Recently diagnosed with deviated septum - what are the treatment options?

Surgery or not.: In many instances it is asymptomatic. If it causes nasal passage obstruction, snoring, sinusitis (chronic and recurrent ) can occur. Sometimes it is visibly cosmetic and in others cannot be seen. Correction is by surgery, dependent on all the factors mentioned! your symptoms are most important!

Depends: If the nasal congestion is not very troublesome, i often start my patients on a nasal steroid spray. This shrinks the turbinates (sides of the nose) over time and and allows air to pass around the deviated septume. For those who are symptomatic after having properly used the spray, surgery is offered. Septoplasty - involves removing a deviated portion of the septum. The success rate is excellent.

Septoplasty: A septoplasty may improve your breathing but there are other anatomical issues that can contribute to nasal obstruction. Be sure to have your nose evaluated by. Board certified facial plastic surgeon.

Medical vs surgical: there are medical options to improve an obstruction if it is related to swelling commonly associated with allergy. This is determined at the time of examination when they may use decongestants to see if the obstruction can be improved. If so medications (I.e. Decongestants, steroids, etc) may help. If not surgery may be required to correct a physical obstruction