In a perfect world, your septum neatly divides your nose into two equal parts, allowing a free and balanced flow of air in and out. But the world is far from perfect, as nearly 80% of the population in the United States has some degree of deviation in their septums. In severe cases, this deviation can cause breathing and sleeping problems, prompting patients to have the issue surgically corrected through a septoplasty.
At our practice, Dr. Alexis Furze has extensive experience helping his patients in Orange County and beyond breathe a little easier. In fact, our doctor is double board-certified in plastic surgery and head and neck surgery and has more than 15,000 nasal procedures to his credit, which means your septoplasty is in good hands.
To give you an idea about what to expect before, during, and after your septoplasty, we’ve pulled together the following information.
A septoplasty isn’t major surgery, but it’s still surgery, which means there are a few things you can do to better prepare yourself. In the days leading up to your surgery, we give you a full list of dos and don’ts. But keep in mind that you should stop taking any aspirin or other blood-thinning agents, as well as cease or curb your smoking and alcohol consumption.
We may also have you undergo a preoperative health evaluation to make sure that there are no medical problems that may interfere with your surgery. Again, we guide you through your prep, and we’re available for any questions you may have.
While we usually perform a septoplasty on an outpatient basis, we still use general anesthesia, so you should arrange for a ride home as well as a little extra help that day. You’re going to be groggy, and an extra set of hands will go a long way toward making your early recovery go more smoothly.
Depending upon the extent of the work we need to do, and whether we perform a rhinoplasty at the same time, you should expect that we’ll place a silicon splint inside your nasal passage. We typically remove the silicon splint within a few days after your septoplasty, but be sure to keep them in place until then.
You should also arrange your bed (or your couch) for keeping your head upright as much as possible during your early recovery. This helps keep swelling to a minimum and promotes better drainage. You may also want to have ice packs on hand to help with swelling and discomfort.
It’s also important that you clear your schedule for a few days after your procedure to allow time for your body to recover. Keep your activity to a minimum and use this time to rest.
Rest assured, we provide you with a full list of postop instructions that covers everything from showering to bandages.
After your septoplasty, your swelling may take a few weeks to go down. It’s important that you practice patience during this time, and you’ll be rewarded very quickly with a nose you can finally breathe through freely.
If you have more questions about your septoplasty, feel free to call our office in Newport Beach, California, at 949-205-7745.
