A rhinoplasty, more commonly referred to as a ‘nose job’, is an operation performed to change the shape or size of the nose, whether for aesthetic or functional purposes (functional rhinoplasty).
Rhinoplasty may be performed on those who are unhappy with the appearance of their nose, those who have experienced trauma to the nose, or on those who have functional problems (e.g breathing/sinus difficulties). The rhinoplasty procedure can improve the aesthetics and function of the nose, depending on the goal the patient wants to achieve.
Rhinoplasty can make the nose smaller, larger, change its shape, or change the angle that exists between the nose and the top lip.
Currently, two types of surgery are generally performed:
The operation is carried out under general anaesthetic, meaning you won’t be awake for the surgery. The procedure can take anything from one hour and a half to three hours. You may also need to stay in hospital or at the clinic overnight, or for a couple of days.
Before the operation, you will need to attend an initial consultation with your surgeon. This may be either a facial plastic surgeon (an ENT surgeon, who has trained extensively in the anatomy of the face and the functionality of the nose) or a plastic surgeon (who performs various types of plastic surgery on the body). They will conduct a thorough examination, discuss your expectations with you, and determine if you are eligible for surgery.
Before your operation, if you decide to go ahead, the surgeon will take pictures in order to provide a photo analysis and discuss expected outcomes. They will also explain the risks of the surgery in detail, and ask you to sign a disclosure form.
After the operation, you’ll have to take about two weeks off work in order to recover. However, results of the procedure may not be visible until a few months later. Immediately after the procedure, and a short stay in the clinic, arrange for a friend to take you home, as you will not be able to drive for a couple of days.
Your stitches can usually be removed after a week, if they are not the dissolvable kind. If you are wearing a splint, this may be able to be removed at this stage too. After three weeks, bruising and swelling should be significantly reduced. You can expect return to playing sports and higher intensity activity at about four to six weeks.
There will be some aftercare which you can follow at home with your doctor’s recommendation, including:
Your doctor can prescribe you pain medication such as paracetamol to help with any pain. You may experience nosebleeds for the first few days after surgery, and there will be some swelling and bruising which will go down after time.
Rhinoseptoplasty is a type of plastic surgery performed to correct and reconstruct the nasal septum (bridge) for aesthetic and medical purposes. This is what makes the difference between rhinoseptoplasty and a simpler rhinoplasty (which only aims at aesthetically enhancing the nose) or a septoplasty (which only corrects and reconstructs the nose for medical purposes). This procedure yields better results when doing a mild remodelling and reconstructing.
From a strictly medical angle, rhinoseptoplasty is usually done to treat any problems arising from a deviated septum. Other potential issues include:
From an aesthetics angle, any kind of defect can be corrected; there are several different types of aesthetics enhancements to the nose available.
Before the surgery, you will be given either local anaesthetics or general anaesthetics.
During the septoplasty phase, the surgeon will make an incision on your septum. If the remodelling is simple enough, the surgeon will be able to reposition the septum without needing to move it first. Otherwise, the surgeon will have to remove the septum, straighten it up and place it back within the nose. After that, the surgeon will suture the nose up.
The rhinoplasty can be either a closed procedure (by making an incision within the nose) or an open procedure (by making an incision at the base of the nose). After the surgery, an external cast will be placed on your nose, which will be removed less than a week after the procedure.
Before the surgery, you need to:
You will be in hospital for one day after the surgery. However, complete recovery may take several months (from three months to a whole year in some cases). It is fairly common to feel pain in your nose and have some nosebleeds in the week immediately after the surgery.
You should avoid smoking in the days after surgery. You should also avoid any strenuous physical activity, keep your head lifted up while sleeping and make sure you don’t blow your nose for some time after the procedure.
You can go back to work roughly one week after the rhinoseptoplasty. The plastic surgeon will generally recommend periodic check-ups to monitor the recovery process.
Rhinitis is a condition where the nasal mucosa becomes inflamed. The nasal mucosa is the lining of the inside of the nose. This is a common condition and is thought to affect one in every five people in the UK. Rhinitis can be triggered by allergies, which is called allergic rhinitis (e.g. hay fever). Rhinitis can be acute or it can be chronic (long-lasting).
The main symptoms are sneezing, an itchy nose, itchy eyes, an itchy throat, a lack of smell and a blocked nose with nasal discharge. Due to nasal congestion, the patient cannot breathe freely or easily.
The symptoms occur mostly in the morning. This can be confused with a simple cold, but a cold will resolve in around two weeks, whereas rhinitis persists.
There are several causes of rhinitis. Rhinitis can be classified into three main groups:
For allergic rhinitis, it is difficult to completely avoid the triggering allergens, however, attempts can be made to reduce exposure, such as avoiding leaving the house early in the morning when pollen is at its worst and keeping the windows closed.
Other treatment measures include:
Septoplasty is a corrective surgical procedure done to straighten the nasal septum, eliminating any congenital or trauma-induced deviations.
Such deviations represent an obstruction which makes breathing harder.
During the procedure, the surgeon may also resect your turbinates (if they are hypertrophic). Sometimes the procedure may involve an aesthetic intervention on your nose, thus becoming a rhynoseptoplasty.
Your ENT specialist may suggest surgery if you have trouble breathing due to a deviated septum.
Should there be a severely deviated septum, the surgeon may have to remove the septum completely, straighten it and then insert it back. In other cases, the surgery can be done internally from your nose, passing through the nostrils.
During the surgery, the cartilage segments (and sometimes small bone fractions) causing the deviation are removed.
First of all, you’ll need to go through your medical history with your doctor.
The doctor will also check your general state of health and study the shape of your nose.
If you smoke, you’ll need to stop before the procedure. You will also have to avoid taking any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) two weeks before and two weeks after the procedure.
After the surgery, you’ll need to go back to the hospital twice (one week apart from each visit) to check on and replace the dressing, to monitor your recovery and to remove any potential adhesions.
Spraying a hyaluronic acid mist on your face can help with the scarring and tissues healing.
One week after the procedure, the bones and cartilage should be completely healed. After two weeks your nose won't be as swollen and the mucosa will have healed as well.
If you have a mild deviation, laser surgery can be a good option. In this case, the deviated septum is straightened with laser septoplasty.
This technique can be helpful for straightening the septum without causing you any pain (neither before nor after it), with much less bleeding and an easier healing process.
Sinusitis is a condition characterised by inflammation of the paranasal sinuses which are the cavities located behind the forehead, cheeks and eyes. It occurs as a result of infection by viruses, fungi or bacteria.
There are two types of sinusitis:
The main symptoms of sinusitis are:
The cause of sinusitis is an infection caused by viruses, fungi or bacteria. When the paranasal openings are blocked, bacteria or other microorganisms can easily grow.
Obstruction of the paranasal openings may be due to:
The best way to prevent sinusitis is to avoid coming down with a cold. If you cannot avoid them, it is important to treat them quickly. Some tips to prevent sinusitis are:
In general, sinusitis heals on its own and self-care can manage the discomfort, however, if it persists antibiotics can be prescribed.
Some self-care techniques include:
If the symptoms do not disappear with the treatment, it may become necessary to perform surgery to enlarge the opening and to drain the sinuses.
Mr Hesham Saleh is a leading rhinologist and facial plastic surgeon based in London. He featured in The Times' top 140 doctors list as well as being selected in their top 50 surgeons list. Practicing at various top clinics in the capital, including Charing Cross Hospital, he specialises in rhinoplasty, endoscopic sinus surgery, rhinology, anterior skull base surgery, orbital decompression and lacrimal surgery. He is regularly invited as an international expert in rhinoplasty and rhinology at conferences worldwide and serves as an honorary senior lecturer at Imperial College. He forms an integral part of a myriad of professional bodies including the Royal Society of Medicine for which he is the Past President to the Section of Laryngology and Rhinology.
The allergic nasal polyposis is the presence of polyps (a kind of small whitish bumps) on the inside of the nose or sinuses ( bone space between the nose and eyes) caused by inflammation of the mucosa. Although it is benign polyps, cause a number of inconveniences that hinder the patient's daily life: difficulty breathing, loss of smell and taste, headaches, and even deformation of the nose. The pharmacological treatment only serves to alleviate symptoms, so it is necessary to remove the nose through a very aggressive surgical intervention polyps. But the most effective in most patients with this pathology is trying to find the cause that produces the allergic symptomatology and the appearance of nasal polyps to apply custom processing.
Allergic rhinitis is a condition where the nose becomes inflamed by allergens, and is characterised by the presence of the typical symptoms of a cold such as sneezing, an itchy nose, stuffy nose or nasal congestion, mucus, and loss of smell.
Allergic rhinitis generally causes symptoms which are similar to those of a cold, such as a blocked or runny nose, and sneezing or itching. These symptoms will come on soon after being exposed to the allergen. In some, these reactions are common all year round as a reaction to a particular allergen, while in others, these reactions are seasonal as the allergen only appears sporadically in the year, e.g tree pollen.
Over time, symptoms sometimes ease and improve, but it is unlikely that they ever completely disappear.
The most common cause of allergic rhinitis is an allergy to a particular substance (i.e allergen), such as dust mites, pollen or the urine/saliva of certain animals.
Allergic rhinitis can be avoided rather than prevented, by avoiding the allergen itself. In the case of pollen, for example, it is recommended to stay indoors, sleep with the windows closed and drive with the windows up.
Treatment of allergic rhinitis will be based on avoiding contact with the allergen itself. Depending on the case, appropriate medications should be administered (antihistamines, decongestants, allergy vaccines, etc).
An allergy is a reaction of the immune system to exposure to a substance in the environment which is usually harmless for most people. Examples include:
Allergies can affect several parts of the body. However, the most frequently affected areas are the nose, the eyes, the respiratory tract and the skin.
Given that there are many types of allergies, there are various possible symptoms. The symptoms of an allergy can range from mild to severe. Common symptoms associated with allergies include:
More extreme allergic reactions can cause anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock, in which the mouth and throat may swell, the patient may struggle to breathe, feel lightheaded, and may even lose consciousness. Anaphylaxis is highly dangerous and can be fatal if not treated immediately.
If you are displaying symptoms of an allergic reaction, tell your doctor about the symptoms, when and how often they occur, and if you have noticed anything that seems to trigger them. This may be sufficient for your doctor to diagnose the allergy and perhaps offer treatment and/or advice on dealing with the allergy.
If the allergy is severe, or it is not clear what is causing the reactions, you may be referred to a specialist clinic for tests, such as:
Allergies are thought to be caused by a genetic predisposition, as a family history of allergies makes a patient much more likely to also have an allergy. Allergies are an overreaction of the immune system, which produces antibodies to defend the body against harmless substances, as if they were a threat. This immune reaction can inflame the skin, airways, or digestive system.
The only way to avoid an allergic reaction is to avoid contact with the allergen. However, this can be difficult for certain allergens, such as pollen, which is released into the air by plants on a seasonal basis. Similarly, food allergies can cause problems, as small amounts of allergens, such as peanuts, can be found in many foods.
Based on the type and severity of the allergy, there are several treatment options. One of the most common treatments is antihistamines, which are used for pollen or other particular plants allergy.
Anaphylaxis can be treated with adrenaline, and patients with known extreme allergies often carry an auto-injector for this reason. If you are with someone who goes into anaphylactic shock, you should call an ambulance, lie them down flat, remove the trigger if possible, and, if you know how, help them with their adrenaline auto-injector.
To get an accurate diagnosis and get started on a treatment, you should see an allergist.
A blocked nose, or nasal congestion, is when the nose is blocked due to mucus or other obstruction. This could be due to the common cold, or a problem like sinusitis, or nasal polyps.
Sinus surgery was typically performed in the past using external incisions, which caused discomfort and a significant amount of pain to the patient. Nowadays, however, endoscopic sinus surgery tends to be the standard surgery performed for conditions such as chronic sinusitis. In endoscopic surgery, a small telescope with a camera on the end is inserted up the nose to view the area to be operated on. This surgery is used to treat injuries or abnormalities that alter normal nose function or surrounding structures. Surgery is done under general anaesthetic.
This surgery is done when there is chronic nasal and sinus inflammation, especially in chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps, or acute recurrent sinusitis that has not responded well to medical treatment. The treatment aims to restore normal nasal sinus function through a minimally invasive surgical procedure. This surgery is also used for septoplasty, turbinate surgery, closure of cerebrospinal fluid fistulas, and orbital decompression among others.
A nasal decongestant should be used before dissecting the nose. A thin optic fibre is inserted in the nasal fossa to be able to view the sinus openings. With the right tools, the abnormal or obstructive tissue is resected. After surgery any bleeding points will be checked on, and in some cases nasal packing will be done to prevent haemorrhages, or silicone sheets will be placed to prevent the walls sticking to each other and forming anomalous scars.
Surgery tends to last between 1 and 3 hours depending on the complexity of the case. The nasal cavities are blocked with coagulant foam and special sponges that dissolve, or plugs that can be taken out easily.
Before surgery a sinus CT scan will be done to be able to plan the best form of treatment. Preoperative tests will also be carried out, as the surgery is done under general anaesthetic. The patient is normally in for a short stay surgery, they are only there one night. The patient should fast for 6 to 8 hours before the procedure.
The nose is usually blocked, so the patient can’t breathe through it. Bleeding may occur, so a gauze is placed under the nose, although it’s not always needed. For the first 3-4 days, the patient is advised not to; smoke, drink alcohol, or physically exert themselves. Patients are also told to rest at home, avoid blowing their nose, and sit in a position that reduces blood flow to the head, head congestion, and bleeding. Patients should follow a soft food diet and drink plenty of fluids for throat dryness due to nasal packing.
It is not a painful procedure, but it can cause discomfort. Anti-inflammatory medication is generally prescribed. Antibiotics may also be prescribed to prevent an infection of the retained mucus.
Endoscopic skull base surgery is performed on lesions or tumours found in the roof of the nasal passages, in direct contact with the cranial cavity.
Facial plastic surgery is a broad term covering cosmetic or reconstructive surgery performed on the head and neck. A facial plastic surgeon has a strong knowledge of facial anatomy and is highly skilled in procedures concerning the head and neck, either cosmetic or reconstructive.
Specialised plastic surgeons are not the only doctors who may be suitably trained to perform facial plastic surgery. It may be performed by otolaryngology (ENT) surgeons (whose background is conditions of the ear, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck), maxillofacial surgeons (who specialise in surgery of the face and jaw), ophthalmologists (who specialise in treating the eyes) and dermatologists (skin doctors).
Common procedures performed by facial plastic surgeons include:
Depending on what it is used for, facial plastic surgery procedures can be divided into two main groups: reconstructive or restorative surgery and aesthetic or cosmetic surgery.
The intervention required will depend on the case. First, the the specialist surgeon will assess the patient’s situation and explain the options, including the pre and post-operative process and the results that the patient can expect.
It is very important that in the whole process there is good communication between the surgeon and patient, to make sure the patient understands the process, the risks involved and realistic outcomes.
Before the surgery, the specialist may perform tests to check the patient's health and to ensure that he or she can undergo the procedure.
The type of anesthesia, the duration of the intervention and the risks will depend on each particular case.
The post-operative care of the intervention will depend on each type of surgery, although in most facial interventions a rest period is necessary after leaving the operating room.
It is also characteristic of facial plastic surgery procedures that swelling develops in the treated area. The final results will take weeks or even months to show, as the inflammation subsides.
Nasal deformities are anomalies in the shape and/or function of the nose. They are relatively common and many are simply aesthetic issues that cause no symptoms, although many patients are unhappy with their appearance because of the shape of their nose. However, in some cases, nasal deformities can cause difficulty breathing, and treatment may be needed to improve functionality
Some types of nasal deformities are:
There are other types of congenital nasal deformities, some of which, such as a cleft palate, affect more than just the nose.
Although a nasal deformity can cause breathing problems, it is not a serious malformation that will impair your daily life. However, if breathing is difficult on a continuous basis, this can result in sleep apnoea and poor-quality sleep. Both breathing problems and aesthetics often worsen with age.
Nasal deformities can produce symptoms such as:
The specialist will conduct an examination of the inside and outside of the nose. A fibroscope (a camera attached to a flexible optical fibre) is used for the internal examination. This device allows the specialist to see if there is a mechanical obstruction or if the nose collapses when you breathe in.
This examination allows the diagnosis of the aesthetic and functional problems. The specialist will then discuss with you the aspects that should be treated, the surgical techniques to be applied and what approach they need to take.
Nasal deformities can be due to:
Various medications exist to manage the symptoms of nasal deformities, including analgesics, decongestants, antihistamines, and steroid sprays.
The only real solution to the problem, however, is surgery. This could come in the form of a rhinoplasty, which reshapes the nose, or a septoplasty, which surgically straightens the cartilage between the nostrils.
The specialist will first plan and personalise the intervention, since no two noses are exactly the same. Surgery usually takes between one and a half to two hours to correct the functional and aesthetic defect. Most patients are discharged on the same day and the definitive results will be seen at 3-4 months.
Nasal deformities are usually treated by an otolaryngologist, who has in-depth knowledge of the nose, its anatomy and functionality, as well as of other pathologies associated with nose problems. Sometimes rhinoplasty is performed by a specialist in plastic, aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, particularly by one who is highly specialised in nasal deformities.
A nasal endoscopy is a multifunctional exploratory procedure performed at the otorhinolaryngologist’s clinic to examine the nose, neck and larynx. It is carried out using a flexible fibre-optic instrument with a cold light source, a camera and a monitor. This allows for an easy and direct exploration of cavities in the body that are normally difficult to see.
A nasal endoscopy is performed using a flexible fibre optic tube which is inserted through the nose. The procedure lasts approximately three minutes and is performed at the clinic. Local anaesthetic may or may not be used, depending on the case.
It is performed to diagnose respiratory tract pathologies or dysfunctions. The procedure allows images and video to be obtained, which is useful for explaining to the person the nature of their pathology. It also allows the specialist to keep a visual record, which helps them evaluate the pathology and its evolution over time, and the effectiveness of the applied treatments.
No prior preparation is required. You only need to follow the specialist’s instructions and they will indicate any procedures that need to follow. Only in some cases will local anaesthetic be applied to the nostril through which the fibrescope is inserted (deviation of the nasal septum or a nasal pathology).
It can be a bit uncomfortable, because a foreign body being inserted into your nose. So, a little anaesthetic may be necessary in some cases.
This is a quick and effective technique for detecting pathologies or dysfunctions in these structures. Any abnormality can be easily spotted and subsequently treated by the specialist.
Nasal polyps are semi-transparent growths that can form in any part of the sino-nasal mucosa. These are benign, but they may grow to the extent that they obstruct the nasal cavities. This condition is also called polypoid sinusitis. The polyps can develop at different sites in the cavities, but usually new ones develop further inwards, on the roof and sides of the nasal cavities.
Symptoms of nasal polyps vary according to their size. Initially, sense of smell and taste may be muted, which can then be accompanied by partial or complete nasal obstruction. You may also experience a sensation of constant mucus, which does not improve even when you blow your nose.
The presence of multiple or very large polyps may cause:
The causes of nasal polyps are not fully understood, but we know that it has to do with inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose and sinuses. It is thought that people who develop nasal polyps might have a different immune system response or differences in the chemical build-up of their mucous membrane. There are also suggested links with infection, severe untreated allergies, asthma, and cystic fibrosis. Polyps can develop at any age, though they are more common in young and middle-aged people.
Prevention consists of treating diseases like allergy or asthma and following the required treatments. In addition, it is important to avoid nasal irritations and to practice good hygiene via nasal washes. It may also be helpful to use a humidifier at home to moisturise the nasal cavities. If the problem is an allergy, use of antihistamines, nasal aerosols and/or an anti-allergy vaccination may help to prevent nasal polyps.
Medical treatment is recommended according to the grade of the polyps. It may consist of a topical corticosteroid, an oral corticosteroid and/or antibiotics if there is sign of infection. If there is no response to treatment, a surgical treatment is recommended; this consists of removal of the nasal polyps and opening of the paranasal sinuses using endoscopic techniques.
The nose has two cavities which are separated by a septum. This is made from both bone and cartilage and is responsible for separating the nasal cavities and channelling airflow into the nose. A perforated septum described when a hole develops in the septum, which depending on the size of the hole can cause mild to extreme symptoms.
Some people with a perforated nasal septum won’t experience any symptoms, however, more severe perforations can result in more severe and debilitating symptoms. With the right treatment, a perforated septum can be fixed.
The main feature of a perforated nasal septum is a hole in the septum which can vary in size (less than 1cm to more than 2cm). Sometimes you might not be aware of a perforated nasal septum, especially if you haven’t experienced any symptoms.
Symptoms can include:
If you suspect you may have a perforated nasal symptom, you should visit your doctor. They will examine your nose and ask for a medical history. Certain tests to better examine the perforation include a nasal endoscopy or a rhinoscopy.
There are numerous potential causes of a perforated nasal septum, including:
You can reduce your risk of getting a perforated nasal septum by:
Treatment will first attempt to treat the underlying cause. There are several non-surgical measures that will also be used, including antibiotic cream, irrigating the nose with saline spray and using a dehumidifier at home. Your doctor may also recommend a prosthesis to block the hole in the septum. These can help to reduce the symptoms. In some cases, surgery will be needed to repair the hole. This is fairly complex and will be performed under general anaesthesia as tissue may be taken from your ears or ribs to fill the hole.
An otolaryngologist (ENT) surgeon would treat a perforated nasal septum.
Nasal injuries are injuries to the nose.
The nose is the part of our face which sticks out above the mouth, and through which we breathe and smell. The nose houses the nostrils, which help us to take in and expel air as part of the respiratory system (along with the mouth). Our nose plays an important role in our overall health, as it filters the air that we breathe and removes dust and irritants. It contains nerve cells which help our sense of smell, and also helps warm the air coming in through it in order to keep the lungs and throat from drying out. Therefore, if there is a problem with our nose, our health can be affected.
There are many conditions and medical problems which can affect the nose, including:
Ear, nose and throat problems, if passed to a specialist, are typically treated by an otolaryngologist, more commonly known in the UK as an ENT doctor (ear, nose and throat). However, it depends on the pathology affecting the patient, as allergic problems may also be treated by a specialist allergist.
Cosmetic procedures affecting the nose such as rhinoplasty may be performed by a plastic surgeon, though it is advisable to visit a specialist facial plastic surgeon (often an ENT doctor, but sometimes an oral and maxillofacial specialist) as they have a thorough knowledge of the nose, its anatomy, and the conditions affecting it.
ENT surgeons can also correct problems with the nose which are non-cosmetic and related to breathing/respiratory difficulties, such as a deviated septum.
Rhinitis is a condition where the nasal mucosa becomes inflamed. The nasal mucosa is the lining of the inside of the nose. This is a common condition and is thought to affect one in every five people in the UK. Rhinitis can be triggered by allergies, which is called allergic rhinitis (e.g. hay fever). Rhinitis can be acute or it can be chronic (long-lasting).
The main symptoms are sneezing, an itchy nose, itchy eyes, an itchy throat, a lack of smell and a blocked nose with nasal discharge. Due to nasal congestion, the patient cannot breathe freely or easily.
The symptoms occur mostly in the morning. This can be confused with a simple cold, but a cold will resolve in around two weeks, whereas rhinitis persists.
There are several causes of rhinitis. Rhinitis can be classified into three main groups:
For allergic rhinitis, it is difficult to completely avoid the triggering allergens, however, attempts can be made to reduce exposure, such as avoiding leaving the house early in the morning when pollen is at its worst and keeping the windows closed.
Other treatment measures include:
A rhinoplasty, more commonly referred to as a ‘nose job’, is an operation performed to change the shape or size of the nose, whether for aesthetic or functional purposes (functional rhinoplasty).
Rhinoplasty may be performed on those who are unhappy with the appearance of their nose, those who have experienced trauma to the nose, or on those who have functional problems (e.g breathing/sinus difficulties). The rhinoplasty procedure can improve the aesthetics and function of the nose, depending on the goal the patient wants to achieve.
Rhinoplasty can make the nose smaller, larger, change its shape, or change the angle that exists between the nose and the top lip.
Currently, two types of surgery are generally performed:
The operation is carried out under general anaesthetic, meaning you won’t be awake for the surgery. The procedure can take anything from one hour and a half to three hours. You may also need to stay in hospital or at the clinic overnight, or for a couple of days.
Before the operation, you will need to attend an initial consultation with your surgeon. This may be either a facial plastic surgeon (an ENT surgeon, who has trained extensively in the anatomy of the face and the functionality of the nose) or a plastic surgeon (who performs various types of plastic surgery on the body). They will conduct a thorough examination, discuss your expectations with you, and determine if you are eligible for surgery.
Before your operation, if you decide to go ahead, the surgeon will take pictures in order to provide a photo analysis and discuss expected outcomes. They will also explain the risks of the surgery in detail, and ask you to sign a disclosure form.
After the operation, you’ll have to take about two weeks off work in order to recover. However, results of the procedure may not be visible until a few months later. Immediately after the procedure, and a short stay in the clinic, arrange for a friend to take you home, as you will not be able to drive for a couple of days.
Your stitches can usually be removed after a week, if they are not the dissolvable kind. If you are wearing a splint, this may be able to be removed at this stage too. After three weeks, bruising and swelling should be significantly reduced. You can expect return to playing sports and higher intensity activity at about four to six weeks.
There will be some aftercare which you can follow at home with your doctor’s recommendation, including:
Your doctor can prescribe you pain medication such as paracetamol to help with any pain. You may experience nosebleeds for the first few days after surgery, and there will be some swelling and bruising which will go down after time.
Septoplasty is a corrective surgical procedure done to straighten the nasal septum, eliminating any congenital or trauma-induced deviations.
Such deviations represent an obstruction which makes breathing harder.
During the procedure, the surgeon may also resect your turbinates (if they are hypertrophic). Sometimes the procedure may involve an aesthetic intervention on your nose, thus becoming a rhynoseptoplasty.
Your ENT specialist may suggest surgery if you have trouble breathing due to a deviated septum.
Should there be a severely deviated septum, the surgeon may have to remove the septum completely, straighten it and then insert it back. In other cases, the surgery can be done internally from your nose, passing through the nostrils.
During the surgery, the cartilage segments (and sometimes small bone fractions) causing the deviation are removed.
First of all, you’ll need to go through your medical history with your doctor.
The doctor will also check your general state of health and study the shape of your nose.
If you smoke, you’ll need to stop before the procedure. You will also have to avoid taking any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) two weeks before and two weeks after the procedure.
After the surgery, you’ll need to go back to the hospital twice (one week apart from each visit) to check on and replace the dressing, to monitor your recovery and to remove any potential adhesions.
Spraying a hyaluronic acid mist on your face can help with the scarring and tissues healing.
One week after the procedure, the bones and cartilage should be completely healed. After two weeks your nose won't be as swollen and the mucosa will have healed as well.
If you have a mild deviation, laser surgery can be a good option. In this case, the deviated septum is straightened with laser septoplasty.
This technique can be helpful for straightening the septum without causing you any pain (neither before nor after it), with much less bleeding and an easier healing process.
Rhinoseptoplasty is a type of plastic surgery performed to correct and reconstruct the nasal septum (bridge) for aesthetic and medical purposes. This is what makes the difference between rhinoseptoplasty and a simpler rhinoplasty (which only aims at aesthetically enhancing the nose) or a septoplasty (which only corrects and reconstructs the nose for medical purposes). This procedure yields better results when doing a mild remodelling and reconstructing.
From a strictly medical angle, rhinoseptoplasty is usually done to treat any problems arising from a deviated septum. Other potential issues include:
From an aesthetics angle, any kind of defect can be corrected; there are several different types of aesthetics enhancements to the nose available.
Before the surgery, you will be given either local anaesthetics or general anaesthetics.
During the septoplasty phase, the surgeon will make an incision on your septum. If the remodelling is simple enough, the surgeon will be able to reposition the septum without needing to move it first. Otherwise, the surgeon will have to remove the septum, straighten it up and place it back within the nose. After that, the surgeon will suture the nose up.
The rhinoplasty can be either a closed procedure (by making an incision within the nose) or an open procedure (by making an incision at the base of the nose). After the surgery, an external cast will be placed on your nose, which will be removed less than a week after the procedure.
Before the surgery, you need to:
You will be in hospital for one day after the surgery. However, complete recovery may take several months (from three months to a whole year in some cases). It is fairly common to feel pain in your nose and have some nosebleeds in the week immediately after the surgery.
You should avoid smoking in the days after surgery. You should also avoid any strenuous physical activity, keep your head lifted up while sleeping and make sure you don’t blow your nose for some time after the procedure.
You can go back to work roughly one week after the rhinoseptoplasty. The plastic surgeon will generally recommend periodic check-ups to monitor the recovery process.
Sinusitis is a condition characterised by inflammation of the paranasal sinuses which are the cavities located behind the forehead, cheeks and eyes. It occurs as a result of infection by viruses, fungi or bacteria.
There are two types of sinusitis:
The main symptoms of sinusitis are:
The cause of sinusitis is an infection caused by viruses, fungi or bacteria. When the paranasal openings are blocked, bacteria or other microorganisms can easily grow.
Obstruction of the paranasal openings may be due to:
The best way to prevent sinusitis is to avoid coming down with a cold. If you cannot avoid them, it is important to treat them quickly. Some tips to prevent sinusitis are:
In general, sinusitis heals on its own and self-care can manage the discomfort, however, if it persists antibiotics can be prescribed.
Some self-care techniques include:
If the symptoms do not disappear with the treatment, it may become necessary to perform surgery to enlarge the opening and to drain the sinuses.
Turbinate hypertrophy is a condition affecting the respiratory mucosa. The turbinates, also known as nasal conchae, is a part of the nasal fossa. They are six narrow, curled shelves of bone and connective tissue covered by a mucosa that protrude into the breathing passage of the nose. The turbinates ensure that the air passing through the nose is heated up and humidified. Sometimes they can become inflamed and increase in size. This is what happens when you have turbinate hypertrophy.
Turbinate hypertrophy can cause the following symptoms:
To confirm a diagnosis of turbinates hypertrophy, you’ll need to go through your medical history with your doctor and do the following exams:
Some risk factors that may lead to turbinate hypertrophy are:
The treatments largely depend on the individual case. Your doctor may prescribe you a local treatment based on nasal solutions which can reduce the swelling of the turbinates (in case of a mild to moderate hypertrophy). Should this not be enough, you may consider the option of surgery (middle turbinectomy, inferior turbinates mucotomy or submucosal dissection), consisting in the resection of a part of the mucosa and bones of the turbinates, or you can consider one of the new, non-invasive techniques based on laser or radiofrequency.
For an accurate diagnosis and treatment of turbinate hypertrophy, you should see an ENT specialist.
e-Consultation is a private messaging and video conference service that allows contact with leading specialists at the time you choose, from any place.
If you have a blocked nose due to a structural problem, your doctor might recommend surgery. A septoplasty is performed when your septum is causing the blockage. We spoke to leading rhinologist Mr Hesham Saleh about what patients can expect from the procedure, what risks are involved, and whether the appearance of your nose can be affected.
Read more
