American Society of Plastic Surgeons
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littleone
4 years ago
Answered

Deviated Septum

I have a deviated septum. I found this out before I had my surgery for my Cochlear implant. I can no longer have MRIs. I have noticed lately that my nose whistle is a little bit when I’m breathing in. It never bothered me before but now as I’m getting older I notice it. I don’t necessarily want to change how I look, but I want to change how I breathe. Would it be a significant change in looks?

Procedure: Rhinoplasty
Location: cambridge, MD

Replies 3

Lawrence Glassman
ASPS Surgeon

A deviated septum and associated breathing problems can usually be improved without significant impact on the appearance of the nose. If the deviated septum is also causing a crooked appearing nose, then correction of the septum and straightening the external nose would be recommended. Enlarged turbinates and a septal perforation could cause some of your symptoms. An internal nasal examination would be able to evaluate these possibilities. A consultation with a Plastic Surgeon experienced in rhinoplasty surgery should be very helpful.

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Nelson Castillo

Thank you for sharing your question. Depending on the location and degree of deviation, a septoplasty may not alter the appearance of your nose at all. Typically a rhinoplasty would need to be added to the septoplasty to accomplish this.

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Michael Streitmann
ASPS Surgeon

Opening your nasal airway should not change the appearance of your nose in any way. Take all precautions to make sure the CI isn’t damaged during the surgery.

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