If you were to recommend a procedure to improve my breathing, would it be a septoplasty or a rhinoseptoplasty? (Photos)

You need a rhinoplasty and septoplasty. If the septum is tilted then that needs to be straightened. You can see from the frontal view that the bone and cartilage of your nose is also crooked and this requires a rhinoplasty.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

The nasal septum is the potion of the nose, located internally, which divides the nose into two sides. It's made of cartilage and bone and covered with mucosa and skin.

Looking at your pictures does indeed reveal nasal deviation. Septoplasty alone with not correct this deviation. You also demonstrate right external nasal valve collapse. This may be, in part, due to a caudally deviated septum, but the footplate of your right lower lateral cartilage also seems to be problematic.

Seek care from an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon as you will require a septorhinoplasty to correct these issues. Do not simply undergo a septoplasty alone as this will fail to correct all of the issues with which you are contending.

Hello and thank you for your question. Based on your photographs, rhinoplasty and septoplasty performed together at the same time would be the best option for you. This will enable tensioning of the tip, placement of extended alar contour grafts, placement of spreader grafts, among other maneuvers. With good surgical technique, you could have an outstanding result. I recommend that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified rhinoplasty surgeon who can evaluate you in person.

Best wishes and good luck.

Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon