you have an injury, previous nasal surgery or apply certain drugs in the nose? Nor do you say what symptoms you're having or how other people know that you have a hole in your septum. Simple topical care by gently applying petroleum jelly or a petroleum jelly based topical antibiotic should make the patient feel more comfortable and stop further enlargement. There are surgical procedures that will reliably close a perforation unless the patient continues to do what ever behavior produced the perforation or has certain medical conditions.

Mark Loury, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

The first question to answer is how did it get there. The most common reason is nasal surgery. Intranasal drug use is the first thing people think about but there are systemic conditions that are vital to exclude such as wegeners granulomatosis, vasculitis, cancer, syphilis, autoimmune conditions, etc. There are local conditions such as topical decongestant use, picking, and dryness. If yours is 6 mm that has a good success of closure but make sure nothing else is going on. Consult with a skilled nasal surgeon.

The hole in my septum is getting bigger! Any suggestions?

Answers (4)

Answer: Enlarging septal perforation

Answer: Enlarging septal perforation

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The hole in my septum is getting bigger! Any suggestions?

Answers (4)

Answer: Enlarging septal perforation

Answer: Enlarging septal perforation

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Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

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