Functional Nasal Surgery

The septum is the partition comprised of cartilage and bone that divides the nose into two passageways. If you feel it is harder to breathe on one side of your nose, you may have a deviated or crooked septum. Patients will often have difficulty breathing through their nose during the day and while they sleep. They may favor sleeping on one side over the other and commonly breathe through their mouth. Nasal sprays will generally not improve nasal breathing difficulty caused by a deviated septum.

What other factors cause Nasal Obstruction?

Turbinate hypertrophy

The turbinates are shelves of bone inside the nose that help humidify and cleanse the air you breathe. Turbinate enlargement or hypertrophy can commonly result from allergies, environmental irritants, genetic factors, and sinus infections. The turbinates are often reduced in size at the same time as a septoplasty or rhinoplasty.

Nasal valve collapse

The nasal valve is the narrowest part of the nose and a common area of nasal obstruction known as nasal valve collapse. This is divided into two different areas, the internal and external valve. The internal valve is formed by the septum and the side cartilages of the nose known as the upper lateral cartilages. The external valve is comprised of the outer rim of the nostril including the tip cartilage and the floor of the nose. Common causes of nasal valve collapse including prior nasal surgery, trauma, and genetic factors. A septorhinoplasty is the main treatment for nasal valve collapse.

Sinusitis

Chronic sinusitis is a condition in which the cavities (sinuses) surrounding the inside of the nose became inflamed. This can be due to allergies, infection, nasal polyps, or a deviated septum. It is a common cause of nasal obstruction and breathing difficulties. Mucus buildup in the sinuses are caused by blockages in the drainage pathways between the turbinates. Many patients respond to medical treatment such as nasal sprays, antibiotics, and steroids to reduce symptoms. When there are structural issues, this often needs to be corrected with endoscopic sinus surgery to open up the sinus drainage pathways. A CT scan is necessary to determine is sinus surgery is needed.

Endoscopic sinus surgery is often formed in conjunction with septoplasty to fix any obstructions. It can also be safely performed with a cosmetic rhinoplasty.