Can a Septoplasty change the appearance of your nose? (Photo)

Hello, hope you are well. Generally speaking, a traditional septoplasty will not change the external appearance of the nose. If there is significant nasal deviation, rhinoplasty is generally required to re-shape the external appearance (often with osteotomies, spreader grafts, or other maneuvers). For a very crooked nose, I generally perform septorhinoplasty with an open approach that leaves a small scar on the columella. In summary, septoplasty is often necessary to fix a crooked nose, but not sufficient.
Best,Dr. Tower

Can a septoplasty change the appearance of the nose? The term “septoplasty“ is a general term which includes many different types of procedures performed on the septum. If a procedure is performed merely to improve the airway without attention to the part of the septum that is visible, then there will be no change to the appearance. If however the nose is visibly crooked,
, The “septoplasty“ will normally include additional maneuvers to straighten the visible part of the septum. This may involve repositioning of the bottom part of the septum, or causing the curved portion of the septum to straighten by making multiple scratches on it, or adding cartilage grafts to brace and straighten the septum and also widen the airway. If the nose is visibly crooked these procedures will make it straighter. So the answer to your question depends on what type of septoplasty is being performed. If a person has a visibly crooked nose and a septoplasty is being performed to improve the airway , These additional maneuvers should be performed to make the nose visibly straighter.

No, a septoplasty does not change the appearance of your nose. A septoplasty is performed in the back of the nose for airflow improvement. A cosmetic rhinoplasty accomplishes straightening the crooked nose. Both can be performed together when necessary. To straighten the crooked nose requires osteotomies placed in the nasal bones, a spreader graft placed in the midportion of the nose under the concave upper lateral cartilage, and asymmetric nasal tip surgery when needed