Functional Septorhinoplasty: surgery to fix a deviated septum or crooked nose and more

What is a deviated septum?

The nasal septum is the midline divide of the nose into its left and right cavities. It is comprised of cartilage and bone, which can be deviated, or crooked – hence, “deviated septum” is the medical term for a crooked nose. This can occur as a result of injury to the nose but is often crooked simply because of the way the nose has grown naturally. Asymmetrical nasal bones and cartilage can run in families, or it can simply be your individual nose. It is commonly referred to as “deviated” if the septum is visibly pushing the nose to one side. When Dr Jo-Lyn McKenzie assesses your nose, she will be able to see if there is a deviation that is more internal, which can sometimes be called a septal spur.

What are the symptoms of a deviated septum?

A deviated septum can cause significant blockage on one or both sides of the nose, and can cause the outside of the nose to be crooked, producing aesthetic asymmetry. You will notice symptoms of a deviated septum such as nasal blockage or limited airflow. Particularly, this can cause snoring, difficulty with exercising or irritation by not being able to breathe through one or both sides of the nose.

Can you do a self-test to determine if you have a deviated septum?

It can be difficult to self-determine whether or not you have a deviated septum. Even CT scans or imaging sometimes do not show the deviation of the cartilage. If you are concerned you might have a deviated septum, you should ask your GP to refer you to Dr McKenzie so she can perform a comprehensive ear, nose and throat examination to determine what is causing your nasal restriction.

Does a crooked nose affect your breathing?

A crooked nose often has a very significant impact on your ability to breathe through the nose. This is why, for some people, their best nasal airway can only be achieved through a functional septorhinoplasty.

What is a functional septorhinoplasty?

A functional septorhinoplasty is surgery that addresses both the appearance and crookedness of the nose and the internal capacity to breathe. A nose that is crooked often troubles a person in terms of its appearance as well as function. Both aesthetic and functional issues can be well addressed through a functional septorhinoplasty, which can involve straightening the nose bones as well as the various cartilaginous elements of the nose.

A nose that is structurally strong and good for breathing is also a nose that looks good and is in harmony with the patient's facial profile and shape. Dr McKenzie offers complete functional rhinoplasty surgery, and while this is aimed at achieving a functional outcome of optimising nasal breathing, it does often address aesthetic concerns at the same time, because form and function go together.

How long does it take to recover from a septoplasty or a functional septorhinoplasty?

As septoplasty is usually a one- to two-week recovery and return to all activities. A functional septorhinoplasty is a more involved operation, and the recovery for this is at least two weeks off work and usually six weeks until return to sport or other significant activities.

Can you fix a deviated septum without surgery?

A deviated septum causing nasal blockage is a very simple problem to fix surgically. This requires a septoplasty to straighten and reconstruct the nasal cartilages to maximise airflow through the nose.

There is no effective non-surgical treatment for a deviated septum but if you have other causes of nasal inflammation or other nasal conditions, Dr McKenzie can diagnose and treat these, and sometimes surgery can be avoided.

In cases where the other nasal cartilages are contributing to the nasal blockage, such as nasal valve obstruction or collapse of the nostrils, a functional septorhinoplasty can be required to give the patient an adequate nasal airway for breathing.

Where does Dr McKenzie operate?

Dr McKenzie operates at Brisbane Private Hospital in Spring Hill, Mater Children's Private Hospital/Mater Private Hospital in South Brisbane, and Greenslopes Private Hospital in Greenslopes for both paediatric and adult patients.

These hospitals all offer excellent paediatric nursing care support, and Dr McKenzie only uses specialist paediatric anaesthetists for your child’s procedure. This means that you can be assured that your child is in the safest possible hands as it takes a dedicated and comprehensive team of specialist nurses and doctors to safely provide paediatric ear, nose and throat surgery. Dr McKenzie has chosen these hospitals based on their ability to provide the highest level of care to your child.

For adult patients, Dr McKenzie selected these hospitals due to their access to intensive care units and the most modern facilities and resources to ensure the best experience for your procedure.

What should I do now?

If you are worried about your quality of breathing through your nose, then it is a good idea to have ask your GP for a referral to Dr McKenzie to find out the relationship between your crooked nose and your breathing problem, or that of your child. If you or your child have a crooked nose but you breathe well through it, and is not causing you any other problems, this is not an indication to have any further assessment or surgery.