ENT said my septum isn't deviated? Should I get a 2nd opinion? (Photos)

Based on your photos, you appear to have an indentation along the left side wall of your nose, and this is also associated with a wide nasal appearance. Your nasal septum may in fact be deviated, however, an examination would be necessary to be certain. Please consider meeting with several reputable rhinoplasty specialist who offer computer imaging so you can see what to expect moving forward. I hope this helps. Sincerely, Dr. Joseph

I agree that externally it doesn't look like your septum is deviated. I can't tell for sure without looking inside. What you may be noticing in the difference between the 1st and 2nd pics is that your left middle vault is a little collapsed at the area of the internal nasal valve and that could also explain the breathing issues. But you could always have someone else look inside to confirm that.

Hello and thank you for your question. It sounds very reasonable to get a second opinion. If you are having problems breathing, then it is likely that you have a deviated septum and/or internal nasal valve collapse. Both of these can be corrected with a revision. I recommend that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate you in person.

Best wishes and good luck.

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

A thorough internal examination of your nose is going to be required to make a determination about having a deviated septum. There are several other issues on the inside of the nose, such as valve collapse and turbinate hypertrophy, allergies, and chronic sinusitis that can cause obstruction. It's also important to know how much is left over on the inside of your nose for potential grafting purposes since you may have had a septoplasty nasal surgery. A rhinoplasty is performed to straighten the crooked nose.

Hi, thank you for your question. From your photo I can see the external nasal deviation, and this may well indicate that the top part of the septum is deviated, however it is not always the case as there are other causes for this, such as middle third cartilage asymmetry. The fact you feel more blocked on one side could well be due to a DNS, however manipulating your nose may be improving your airway by stiffening the soft tissue valve of the nose rather than straightening the septum. It is definitely worth getting someone else to take another closer look and a review is likely to help you. Understanding what your septum is doing is key to a successful surgical outcome.