If you’re an avid social media user, you’ve likely seen external nasal strips and internal nasal dilators in influencers’ videos and plastered all over online stores. These products are designed to increase airflow, reduce snoring, and relieve congestion associated with a deviated septum.
While they may help in the short term, a deviated septum can often require a long-term fix. In this guide, you’ll learn what a deviated septum is, how to tell you have one, and what you can do about it.
What Is a Deviated Septum?
Before you start researching Turkey rhinoplasty services to fix your suspected deviated septum, it’s helpful if you truly understand what it is. It describes when the bone and cartilage in your nose that divides your nasal cavity or nostrils isn’t centered.
The nasal septum is the tissue separating the left nostril from the right. When it’s perfectly in the center, you have two equal-sized cavities for air to flow freely through. However, in most people, the septum is slightly off-center. When the deviation is more than slightly off, air can have a hard time flowing through your nose, leading to a range of uncomfortable and frustrating symptoms.
Symptoms of a Deviated Septum
Beyond taking a picture of the underside of your nose and noticing that your nostrils are uneven or different sizes, you may also experience these symptoms:
- Difficulty breathing out of your nostrils, with one side typically worse than the other
- Headaches
- Facial pain
- Loss of sense of smell
- Nasal congestion
- Noisy breathing
- Snoring
- Nosebleeds
If you notice any of these symptoms, make time for your health and get them checked by a healthcare professional. The deviation and symptoms may be severe enough to consider rhinoplasty. This is especially true if your symptoms have started to cause:
- Chronic sinusitis
- Dry mouth
- Sleep apnea
- Frequent ear infections in children
What Causes a Deviated Septum?
Sometimes, you’re just born with a deviated septum. A difficult delivery can result in nasal septum damage, and it can sometimes lean to one side as you grow. However, there is also a range of activities and events that can increase your risk of a deviated septum if you experience a nose injury, such as:
- Fighting
- Contact sports
- Falls
- Car accidents
- The inhalation of addictive substances through your nose
Fortunately, most of these causes are preventable, such as wearing a midface mask and helmet during contact sports.
Deviated Septum Treatment Options
You can manage the symptoms of a deviated septum with over-the-counter medications like nasal decongestants, steroid sprays, and antihistamines that you would normally use during pollen season. However, depending on the severity, surgery may be recommended.
The most experienced surgeons can perform a rhinoplasty or septoplasty surgery to reshape your septum. This procedure enhances airflow and eases breathing. This surgery is suitable for:
- Those finished with their facial growth (16+ for females and 18+ for males)
- Those in good overall health with no underlying medical conditions
- People who don’t smoke or are willing to quit while they heal
- Individuals with realistic expectations about the surgical outcomes
Dealing with a deviated septum can be frustrating when it results in uncomfortable and long-term symptoms. If you believe you have a deviated septum, discuss it with your healthcare provider and consider possible treatment options for improved quality of life, such as rhinoplasty surgery.
