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EDUCATION10 April 2026

Septoplasty

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Duration

30-45 minutes

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Downtime

1 week

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Insurance

Covered

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Lasts for

Long-lasting

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Setting

Outpatient/Inpatient

Overview

Septoplasty realigns the deviated septum to the center of the nose, ensuring that both nasal cavities are equal in size, relieving nasal obstruction, and correcting the aesthetic appearance of the nose. 

Understanding Your Condition

The septum is the wall dividing your nose into two passages. When deviated, one side becomes narrower, which restricts airflow. 

The septum works with nearby structures called turbinates to regulate airflow. Enlarged turbinates can also contribute to obstruction. 

When to Consider Septoplasty?

Septoplasty may be right for you if you have:

Structural septal problems: 

  • Septal deformities from traumatic injury, severe infection, or birth defects 
  • Septal perforations resulting from trauma, drug abuse, excessive use of nasal sprays, or severe infections 

A deviated septum causing: 

Do I need surgery, or will medication work? 

Patients with a stuffy nose with no signs of a deviated septum might feel better with only using nasal sprays to reduce swelling and get rid of any allergies. However, if the feeling of a congested nose remained after treatment, patients should see a doctor to determine if they are qualified for septoplasty. 

Benefits

Symptoms Improvement: Patients experienced 80-90% relief from nasal obstruction and 60-90% improvement in headaches. Alessandri-Bonetti, M., Costantino, A., Cottone, G., Carbonaro, R., Cardone, F., Amendola, F., De Virgilio, A., Robotti, E., Persichetti, P., & Vaienti, L. (2023). Efficacy of Septoplasty in Patients with Nasal Obstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. The Laryngoscope, 133(12), 3237–3246. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.30684

Patient Satisfaction with Results: 75% of patients are satisfied with symptom improvement and recovery. Fearington, F. W., Awadallah, A. S., Hamilton, G. S., Olson, M. D., & Dey, J. K. (2024). Long-Term Outcomes of Septoplasty With or Without Turbinoplasty: A Systematic Review. The Laryngoscope, 134(6), 2525–2537. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.31193

Common Misconception - Septoplasty is a cosmetic surgery.  

Septoplasty is not a cosmetic procedure. It corrects internal nasal function, not external appearance. If you want to change your nose's shape, that requires rhinoplasty, which can be done simultaneously with septoplasty.  Saharia, P. S., & Deepti Sinha. (2013). Septoplasty can Change the Shape of the Nose. Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, 65(Suppl 2), 220–225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-011-0330-7

Procedure Types

Septoplasty can be done either as an open surgery or endoscopically. While there are no significant differences in the outcomes, endoscopy remains less traumatic and associated with minimal complications. Your surgeon will recommend the approach based on your deviation's location and severity. 

Endoscopic Septoplasty

  • clock iconMinimally invasive
  • clock iconFaster recovery

It is highly effective for correcting deviations in the back of the nose.

How is it performed?  

The doctor inserts an endoscopic tool equipped with a camera and makes a small incision to correct the deviation. Brescia, G., Franz, L., Frasconi, S., Marciani, S., Soldati, L., Frigo, A. C., & Marioni, G. (2023). Conventional septoplasty complications: A Systematic review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Otolaryngology, 44(4), 103811. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjoto.2023.103811 Doomra, S., Singh, M., Singh, B., & Kaushal, A. (2019). Evaluating surgical outcomes of conventional versus endoscopic septoplasty using subjective and objective methods. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice, 22(10), 1372–1377. https://doi.org/10.4103/njcp.njcp_101_19 Na’ara, S., Kaptzan, B., Gil, Z., & Ostrovsky, D. (2021). Endoscopic Septoplasty Versus Traditional Septoplasty for Treating Deviated Nasal Septum: A Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial. Ear, Nose, & Throat Journal, 100(9), 673–678. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145561320918982

Conventional Septoplasty

  • clock iconMore Invasive
  • clock iconSlower Recovery

This approach can treat anterior septal deformities better than the endoscopic one. 

How is it performed?

Combination Therapy

Turbinate reduction: Septoplasty is commonly done with turbinate reduction since turbinate enlargement can be a cause of a deviated septum.

Rhinoplasty: Many patients undergo a rhinoplasty along with septoplasty because they are going under surgery anyway, and they want a cosmetic boost to their nose.  

Having septoplasty along with other procedures makes the patient more prone to postoperative complications. 

Risks

Septoplasty has an overall complication rate of 3.4-19%. They are mostly mild and manageable. Brescia, G., Franz, L., Frasconi, S., Marciani, S., Soldati, L., Frigo, A. C., & Marioni, G. (2023). Conventional septoplasty complications: A Systematic review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Otolaryngology, 44(4), 103811. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjoto.2023.103811 Dąbrowska-Bień, J., Skarżyński, P. H., Gwizdalska, I., Łazęcka, K., & Skarżyński, H. (2018). Complications in septoplasty based on a large group of 5639 patients. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 275(7), 1789–1794. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-018-4990-8

Complication

How likely is it going to happen? 

Bleeding ( the most common one) 

6-7%  Brescia, G., Franz, L., Frasconi, S., Marciani, S., Soldati, L., Frigo, A. C., & Marioni, G. (2023). Conventional septoplasty complications: A Systematic review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Otolaryngology, 44(4), 103811. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjoto.2023.103811

Adhesions  

 3.7% with splints and 8.7% without using splints  Kim, S. J., Chang, D. S., Choi, M. S., Lee, H. Y., & Pyo, J.-S. (2021). Efficacy of nasal septal splints for preventing complications after septoplasty: A meta-analysis. American Journal of Otolaryngology, 42(3), 102389. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjoto.2020.102389

Infection  

 

~3.5% if a prophylactic antibiotic was used  Dąbrowska-Bień, J., Skarżyński, P. H., Gwizdalska, I., Łazęcka, K., & Skarżyński, H. (2018). Complications in septoplasty based on a large group of 5639 patients. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 275(7), 1789–1794. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-018-4990-8

Temporary impaired smelling 

~3.1% and resolves spontaneously after 2-6 months.  Brescia, G., Franz, L., Frasconi, S., Marciani, S., Soldati, L., Frigo, A. C., & Marioni, G. (2023). Conventional septoplasty complications: A Systematic review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Otolaryngology, 44(4), 103811. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjoto.2023.103811 Watters, C., Brar, S., & Yapa, S. (2025). Septoplasty. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK567718/

 

Septal Perforation 

~2%  Dąbrowska-Bień, J., Skarżyński, P. H., Gwizdalska, I., Łazęcka, K., & Skarżyński, H. (2018). Complications in septoplasty based on a large group of 5639 patients. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 275(7), 1789–1794. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-018-4990-8

 

Cerebrospinal fluid leakage 

Very rare (~0.5%)  Dąbrowska-Bień, J., Skarżyński, P. H., Gwizdalska, I., Łazęcka, K., & Skarżyński, H. (2018). Complications in septoplasty based on a large group of 5639 patients. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 275(7), 1789–1794. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-018-4990-8

Patients can be at a higher risk if:

  • They have active, uncontrolled, and untreated sinus or nose infections.  
  • They are active illicit drug users. 


Chapter references

  1. 1
    Watters, C., Brar, S., & Yapa, S. (2025). Septoplasty. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK567718/
  2. 2
    Alessandri-Bonetti, M., Costantino, A., Cottone, G., Carbonaro, R., Cardone, F., Amendola, F., De Virgilio, A., Robotti, E., Persichetti, P., & Vaienti, L. (2023). Efficacy of Septoplasty in Patients with Nasal Obstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. The Laryngoscope, 133(12), 3237–3246. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.30684
  3. 3
    Fearington, F. W., Awadallah, A. S., Hamilton, G. S., Olson, M. D., & Dey, J. K. (2024). Long-Term Outcomes of Septoplasty With or Without Turbinoplasty: A Systematic Review. The Laryngoscope, 134(6), 2525–2537. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.31193
  4. 4
    Saharia, P. S., & Deepti Sinha. (2013). Septoplasty can Change the Shape of the Nose. Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, 65(Suppl 2), 220–225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-011-0330-7
  5. 5
    Brescia, G., Franz, L., Frasconi, S., Marciani, S., Soldati, L., Frigo, A. C., & Marioni, G. (2023). Conventional septoplasty complications: A Systematic review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Otolaryngology, 44(4), 103811. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjoto.2023.103811
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