I'm having a septoplasty done. Does the nose need to be broken to straighten the deviated septum?

Question

My doctor says no, but my brother had one done and his surgeon broke his nose. Is there a difference as to why one surgeon may want to break the nose and the other doesn't? I've also read that the cartilage can take the original form later on. Would breaking the nose help prevent this?

Craig S. Murakami, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Generally, a septoplasty is performed to straighten a deviated septum inside the nose when the deviation is causing nasal airway obstruction.   The external nose is usually left unchanged.   Changing the external nose is generally referred to as a rhinoplasty operation.   On occasion, the septum and the external nose are both severely deviated to the point where the surgeon cannot adequately straighten the septum without straightening the external nose.   In these cases, septoplasty and rhinoplasty rurgery are performed simultaneously.

Stephen Weber MD, FACS · Answer

By definition, a septoplasty does not involve cutting or "breaking" the nasal bones. The bones would be cut in order to straighten or narrow your nose but not to fix a deviated septum. If your surgeon tells you that your nasal bones will not be broken, I would trust their advice. I hope this information is helpful for you.Stephen Weber MD, FACSDenver Facial Plastic Surgeon

William Portuese, MD · Answer

A septoplasty is performed in the back of the nose  when there is blockage of airflow from twisted bone and cartilage. A septoplasty will not change the shape of the nose. A septoplasty is performed once medical necessity has been documented. Osteotomies are not required for a septoplasty. A rhinoplasty involves cosmetic changes to the nose, and that's when the nasal bones are broken. A septoplasty and a rhinoplasty are 2 completely separate procedures, but both can be performed at same time. For more information about the differences between the 2 procedures, please see the video below

David Reinstadler, MD · Answer

In general, the nasal bones are not addressed when a septoplasty is performed. However, there are times when you need to straighten the bones to straighten the top part of the septum - they are connected. These are usually due to trauma or other injuries where the bones may be physically pulling the septum to one side. You would need an in person examination to determine if that is necessary. Best of luck

Michael Elam, MD (retired) · Answer

Dear Bran10b, Each patients nose and circumstances are different and therefore the surgery requirements may vary. If your surgeon stated that he did not need to break your nose then rest assured that is probably the case. The majority of the time in a straight septoplasty the nose does not need to be fractured however in many septoplasty cases we are also correcting trauma that may have happened to the patient and this requires breaking the nose to straighten the septum. Upon examination this is typically determined and discussed with the patient prior to the scheduled procedure however there are times when this is decided intra-operativly. Best regards, Michael V. Elam, M.D.

Dennis Barek, MD (retired) · Answer

The septoplasty you brother had included some sort of rhinoplasty, otherwise nasal bones are not fractured during septoplasty.If the crooked septal cartilage is scored or weakened, rather than removed, it can warp causing some obstruction. Again breaking the nasal bones has nothing to do with septum surgery.

I'm having a septoplasty done. Does the nose need to be broken to straighten the deviated septum?

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