The septum is a structure composed of bone and cartilage that acts as a dividing wall between the nostrils. Typically, it is completely straight. When any part of the septum is crooked, the condition is known as a deviated septum. It is incredibly common and is usually congenital. In certain cases, it can result from an injury or may deviate during the aging process.
A deviated septum can make it harder to breathe through one or both nostrils, and it can also result in several other frustrating symptoms. To get a clear diagnosis of a deviated septum, receive customized treatment, and achieve effective results, choose Dr. Cory Bovenzi. His years of ENT and facial plastic surgery experience make him an ideal choice for deviated septum treatment.
For a deviated septum consultation at our Denver office, call us at (303) 741-2211 or contact us online. Our discreet clinic is located near the South Suburban Golf Course and the Littleton Museum.
The main types of septal deviation are C-shape and S-shape. In a C-shape deviation, the septum is curved to one side and forms a C shape. In S-shape deviation, the septum is curved in two places in opposite directions and forms an S shape.
A specialized type of septal deviation is called caudal septal deviation. The caudal septum is located behind the columella and near the nasal tip. When it is displaced, this can result in major breathing problems and can also affect the nose’s appearance.
Correcting this type of deviation is an incredibly complex process that requires years of experience. General ENTs often refer Denver patients with caudal septal deviation to Dr. Bovenzi, since he is an expert in treatment of especially difficult septoplasty cases.
There are a number of symptoms commonly associated with a deviated septum. These include:
If you have any of these symptoms, consider arranging a consultation with Dr. Bovenzi.
Dr. Cory D. Bovenzi is a renowned board-certified facial plastic surgeon with ENT training and functional and aesthetic expertise. Over the course of his career in medicine, he has performed more than 5,000 facial plastic surgery operations.
Dr. Bovenzi prides himself on his patient-centered care and safe outcomes. He employs a variety of complex surgical techniques, and he draws upon his deep knowledge of facial anatomy to achieve natural-looking results. Dr. Bovenzi has been published in numerous medical journals, and he has delivered presentations and lectures at plastic surgery conferences.
He performs deviated septum surgery in the state-of-the-art AAAHC-accredited ambulatory suite at Smith Cosmetic Surgery & Medical Aesthetic Center. He also has surgical privileges at hospitals like Littleton Adventist Hospital and Denver’s Porter Adventist Hospital.
To become the expert septoplasty surgeon he is today, he first attended medical school at Sidney Kimmel Medical College in Thomas Jefferson Hospital, located in Philadelphia. He graduated in the top 1% of his class, receiving his MD.
Next, at Thomas Jefferson Hospital, Dr. Bovenzi pursued an intensive otolaryngology—head and neck surgery residency. He then completed a specialized facial plastic and reconstructive surgery fellowship at the Emory University School of Medicine.
A deviated septum consultation with Dr. Bovenzi will take place at our Denver office. We’re located at 5161 E. Arapahoe Rd., STE 350, Centennial, CO 80122, near the Denver Art Museum and Cherry Creek State Park.
During the consultation, Dr. Bovenzi will review your medical history, asking about past procedures, including any previous rhinoplasty surgeries, current medications, pre-existing health conditions, and allergies. He will also perform a physical exam and may conduct a nasal endoscopy to better understand the nature of your septal deviation.
After you go over your symptoms and their severity, Dr. Bovenzi will discuss treatment options and recommend the ideal course of treatment for your case. He will walk you through the steps of your treatment plan in great detail, setting realistic expectations in terms of results. Feel free to ask questions at any time.
If you’re also interested in making aesthetic changes to your nose, Dr. Bovenzi will be happy to discuss the possibility of septorhinoplasty. This option can resolve breathing issues while also improving facial balance and harmony. It can be used to correct issues like a nasal hump, a wide or narrow nose, overly large nostrils, and a drooping nasal tip.
There are several non-surgical treatment options for the symptoms of a deviated septum. These include decongestants, allergy treatments, and nasal steroid sprays. These can reduce tissue swelling, but they may come with side-effects.
While non-surgical options can help with symptoms, the relief they offer is only temporary. To address the cause of the symptoms and permanently alleviate them, you’ll need to come in for surgical septum repair.
Septoplasty is an outpatient procedure. Typically, deviated septum surgery is performed under general anesthesia, ensuring that patients do not feel pain of any kind for the duration of the procedure.
Once the general anesthesia has taken effect, Dr. Bovenzi creates incisions within the nostrils, a technique known as closed septoplasty. This helps to avoid any external scarring. He then reshapes and repositions the bone and cartilage of the septum, making it straight and even.
Often, septoplasty does not result in any changes to the nose’s appearance. However, if the patient desires, Dr. Bovenzi can also perform septorhinoplasty to make cosmetic changes to the nose during this process.
Once all of the changes have been made, Dr. Bovenzi will most likely use dissolvable stitches to seal the incisions. He may place dressings like gauze and splints on and inside the nose to support the healing process.
Once the deviated septum surgery is complete, you’ll be driven home by a friend or a family member. After septoplasty surgery, you’ll need to follow Dr. Bovenzi’s post-operative care directions diligently. This will help to avoid complications and ensure high-quality results.
During the first week after your deviated septum surgery in Denver, you’ll likely experience mild swelling, stuffiness, and light bruising and swelling. To avoid exacerbating swelling, it’s best to keep your head elevated at all times. Sleeping on your back will help you avoid putting pressure on your nose overnight.
You may also experience slight headaches, congestion, and bloody drainage. Minimal pain may be felt and can be reduced with the help of over-the-counter pain-control medication as directed.
For the first one to two weeks of recovery, you’ll need to avoid blowing your nose if at all possible. If you absolutely need to blow your nose, do it incredibly gently to avoid putting pressure on the healing tissues. Sneezing should always be done with an open mouth to reduce nasal pressure.
During the septoplasty healing process, you’ll need to clean your nose carefully as directed by Dr. Bovenzi. This will involve rinsing it with saline and using diluted hydrogen peroxide on a cotton swab to clean any external crusting.
In the first two weeks of recovery, avoid eating any spicy foods, since these can cause your nose to run. Make sure to stay well hydrated in order to support the body’s healing processes.
You’ll need to rest for several days in order to allow your tissues to heal properly. In around five to seven days, you’ll most likely be able to return to work and other light activities. Avoid strenuous activities like heavy exercise for four weeks.
You’ll come in for follow-up appointments with Dr. Bovenzi at our office. He’ll evaluate your healing process, clear you to return to various activities, and help with any side-effects.
After several weeks, all swelling and congestion will have completely resolved. You’ll be able to breathe more easily, and you’ll notice a resolution of deviated septum symptoms. The bone and cartilage in the septum will continue to heal in the coming months.
The price of deviated septum surgery in Denver varies based on several factors. These can include anesthesia fees, the specific techniques involved, and whether or not septorhinoplasty is being performed.
Since septoplasty is a purely functional procedure and is not intended to offer cosmetic benefits, its cost is sometimes covered by a patient’s health insurance provider. This often depends on the severity of your symptoms. Contact your insurance provider to find out more about coverage criteria.
Call us at (303) 741-2211 or contact us online to arrange your deviated septum consultation with Dr. Bovenzi. Our facility isn’t far from comfortable hotels like The Inverness Denver, the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Denver Tech Center, the Denver Marriott Tech Center, and the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center.
In certain cases, a deviated septum can cause headaches, which are sometimes called contact point headaches. This can be the result of parts of the septum irritating certain sensitive nasal tissues. This can cause pain to the trigeminal nerve that leads to the brain, creating headaches.
Additionally, people with a deviated septum may have an increased likelihood of migraine headaches. They may also have a higher likelihood of developing sinusitis, which can result in headaches.
Studies have shown that septoplasty surgery can reduce contact point headaches but may not be able to resolve migraine headaches.
The best option for a deviated septum will depend on each patient’s needs and goals. For minor deviations, in many cases, the best option is to leave it untreated or address any mild issues non-surgically.
For moderate or severe deviations, the best option is almost always septoplasty surgery. Nose surgery for breathing problems offers a permanent solution, especially when performed by a skilled surgeon.
You can see either an ENT or a plastic surgeon to fix a deviated septum. Both types of doctors have training in performing septoplasty.
Dr. Bovenzi is ENT-trained with board certification in facial plastic surgery, making him the perfect choice for fixing your deviated septum. He has years of experience effectively and safely addressing this issue.
Most patients do not look different after septoplasty, since the procedure’s focus is on internal changes to the nasal architecture.
At the start of the septoplasty healing process, swelling and bruising can create a temporary change in the appearance of the nose. However, once these issues gradually fade, the nose should return to its normal appearance.
Since the procedure involves repositioning and/or removing areas of the septum, it may cause changes in the nose’s shape or size, including enhanced symmetry. However, these changes are very minor and quite subtle, and patients should not expect to look dramatically different.
Leaving a deviated septum untreated can be either safe or harmful depending on the severity of the symptoms. Mild septal deviation is incredibly common and can either result in mild symptoms or no symptoms, and in these cases, it’s acceptable to leave it untreated.
When the symptoms of a deviated septum affect a person’s everyday life, it’s often best to treat it. This is especially the case for a deviation that results in sleep apnea, which can potentially be quite dangerous.
Note that deviated septums won’t heal on their own. The structure of the nose changes naturally over time, which can result in an increase in the severity of a deviated septum.
Deviated septum surgery can take anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes, depending on each patient’s unique nasal anatomy. If other issues are also being addressed, this can increase the duration of the procedure.
