Septoplasty (Deviation Surgery)

The septum is the wall of cartilage and bone that divides the nose into two passages. In many people it is bent, either from birth, from growth or from an old injury, and a bent septum narrows one side, sometimes both. The result is the familiar picture: a nose that never quite opens, mouth breathing at night, snoring, a dry throat in the morning, and a tendency to sinus infections on the blocked side.

Septoplasty, often called deviation surgery, straightens that wall. It is one of the most common operations Dr. Teker performs and one of the most rewarding, because patients are often surprised by how much air a nose can actually move.

Why the septum matters

Nasal breathing is not only about comfort. The nose warms, filters and humidifies air before it reaches the lungs, and steady nasal breathing supports better sleep. A deviated septum also disturbs the airflow to the sinuses and the middle ear, which is why it is frequently found behind recurrent sinusitis and pressure in the ears. Correcting it treats the cause rather than the symptoms.

How the operation works

Everything is done through the nostrils. Dr. Teker lifts the lining off the septum, reshapes or removes the bent segments of cartilage and bone, and lays the lining back. The front and upper parts of the septum, which hold up the nose, are kept intact so that the external shape does not change. Enlarged turbinates, the shelves of tissue on the side walls that swell with allergy, are reduced at the same time when they contribute to the blockage. The whole procedure takes under an hour and a half.

What recovery is like

Most patients go home the same day or the next morning. The nose feels blocked for the first week from swelling and the soft silicone splints that protect the lining; once they are removed, breathing begins to open up and keeps improving for about six weeks. There is no bruising and no visible sign of surgery. Saline rinses, no nose-blowing for the first days and a week away from strenuous exercise are the main instructions.

Septoplasty or septorhinoplasty?

If breathing is your only concern, septoplasty alone is the answer. If you would also like to change the shape of your nose, the septum is corrected as part of a combined rhinoplasty, in a single operation and a single recovery. Dr. Teker will explain which applies to you after the examination.