Ask a Surgeon: Should I Get Septoplasty and Rhinoplasty Together?
Some things work better in pairs:
Peanut Butter and Jelly
Woody and Buzz
R2-D2 and C-3PO
Mario and Luigi
Mac and Cheese
Fred and George Weasley
But what about Septoplasty and Rhinoplasty?
In many cases, yes! Septoplasty and rhinoplasty can complement each other extremely well. Septoplasty corrects the structure of the nose, allowing for a rhinoplasty that better modifies the external appearance.
Together, they can result in significant functional and cosmetic improvements. While some people may choose one or the other, in many cases, rhinoplasty and septoplasty are the perfect duo.
Rhinoplasty Vs. Septoplasty
What is a septoplasty?
A septoplasty is the medical procedure that straightens the septum of the nose. The septum divides the nose into two halves — it’s like a flat wall made of bone and cartilage. Ideally, we want a straight septum, but the septum can be crooked to one side and result in sinus problems.
A straight midline septum allows for smooth airflow in our nostrils, but a crooked septum can cause turbulence. Think of it like the airflow around an airplane. “Laminar” is a smooth airflow we all want when we’re flying. Turbulent air flow means the air moves in a circular motion and makes for the bumpy ride. In the nose, turbulence causes drying currents and breathing difficulties. This turbulence also creates snoring issues. Many people who get their septum straightened have a smoother “laminar” airflow. They snore less, breath better, and the sinuses work as they should… it’s a smoother flight.
A septoplasty allows us to straighten the septum to improve the function of the sinuses. It’s done through a small incision in the front of the nose with minimal removal of bone and cartilage.
What is a rhinoplasty?
This is the cosmetic procedure that allows us to change the external appearance of the nose. When someone wants to correct the hump, crookedness, or visible injury on their nose, we elect to use a rhinoplasty. This surgery on the outside of the nose can involve changing the shape of the cartilage at the tip of the nose or changing the nasal bones. Essentially, it’s a conservative re-breaking of the nose.
The primary difference between rhinoplasty and septoplasty is the purpose. A septoplasty is a functional procedure while a rhinoplasty is cosmetic, but there is some crossover.
How Septoplasty and Rhinoplasty Work Together
These procedures can complement each other well. To get a good result on the rhinoplasty, some patients need to have the septum straightened as well. There’s an old saying that may make more sense once you understand the septum: “As the septum goes, so goes the nose.”
Essentially, straightening the septum inside helps the surgeon better straighten the outside as well. If the septum is crooked, the outside will be crooked. But that isn’t always the entire problem with the outside. You may need to remove a small hump, realign the bones of the outer nose, or work on the cartilages on the tip of the nose. But a key part of this procedure is first straightening the septum — which makes it logical to do these procedures together.
A patient may opt not to have a septoplasty and rhinoplasty together for a few reasons:
1. They don’t want anything to change externally.
2. The patient is young and shouldn’t have rhinoplasty, but the septum is causing severe sinus problems.
You can do the septoplasty by itself. If the septum is straight, you could do the rhinoplasty by itself. But if the septum is not straight, a septoplasty should accompany the rhinoplasty.
Think of it like a home renovation. If you have a solid structure, you can focus on the cosmetic updates. But if the subfloor is weak and the walls aren’t plumb, you have to repair the structure before you can move to the decor and paint.
Septoplasty and Rhinoplasty FAQs
Is septoplasty covered by insurance?
Generally, a septoplasty is covered by insurance.
Rhinoplasty procedures tend to not be covered by insurance because it’s considered a cosmetic procedure. This can be a hindrance for many patients. While we can do a septoplasty without a rhinoplasty, when a patient has a significant cosmetic deformity, we strongly recommend coupling these procedures together. If there are financial concerns, wait until it’s possible to do them together. If you fix one without the other, it’s never as ideal of a solution.
How long does the procedure take?
A septoplasty is a relatively quick procedure that takes 30 – 45 minutes.
A rhinoplasty can take a little longer because of the finesse involved. Even one millimeter can make a difference in the outward appearance. Expect this procedure to last 2-3 hours.
What should I do to prepare before surgery?
Before surgery, we need a thorough understanding of the patient’s health history, particularly relating to the heart or lungs. Surgeons must be informed of previous cardiac procedures, including stents or pacemakers, or a history of blood clots. Patients who take blood thinners will need clearance from their prescribing doctor to stop medications before surgery. Patients should also avoid other substances (like fish oil or aspirin) that may cause excess bleeding during surgery.
Also, all patients should complete a COVID-19 test and the necessary paperwork with the surgery center prior to the date of the procedure. Patients will get specific instructions from the office staff regarding when to stop eating, when to arrive, and who should accompany them to their procedure. If you have any remaining questions, be sure to ask the staff prior to your procedure.
What should I expect during the procedure?
Expect a 45-minute procedure under general anesthesia for a septoplasty and a 2+ hour procedure for a rhinoplasty.With the septoplasty, we place small splints in the nose that help hold the septum straight. We also pack the nose with dissolvable packing. This packing can be lightly blown out of the nose after several days and irrigated with saline solution.
What does a septoplasty and rhinoplasty recovery look like?
Splints from a septoplasty are removed 4-6 days after the procedure. Once the splints are removed, the person recovers quickly and can return to work.
External casts are sometimes placed for rhinoplasty. These are typically removed within 4-6 days as well.
Expect an office appointment in this 4-6 day time period to remove splints or external casts. At that point, patients can start a saline regimen. For some rhinoplasty patients, we prescribe antibiotics for 7-10 days after the procedures. We also schedule a final follow up four weeks after the procedure.
If you’re considering a rhinoplasty vs. septoplasty, discuss your best option with your ENT. You may find your best solution will be to have a septoplasty and rhinoplasty together.
Dr. Scolaro is a board-certified Otolaryngologist servicing the South Plains area. He has been practicing in Lubbock since 1990 and has earned a reputation as a skilled and experienced surgeon. He currently serves as the Medical Director for Covenant High Plains Surgery Center campuses, is a member of Covenant Health Partners and is an adjunct faculty professor for Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine. Learn more about Dr. Scolaro.
Dr. Cuthbertson is a physician at Ear Nose & Throat Associates of Lubbock. He joined the team at ENT Lubbock from Houston, where he was chief resident of the prestigious Bobby R. Alford Department of Otolaryngology at Baylor College of Medicine. He is board certified in Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery and has quickly built a reputation, not only as an extremely skilled surgeon, but as an approachable and compassionate clinician adept in the newest standards and technologies. Learn more about Dr. Cuthbertson.
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