Deviated Septum Surgery: Causes, Costs, and Aftercare

by Dr De Silva||Rhinoplasty

Knowing how much a deviated septum surgery cost helps determine the best procedure for you. Some people are born with a deviated septum. Others get it from accidents. Knowing how much a deviated septum surgery cost helps you make an informed decision about treatment. Whatever the cause of your deviated septum is, having the condition negatively affects your daily life. From difficulty breathing to nasal infection, a deviated septum must be treated. Sometimes, medicine can help. However, it is often not enough. A deviated septum surgery is the only permanent solution to your problem. In this article, I’ll discuss deviated septum surgery cost, causes, and recovery. What Is a Deviated Septum? A broken septum can be corrected through deviated septum surgery. The nasal septum is the cartilage that separates your nostrils. It is usually found at the center. The nasal septum is supposed to divide the nostrils evenly. However, for some people, it isn’t the case. Many patients have an irregular septum that makes one nostril bigger than the other. This irregularity is known as a deviated septum. Severe irregularity can cause complications such as difficult breathing and nasal infection. A deviated septum is highly common. The American Academy of Otolaryngology states that approximately 80% of all septums deviate to some degree. In addition, a deviated septum requires medical attention if it causes health issues or negatively impacts one’s quality of life. Causes of a Deviated Septum A deviated septum surgery is attributed to many factors. A deviated septum has two main causes― congenital malformation and accidents. A fetus can develop a deviated septum while in the uterus or womb. It can also be caused by the birthing process, making a deviated septum a congenital condition. This means that some people are born with a deviated septum. In particular, heavy babies whose mothers had difficult deliveries are more prone to having a deviated septum. Deviated septums that occurred at birth usually have a C or S shape. They typically occur in the front of the nose and are smooth. The appearance of the deviated may increase as the patient ages. Those who did not have deviated septums at birth might develop it later in life due to accidents. Falls, sports injuries, or car accidents can cause a deviated septum. Injury-related or traumatic deviated septums tend to look irregular and have a severe angle. They also equally impact nasal septum regions and can include fractured or dislocated cartilage. Due to these, deviated septums caused by accidents are often severe. Deviated Septum Symptoms There are various symptoms associated with a deviated septum. Here are deviated septum symptoms you must know about. 1. Difficulty Breathing A deviated septum blocks the nostril/s. Due to this, people with deviated septums can’t breathe properly. This becomes more intense when you have a cold that causes your nasal passages to swell. 2. Nosebleeds A patient with a deviated nasal septum might suffer from frequent nosebleeds. Worse, these nosebleeds can happen out of the blue. It’s because the broken septum causes one or two nostrils to dry and form crusts. When you blow or hit your nose, the crusts dislodge and cause bleeding. 3. Sinusitis A deviated nasal septum can cause inflammation of the sinuses― the four paired cavities in the head. They make mucus that keeps your nose moist, protecting it from bad bacteria. Normally filled with air, the sinuses become blocked by a deviated septum. As a result, they become inflamed, making your nose prone to harmful bacteria. 4. Nasal Infections Since your sinuses can’t drain properly, a deviated septum can also cause nasal infections. Your nose becomes a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. Consequently, you get frequent and painful nasal infections. 5. Headache A deviated septum can also lead to headaches. When you get a nasal infection, your sinuses get pressured. This pressure alone is enough to cause a headache. This can also aggravate the condition of people suffering from migraines. 6. Whistling Breath The irregular size of your nostrils can cause nasal whistling. When one nostril is extremely large while the other is extremely small, you might hear whistling sounds when you breathe. 7. Sleep Apnea In some cases, a deviated septum can worsen sleep apnea. It is a condition where breathing stops during sleep. In particular, a deviated septum worsens sleep apnea by further obstructing the nostrils during sleep. However, a deviated septum doesn’t cause sleep apnea― it only makes the condition worse. Deviated Septum Treatment Deviated septum surgery offers a permanent fix. Whether you’ve had your deviated septum at birth or developed it after an accident, there are many treatments for you. Medication can relieve the symptoms of a deviated septum, but it is not a permanent solution. If you want a permanent solution to your deviated septum, consider getting surgery. There are two kinds of surgeries that you can have to fix your deviated septum― septoplasty and septorhinoplasty. Deviated Septum Surgery Preparation You must have a consultation before any deviated septum surgery. During this consultation, we’ll talk about your goals. Then, I will discuss the options with you. After arriving at the best procedure for you, we can set a schedule for it. Deviated Septum Surgery Recovery Deviated septum surgery recovery depends on many factors such as the type of surgery and presence of complementary procedures. Septoplasty: Deviated Septum Surgery Septoplasty is a deviated septum surgery that aims to restore function. Septoplasty is the most common permanent solution to a deviated septum. Septoplasty is a surgical procedure that is done to fix a deviated septum. Septoplasty takes around one to one and a half hours to complete. Septoplasty surgery can last longer depending on the complexity of the condition. During septoplasty, an incision is made to access the septum. Then, the protective covering (mucous membrane) of the septum is lifted. The septum is then moved to the right position, removing or repositioning bones or cartilage on the way. Lastly, the mucous membrane is repositioned. Deviated Septum Surgery Cost: Septoplasty A septoplasty or deviated septum surgery cost depends on many factors. To begin with, it depends on the expertise of the doctor doing the surgery. For instance, septoplasty with a cosmetic surgeon with decades of experience costs more than a surgeon with less experience. Septoplasty cost can also go higher depending on the procedures done with it. In some cases, complementary procedures (e.g. rhinoplasty, cheek fillers) are needed to maximise the results of septoplasty. In the UK, septoplasty can range from £5,000 to £10,000. The deviated septum surgery cost can go lower if your health insurance covers the procedure. Since each patient’s nose is different, the complexity and scope of septoplasty vary. To get a more accurate cost, book a consultation with us. Septorhinoplasty: Deviated Septum Surgery Septorhinoplasty is a deviated septum surgery that aims to restore function and enhance appearance. Septorhinoplasty is a surgical procedure that combines septoplasty and rhinoplasty. Septoplasty’s main aim is to fix your deviated septum. Rhinoplasty, on the other hand, enhances your nose’s appearance. Hence, septorhinoplasty fixes your broken septum and nose’s appearance. Think about it this way: septorhinoplasty fixes both the inside and outside of your nose. It improves your nose’s look and function. Septorhinoplasty takes around one to two hours to complete. The deviated septum surgery can last longer depending on the complexity of the condition. During septorhinoplasty, an incision is made to access the septum. Then, the protective covering (mucous membrane) of the septum is lifted. The septum is then moved to the right position, removing or repositioning bones or cartilage on the way. The tip of your nose is then refined by removing some cartilage. If you have a hump on your nose, it will be removed. The nasal bones can also be straightened and narrowed as needed. Deviated Septum Surgery Cost: Septorhinoplasty A septorhinoplasty or deviated septum surgery cost depends on many factors. To begin with, it depends on the expertise of the doctor doing the surgery. For instance, septoplasty with a cosmetic surgeon with decades of experience costs more than a surgeon with less experience. Septorhinoplasty cost can also go higher depending on the procedures done with it. In some cases, complementary procedures (e.g. facelift, neck lift) are needed to maximise the results of septorhinoplasty. In the UK, septorhinoplasty can range from £6,000 to £12,000. The deviated septum surgery cost can go lower if your health insurance covers the procedure. Since each patient’s nose is different, the complexity and scope of septoplasty vary. To get a more accurate cost, book a consultation with us. Conclusion A deviated septum can cause many complications such as difficulty breathing, nosebleed, and nasal infection. Worse, it can aggravate sleep apnea, which can be fatal. If you want a permanent solution to your deviated septum, consider surgery. Book a consultation with us now!

Eye Bag Removal Surgery (Blepharoplasty) Explained

Blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery is the best solution to eye bag removal. As you get older, the skin around your eyes deteriorates. Loose skin and excess fat can change your eyelid’s appearance, giving birth to eye bags. The solution? Eye bag removal. Thanks to advances in cosmetic procedures, there are now many options for eye bag removal. However, if you are looking for a permanent solution, blepharoplasty is the best choice. In this article, I’ll talk about eye bags and how you can have them removed. Causes of Eye Bags There are many reasons why eye bags appear. Aging is the most common. Contrary to popular belief, ageing is not the only reason why eye bags appear and become more noticeable. Here are the causes of eye bags. 1. Age Aging is the most common cause of eye bags. As you age, the skin under your eyes becomes less elastic and thinner. The bony foundation under your eyes changes as well, allowing fat to go forward. Tear troughs, the hollow part under your eyes, also become deeper and more noticeable. The same thing happens to under eye wrinkles. As a result, you develop eye bags. The fat sinks further, making your under eye look swollen. The older you get, the bigger your eye bags get. 2. Heredity It’s also possible for you to inherit eye bags. Some families have more prominent eye bags than others. Hence, if eye bags run in your family, you will probably have them, too. Heredity can also contribute to a condition called periorbital hyperpigmentation. This condition makes you predisposed to having dark circles. As you may well know, dark circles emphasize the presence of eye bags. Moreover, some people are genetically prone to subluxation, which is the moving of fat under the eyeball to the front of the eye. 3. Ethnicity Eye bags are more noticeable in people who have pale skin. It’s because a fair complexion cannot hide eye bags. Hence, when people with pale skin develop eye bags, they become prominent. For this reason, Caucasians tend to have deeper, more noticeable eye bags compared to African Americans. On the other hand, African Americans produce more pigment around the eye area. This can cause general darkening on the lids and under the eyes. 4. Smoking When you smoke, your body gets exposed to free radicals. Free radicals break down collagen and elastin in your skin― two substances that keep your skin tight and elastic. As a result, your skin sags and swells. In addition, smoking robs you of vitamins that repair your skin. It also causes dehydration, which aggravates eye bags and dark circles. On top of that, cigarettes contain nicotine, a chemical that can disrupt sleeping patterns. 5. Lack of Sleep Your sleeping habits can also cause eye bags. This explains why your eye bags become bigger after staying up for more than 24 hours. In particular, lack of sleep can cause fluid buildup under your eyes. As a result, your eye bags become bigger. Lack of sleep also causes your skin to become dull and pale. This allows dark tissues and blood vessels under your skin to show. 6. Sun Exposure Too much exposure to the sun causes your body to excessively produce melanin. Melanin is a pigment that gives your skin pigment. Hence, too much exposure to the sun can cause the area surrounding your eyes to darken. Excessive sun exposure can also make the skin under the eyes thinner. This causes dark circles and eye bags to become more visible. 7. Stress When you are stressed, blood circulation in your eye area slows down. This allows blood to pool there. Specifically, your thin blood vessels leak and stretch. The blood spreads out under the skin and oxidizes. This process leads to puffy eye bags and a dark purple hue over them. In addition, more blood is directed away from your face, making it look pasty. Consequently, your eye bags become more visible. 8. Poor Diet A poor diet can lead to eye bags as well. To begin with, a diet mostly composed of sugar can cause inflammation. Since the skin under your eyes is thinner compared to other body parts, inflammation can aggravate your eye bags. Salty food including canned goods can also make your eye bags swell. It’s because they have a lot of sodium in them. Excessive sodium can make you retain water, which aggravates your eye bags. 9. Allergies When you experience allergies, your body releases histamine in response to it. Histamine then causes symptoms including redness, itchiness, and puffy eyes. It also makes your blood vessels dilate and become more visible. In addition, allergies urge you to scratch and rub the skin around your eyes. This can worsen your dark circles and make your eye bags more prominent. 10. Dehydration Not drinking enough water each day can worsen your eye bags. When your body doesn’t receive enough water, the skin under your eyes starts to look dull. Your eyes become sunken as well. Drinking alcohol also dehydrates your body. Hence, you might want to watch out how much and how often you drink. Disadvantages of Having Eye Bags Eye bags cause problems that can be solved through under eye bag removal. Most people hate having eye bags for many reasons. Here they are. 1. Eye bags make you look tired. Having prominent eye bags makes you look tired all the time, even if you are not actually tired. If you have noticeable eye bags, people around you will often say that you look tired. Some of them might say that you lack sleep, despite sleeping a lot the night before. 2. Eye bags can stress you out. What others say about our appearance can bring us down. If someone says that you look unpleasant because of your eye bags, you might get hurt. As a result, you’ll keep thinking about your flaws, including your eye bags. The constant thought of your flaws can stress you out. If going through eye bags removal surgery helps reduce your stress levels, go for it. 3. Eye bags can be a permanent problem. Since most eye bags are caused by ageing and genetics. If not dealt with, they will be a permanent problem. Eye cream and makeup, while somehow effective, are not permanent solutions to eye bags. Cream can slightly lighten your eye bags, but they will still be there. Makeup can conceal them, but they will remain. Remember, a permanent problem needs a permanent solution. 4. Eye bags affect your self-confidence. Looking at the mirror every day and seeing those prominent eye bags can affect your self-confidence. If your career is mainly based on your appearance (e.g acting, modelling), eye bags affect your confidence to do your job. As your self-confidence decreases, so does other people’s confidence in you. It’s because your confidence determines how other people see you. Eye Bag Removal through Surgery Removal of eye bags through surgery is the only permanent solution to your problem. As I mentioned, eye bags caused by genetics and ageing are permanent. While over-the-counter products somehow help, they cannot get rid of your eye bags. Blepharoplasty or under eye bag removal can. What is Blepharoplasty? Knowing how to get rid of eye bags help you explore your options. Blepharoplasty is also known as eyelid surgery. As its name implies, blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure done on the eyelids to get rid of its problems. There are two kinds of blepharoplasty. One is done on the upper eyelid (upper blepharoplasty). The other one is done on the lower eyelid (lower blepharoplasty). While lower and upper blepharoplasty are done on distinct areas, the two procedures often complement each other. A complete blepharoplasty procedure enhances your eyes’ overall appearance, giving you that youthful glow. At my clinic, blepharoplasty lasts for an hour to an hour and a half. It may take longer depending on your condition and the presence of other procedures. Lower Blepharoplasty Lower blepharoplasty is specially tailored to remove eye bags. As I stated, lower blepharoplasty is done on the lower eyelid. In this section, I’ll explain how lower blepharoplasty or eye bag removal surgery is done. During lower blepharoplasty, a fibrous layer called the orbital septum is opened. This is done to reveal the eye’s orbital fat pockets. Since the eye bags develop because of fat pushing forward, I follow a conservative approach to fix it. Known as fat transposition, I immediately transfer the fat below the eyelid to the cheek. However, fat transposition is usually done with fat removal in patients with bigger eye bags. To improve the result, I use a canthopexy stitch to support the lower eyelid. This stitch is completely hidden. It dissolves a few weeks after the surgery. Recovery Recovery depends on many factors such as sleep and activity. All of my patients’ eyesight return back to normal immediately after the surgery. They usually return home 30 minutes after the procedure. Many of them go back to work or school on the same day. In addition, I use sedation anesthesia. It causes faster recovery compared to traditional anesthesia. Though this rarely happens, you might have dry eyes after the procedure. However, it only lasts for a week. Some bruising and swelling might be there as well. However, they will go away one to two weeks after the surgery. There are a few things you can do to speed up recovery. To start with, putting ice on the affected area for 10 minutes each day after the surgery can help reduce swelling. Resting and taking things easy also helps. It’s because a low and stable blood pressure reduces the risk of worsening symptoms. In addition, elevating your head while sleeping can help decrease bruising and swelling. Removal of Eye Bags Without Surgery: Is It Possible? Skincare products can somehow help. However, they are not a permanent solution to eye bags. Many people think that skincare products can help remove their eye bags. While over-the-counter products are somehow effective, they are not a permanent solution to your eye bags, especially for those caused by ageing and genetics. Another notion is the use of fillers to remove eye bags. Fillers can reduce the appearance of eye bags, but they are temporary. If you are looking for a permanent solution that is more cost-effective in the long run, I suggest going under blepharoplasty. Blepharoplasty produces better and longer results. It can last up to a lifetime for older people who want their eye bags removed. Is There a Clinic Doing Eye Bag Removal Near Me? The Centre for Advanced Facial Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery offers eye bag removal in London. Yes, there is. My clinic is located in Harley Street, London. We offer high-quality eye bag removal. My techniques aim to give you the least pain and scarring possible. My clinic also offers patient support after the surgery to make your recovery as seamless as possible. Conclusion Having eye bags is one of the most common problems among ageing people. Some teens and young adults can have prominent eye bags, often are genetically predisposed to having them. Eye bag removal can be a life-changing process that helps boost your confidence and work performance. Looking for a permanent solution to your eye bags? Book a consultation now!

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