Will my nose be weaker after a Septoplasty? (photos)

Question

When I was little I broke my septum. Now I have a deviated septum. It can be difficult to breathe on one side of my nose. It doesn't bother me much during the day, but at night, if I sleep on the deviated side, that side gets noticeably clogged. My ENT doctor recommends I get a septoplasty done. He said he would remove the cartilage& bone that is deviated. To me it looks like a lot of bone & cartilage to remove. Will my nose be weaker after this? Are there any other options or recommendations?

Matthew Bridges, MD, FACS · Answer

This is an excellent question. Septoplasty performed properly should not significantly weaken your nose.  Techniques used to fix septal deviation should rely more on modification of cartilage rather than removal.  Many times, however,  there is excess cartilage causing deviation that can be safely removed.  I always put as much cartilage back between the septal membranes as possible during septoplasty.   I think this helps to preserve the integrity of the septum.  Based on your scan it appears the main issue is a bone spur which is quite far back in the nose.  This bone can be safely removed without issue usually leaving the cartilage in front of that region intact.   You should clarify all this with your surgeon.

Marcelo Ghersi, MD · Answer

Hello. You definitely have symptomatic airway obstruction due to your deviated septum. A septoplasty is a safe operation to undergo, provided it is done by the right surgeon. It should not affect your breathing or nasal appearance. Good luck.

Michael R. Menachof, MD · Answer

A well done septoplasty will not change the strength of the nose. Often, the only way to get a nice straight septum is to remove some bone and cartilage.  An experienced surgeon knows how much cartilage can be removed safely.  Don't worry, you should get a great result. Good luck.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

The bone spur that is present is in the back of the nose, not along the bridge line. Removal of that bone spur in the back of the nose will not weaken the structural integrity of the nose. For diagrams showing how  a septoplasty is accomplished, please see the video below

Robert A. Guida, MD · Answer

When a septoplasty is done correctly, the surgeon leaves ample cartilage on the top (dorsum) and the bottom (caudal end) for support.  This will prevent the nose from being "weaker" after the procedure.  Additionally, often straight pieces of the septum are reinserted during the septoplasty for additional strength.  If the lower nose is very weak before surgery, supportive struts should be inserted.Your deviation is far back in the nose and removing it and fixing it should not "weaken" the structure of your nose

Will my nose be weaker after a Septoplasty? (photos)

Answers (5)