Many patients presenting for rhinoplasty also undergo treatment of a deviated septum or septoplasty. The septum is a cartilagenous wall that divides the nose into right and left parts. Most people (as many as 80%) have a deviated septum. Mild septal deviation does not typically cause any symptoms, whereas more significant septal deviation may cause nasal airway obstruction symptoms. Septoplasty is a surgical procedure done to straighten the septum to treat the symptoms of nasal airway obstruction.
In some people, septal deviation may be apparent externally as a nasal deviation or C shape deformity of the nose and in others only the internal portion of the septum is deviated. Septoplasty is performed using a closed (scarless) technique or open technique with the scar across the bottom midportion of the nose (columella). Septal deviation is frequently accompanied by turbinate enlargement. Turbinates are located inside the nose on the side walls. They consist of a bone covered with vascular mucosa. Enlargement of the turbinates may cause nasal airway obstruction. Many patients undergoing septoplasty also undergo reduction of the turbinates.
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