By Dr Leow Aik Ming
The nose is a tripod structure consisting of nasal bones that form the side walls and a central structure separating the nose into the right and left side called nasal septum. Nasal septum can be deformed through injury, trauma, disease or sometimes a previous surgery. When the nasal septum is deformed or deviated, it can have significant consequences to the overall appearance and function of the nose. A deviated septum can cause a blockage in the nose leading to breathing difficulties, chronic sinus infections, stagnating mucus, inflammation and irritation.
During a septorhinoplasty, the internal lining of nose mucosa is first elevated from nasal septal cartilage and bone. The deviated septum caused by deformed nasal septal cartilage and bone can be removed or straightened. Sometimes the cartilage and bone can be reshaped. Additional cosmetic changes can also be carried out at the same time during septorhinoplasty which includes surgery for nasal dorsal or nasal tip. Once the procedure is accomplished, the mucosa lining is the laid back down and closed. Patient should be aware that septal cartilage has ‘memory’, sometimes the corrected nasal septum may tend to assume its initial shape after the surgery.
Postoperative expectations of septorhinoplasty