30701 Woodward Ave, Suite 200
Royal Oak, MI 48073
Royal Oak, MI 48073
Are you having a hard time breathing through one or both of your nostrils? Do you experience frequent nosebleeds? Do you have a runny nose that won’t stop running – or a stuffy nose that won’t go away?
I know what you’re thinking – here comes another allergy season in Royal Oak, MI.
And if it’s not allergies, then your next guess is a cold, the flu, or a sinus infection.
But what if we were to tell you it was none of the above?
While most people associate nasal obstruction and chronic sinusitis with allergies and infections (viral or bacterial), there’s another culprit that gets overlooked often – despite being just as common, if not more.
We’re talking about a deviated septum, of course.
If over-the-counter medication isn’t relieving your symptoms and allergy tests keep coming back negative, then continue reading down below – because you very well might be suffering from a deviated septum.
The nasal septum is a midline structure in the nose that separates the left and right nasal cavities. It's made of cartilage, bone, and other membranes, and runs from between the nostrils to the back of the ear.
When properly aligned, the nasal septum allows for clear, efficient, and effortless breathing.
Unfortunately, nearly 80% of the population (4 of 5 people) have a deviated septum to some degree.
A deviated septum occurs when the nasal septum is crooked or displaced to one side. This often results in one nasal passage being smaller than the other, which can cause a variety of breathing complications.
Difficulty breathing through the nose, congestion, nosebleeds, facial pain, snoring – the list goes on.
The good news is most of those ‘80% of people’ will never know they have a deviated septum and will never need treatment. And for those who do need treatment, you’ll have several options to choose from.
The first step in treating a deviated septum isn’t to correct the structural abnormality of the nose – which would require surgery. Instead, initial treatment is aimed at managing or relieving you of your symptoms.
And the best way to do that is with over-the-counter and prescription medication.
Decongestants. Reduce nasal congestion and inflammation by constricting blood vessels in the nasal passages. Examples include pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) and phenylephrine.
Corticosteroid Sprays. Reduce inflammation in the nasal passages by suppressing the immune response. Examples include fluticasone (Flonase) and mometasone (Nasonex).
Nasal Rinses. Cleanse and moisturize the nasal passages with a saline solution that flushes out mucus, allergens, and irritants. Examples include a neti pot or a saline nasal spray.
Antihistamines. Alleviate symptoms caused by allergies by blocking histamine receptors and reducing allergic reactions. Examples include loratadine (Claritin) and cetirizine (Zyrtec).
Pain Relievers. Manage pain associated with a deviated septum, such as headaches or facial pain. Examples include acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin).
While medication won’t correct the physical alignment of a deviated septum, it can help manage and alleviate symptoms associated with the condition – which might be enough to avoid the need for surgery.
Avoiding surgery is always the goal when treating a deviated septum, but there comes a time when OTC drugs and prescription medication aren’t enough – and your symptoms either don’t get better or worsen.
When that day comes, surgery is necessary to repair the septum.
And the most common type of surgery is called a septoplasty.
The primary goal with a septoplasty is to straighten the nasal septum and restore airflow through the nostrils. It’s generally done on an outpatient basis and the surgery takes between 30 and 90 minutes.
It won’t change the shape of your nose, but it’ll correct the deviation.
As part of the procedure, your doctor may need to remove portions of the septum or use cartilage grafts to help straighten the deviation – but don’t worry. This is all done under general or local anesthesia.
Most patients will experience minor swelling, mild pain, and nasal congestion for a few days to a week after the surgery, and you’ll usually be cleared to return to work and normal activities within a week or two.
A septoplasty is designed to correct the function of your nose – not the shape of it. But what if you wanted to change both the shape and function of your nose? What if you wanted to kill two birds with one stone?
Don’t worry – we’ve got the perfect procedure for you.
And we can do it right here at our Royal Oak ENT clinic.
It’s called a septorhinoplasty and it combines a septoplasty (deviated septum surgery) with a rhinoplasty (nose job) – the best of both worlds for someone who not only wants to breathe better, but look better too!
Do you have (or think you have) a deviated septum? Is nasal obstruction starting to affect your quality of life? Are you dreaming of a day where you can breathe properly – without irritation, pain, or discomfort?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, then you’ve come to the right place.
Welcome to The Rontal Clinic – where we can help you fall in love with your nose again.
Whether you’re looking to improve the airflow coming in and out of your nose, the overall appearance of your nose, or both – our team of talented and experienced ear, nose, and throat doctors can’t wait to help.
Call or text us today at (248) 737-4030 or schedule an appointment online to go over your options!