Septoplasty vs. Rhinoplasty for Crooked Nose
A crooked nose is a common occurrence, which can cause aesthetic concerns to many people. A cosmetic surgeon with experience in aesthetic nose surgery procedures may be able to correct the condition and provide a more attractive facial appearance. Rhinoplasty is the most widely used plastic surgery procedure to improve the size or shape of the nose, and correct other anomalies.
However, in many cases, the plastic surgeon may recommend septoplasty as a specific procedure to correct the appearance of crooked nose. Patients should have a clear idea of the difference between septoplasty and rhinoplasty in order to make an informed decision when seeking a nose procedure. Dr. Paul McCluskey is an eminent plastic surgeon providing nose surgery and other procedures to patients in Atlanta, GA and other areas.
What is Septoplasty?
Septoplasty is a surgery specifically designed to correct the appearance of a deviated or crooked septum. The cosmetic surgeon will explain to the patient that a septoplasty does not really involve any significant change in the shape or size of the nose. It is performed with the singular purpose of correcting the appearance of a crooked nose. Septum is a part of the cartilage that divides the two sides of the nose.
In normal circumstances, the septum will be straight so that the nose is perfectly balanced and aligned with the face. However, if the septum is crooked, it can disturb the proportion and may even block the nasal passage, which will result in nasal obstruction. The plastic surgeon may apply septoplasty procedure to correct this condition. Dr. McCluskey provides this surgery to his patients in Atlanta, GA and surrounding communities.
Limitation of Septoplasty in Comparison to Rhinoplasty
Septoplasty procedure is typically performed as a closed surgery, which means an incision is made on the inside of the nose. The surgeon will lift the skin covering the septum off the cartilage and the intra-nasal part of the crooked septum may be removed or reshaped to open the breathing passage.
However, the limitation with this technique is that external crookedness of the nose will not be corrected. With rhinoplasty, on the other hand, there are no such limitations. Rhinoplasty may involve both internal and external corrections of the nose. While the scars in case of septoplasty are not visible from inside, but in case of rhinoplasty minor scarring in the septal area may be noticed.
When is Rhinoplasty Needed?
If the patient is unhappy with the external appearance of the nose due to factors other than crookedness, rhinoplasty is the right treatment option. If the nose has continued to look crooked externally after septoplasty, even if the breathing passage has become wider inside, the surgeon may recommend rhinoplasty to straighten the nose.
This may involve sculpting of the nasal bones and nasal cartilage. Cartilage grafting technique may also be used in such case to correct external crookedness. A combination of rhinoplasty and septoplasty may be used in some situations, particularly if the crooked nose has result from trauma. Such surgeries are usually an open rhinoplasty procedure.
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