Opposite side blocked after Septoplasty with Turbine Reduction

Hello and thank you for your question.

First off, it's important to recognize that complications happen to ALL surgeons, and any surgeon that does not have complications or any suboptimal results is either not operating enough or lying.

With that said, although an exam in person is ideal, it is not unusual to have nasal congestion and difficulty breathing after such surgery, even 3 months postop. However, such breathing difficulty tends to be bilateral, and not on one side alone. I would recommend returning to your surgeon for re-evaluation. The septum may be deviated or inadequately excised, potentially requiring a revision, a re-excision and possible re-set as necessary; any further breathing difficulty can also be improved with spreader grafting -- health insurance can cover all this at minimal cost to you☝️ If you have any cosmetic concerns, a rhinoplasty can also be performed.

If you are unable to go to your primary surgeon, the next step for you is to pursue the right plastic surgeon for your septoplasty, with or without a rhinoplasty. In your consultation, be sure your surgeon addresses all your functional (and aesthetic) goals and concerns specifically, IN PERSON, and discusses the surgery details including the position and size of the incisions used (with actual photographs and not just digital animations), the risks and benefits of the procedure, recovery time, and post-operative course. I also think a key component of your consultation is to establish a good connection with your plastic surgeon. This is difficulty to do without seeing your surgeon in the office, in person. It’s the connection that allows you to clearly define your desired nose outcome goals, the first step of this whole process. If you don’t feel you have a good connection with your plastic surgeon after your consultation, he/she may not be the best surgeon for you.

For more information on septoplasty, please refer to my link below.

Good luck.

Mark K Markarian, MD, MSPH, FACS
Harvard-trained Board Certified Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon