Restore comfortable breathing and improve nasal function with septoplasty by Sahar Nadimi, MD. This procedure corrects a deviated septum to relieve chronic nasal obstruction, congestion, and difficulty breathing. Dr. Nadimi provides meticulous, personalized care focused on achieving lasting functional improvement.
Improve Airflow Through Your Nose
Septoplasty is a surgical procedure that corrects a deviated nasal septum, the wall of cartilage and bone that separates your nasal passages. When the septum is significantly off-center, it can obstruct airflow and contribute to chronic nasal congestion, difficulty breathing, and other functional concerns. During septoplasty, the septum is carefully reshaped and repositioned to improve nasal airflow while preserving the natural structure of your nose. The goal is to restore comfortable breathing and enhance long-term nasal function.
Septoplasty Treats:
- Deviated nasal septum
- Chronic nasal obstruction
- Difficulty breathing through the nose
- Persistent nasal congestion
- Mouth breathing due to nasal blockage
- Reduced airflow through one or both nostrils
- Sleep disruption associated with nasal obstruction
- Functional breathing problems following nasal injury or trauma
How Septoplasty Works
Septoplasty is performed entirely through incisions inside your nose, so there are no visible external scars. During the procedure, Dr. Nadimi carefully lifts the lining covering the septum to access the underlying cartilage and bone. She precisely reshapes, repositions, or removes only the portions that cause obstruction, while preserving as much healthy structural support as possible. Once the septum is straightened, the incisions are closed with dissolvable sutures.
You will be under anesthesia throughout the procedure and can return home the same day in most cases. Depending on your anatomy and goals, Dr. Nadimi may address other structural concerns or combine septoplasty with functional rhinoplasty to further improve nasal breathing. Every surgical plan is tailored to restore airflow while maintaining the appearance of your nose.
Benefits of Septoplasty:
- Improves nasal airflow and breathing
- Corrects a deviated nasal septum
- Reduces chronic nasal congestion
- May decrease the frequency of sinus infections
- Promotes more restful sleep by improving airflow
- Reduces mouth breathing caused by nasal obstruction
- Enhances overall nasal function
- Can improve breathing after nasal trauma
- May be combined with other nasal procedures when appropriate
- Provides long-lasting functional improvement
Septoplasty FAQs
Will Septoplasty Change the Appearance of My Nose?
Septoplasty is a functional procedure that improves breathing by correcting the nasal septum. It is not intended to change the external appearance of your nose. However, if you would also like to improve the shape or symmetry of your nose, Dr. Nadimi may combine septoplasty with rhinoplasty to address both functional and cosmetic concerns in a single surgery.
How Long Does Septoplasty Take?
Most septoplasty procedures take approximately one to two hours, depending on the complexity of your anatomy and whether additional procedures are performed at the same time.
What is Recovery Like?
You can usually return home the same day. Mild swelling, congestion, and light drainage are common during the first week. You should avoid strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, nose blowing, and activities that could place pressure on your nose while healing.
When Will I Notice Improved Breathing?
Your nose may initially feel more congested because of swelling. As healing progresses and swelling gradually subsides over the following weeks, you should begin noticing easier airflow. Although many patients experience improvement within several weeks, your final functional result continues to develop as internal tissues fully heal.
Meet Dr. Nadimi
Sahar Nadimi, MD, is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon known for her surgical techniques, honest recommendations, and commitment to natural-looking results. As clinical faculty at Loyola University Medical Center, she also teaches facial plastic surgery, including complex post-traumatic septoplasty and rhinoplasty, to residents. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Nadimi to learn whether septoplasty is the
