Septoplasty
Premier Houston Rhinoplasty Surgeon Dr. Michel Siegel
Your septum is a long piece of cartilage and bone that separates the right and left nasal passages. It also provides the nose with support from the bridge to the tip. Sometimes, the septum can become crooked, or “deviated,” from an injury, or just through otherwise normal growth and development.
Septoplasty Overview
A deviated septum is one of the most common causes of nasal obstruction. This condition can cause a variety of medical problems, interfering with your breathing, making your nose bleed, causing discomfort, increasing your risk of sinus infections, and even leading to the development of sleep apnea (one common symptom of which is snoring). In addition, a deviated septum can give the nose an asymmetrical, lopsided, or otherwise cosmetically imperfect appearance. Dr. Siegel can correct a deviated septum by performing a functional rhinoplasty in Houston. Since each person’s septum is unique, he will tailor the procedure to address your specific circumstances. With a deviated septum surgery from the man known as the “nose doctor” in Houston, you can feel confident that you will both breathe and look better.
The Septoplasty Process?
1
Consultation
The first step in your septoplasty journey is your initial consultation with Dr. Siegel. During this appointment, he will go over your medical and cosmetic considerations. Using this information, he will devise a customized deviated septum correction procedure to meet your unique needs and preferences.
Dr. Siegel will then create a digital three-dimensional model of your nose before and after surgery, if your goals include external and or cosmetic changes. You can then provide your feedback to this image so that we can further refine your deviated septum repair process to suit your specifications. There is no set time for this visit – Dr. Siegel will answer all your questions, address all of your concerns, and discuss your surgical plan with you until you feel completely confident in proceeding with your septum surgery.
2
Preparing for Nose Surgery
As with any surgical procedure, you will be provided with pre‑op and post‑op instructions. Those instructions include that you hydrate well, avoid medicines that may interact with anesthesia, and avoid smoking. Since each surgery from Dr. Siegel is customized, you’ll be given detailed instructions beforehand to make sure your recovery is smooth and fast.
3
Preparation
Since your septoplasty will be individualized to your unique anatomy and concerns, Dr. Siegel and our team will give you precise guidelines to follow in order to get ready for your surgery. Some standard instructions – such as drinking plenty of water and avoiding medications that could interact with anesthesia – will apply to most if not all patients, but we will also offer specific recommendations attuned to your needs. Dr. Siegel’s guidelines will prepare you for the week preceding the surgery all the way through to the end of your recovery. Our assistance will help prime you for your nose procedure so that it goes as smoothly and safely as possible.
4
Procedure
Dr. Siegel will perform your nose straightening surgery at an accredited Houston hospital. During this procedure, he will reshape your nasal anatomy so that your septum is straight. In addition to repairing your septal tissue, Dr. Siegel will adjust the surrounding bone, cartilage, nostril, and membrane as needed. Your septoplasty may also be combined with a cosmetic rhinoplasty if you’d like to enhance the appearance of your nose while repairing this condition.
The time it takes to complete your septum surgery in Houston will depend on your distinctive circumstances (such as how severe your deviation is and what types of prior procedures you may have had), but it typically lasts between 45 minutes and an hour. Dr. Siegel will work on restoring your nose until he has corrected your deviated septum and provided your desired results.
5
Recovery
Given Dr. Siegel’s advanced expertise and long history as a septoplasty specialist in Houston, most of our patients find that they recover more quickly and easily then they had anticipated. Dr. Siegel emphasizes preserving rather than removing cartilage. He uses seamless, internal incisions to minimize inflammation, bruising, and scarring. Because he does not use nasal packing (placing gauze inside of the nose) after surgery, much of the typical pain and/or pressure associated with septoplasty is eliminated. This also allows more immediate results and the ability to return to work in three to five days, as there is no bruising.
Why choose Dr. Michel Siegel for your rhinoplasty?
The success of your nose surgery depends above all on the nose surgeon you pick.
Rhinoplasty is not just another procedure offered by Dr. Siegel: It is his main focus. Dr. Siegel is a nose surgery specialist. He is double board certified by the only two boards certifying nose specialists (abohns.org and abfprs.org. Those certifications and his 20+ years of rhinoplasty experience, allow him to perform revision rhinoplasty to correct flaws in primary, secondary, and tertiary rhinoplasties.
More developments in rhinoplasty surgery have occurred in the last 15 years than in the previous 100. Your surgeon should be skilled in the best new techniques in nose surgery.
Dr. Siegel is one of the first surgeons in Texas and the country to be trained in Turkey, Europe, and Latin America in advanced surgical techniques for nose surgery. These techniques include ultrasonic rhinoplasty, which avoids breaking the bones as in traditional rhinoplasty, and preservation rhinoplasty, where the shape of the nose is changed by "preserving" the supportive structures of the nose with minimal bone and cartilage removal. This leads to faster healing and natural long-term outcomes in a shorter period.
Rhinoplasty is more than just a surgical procedure. It is a series of personal decisions, followed by a series of medical and aesthetic decisions. Dr. Siegel will work with you every step of the way. You will not be handed off to an assistant or a junior associate. We remain a small boutique practice providing not only exceptional surgical results and personalized care.
Find out even more about why to choose Dr. Siegel, or contact us to discuss your perfect look.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question:
What’s the difference between rhinoplasty and septoplasty?
Answer:
As described above, a septoplasty is a surgery to properly align a deviated septum, which is the part of the nose that divides it into two nostrils. A rhinoplasty, in contrast, is a cosmetic procedure to improve the look, shape, and size of the nose. Both of these procedures can improve the appearance and function of your nose. They are separate surgeries, with their own techniques and outcomes, but they are very complementary to each other. Dr. Siegel often combines septoplasty and rhinoplasty for optimal results.
Question:
What are the reasons people get septum surgery?
Answer:
There are a variety of reasons people undergo a septoplasty. A deviated septum is a medical condition that causes a host of uncomfortable symptoms and can interfere with your overall wellbeing. While some people are born with or develop a deviated septum, in other cases, this is the result of an injury. A deviated septum can cause congestion, snoring, sleep apnea, and headache. It can also lead to uneven nostrils, which many patients find to be an aesthetic and functional issue. In short, patients often undergo septoplasty when they want to breathe more easily, sleep better through the night, gain more confidence in their appearance, and generally feel better. Dr. Siegel can help you decide if you are a good candidate for a septum surgery at your initial consultation.
Question:
Will a septoplasty change my voice?
Answer:
It is possible for a septoplasty to slightly change the sound of your voice. Correcting a deviated septum can allow air to pass more easily through your nose, giving your voice a less nasal, more resonant tone. In most cases, patients view this as a positive change and are happy with it. However, some patients may not experience any change in their voice following septoplasty. As with most aspects of this surgery, the way deviated septum correction affects your voice will depend on your unique situation.
