If you've had a Septoplasty, I have questions!

TLB6421 · Newbie Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Posts: 1

I have chronic sinusitis, a blocked right sinus and a deviated septum. It's been recommended I have a septoplasty and a turbinectomy. I would like to hear from anyone who has had this surgery to tell me how it went and if it helped. My main question is whether or not the surgery alters how your nose appears on the outside...in other words....does it make it look straighter? I see it's crooked in photos and I want to know if the septoplasty will help that. Thanks!

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I had septoplasty/turbinectomy surgery 12 days ago. The surgery went relatively smooth. They told me i would be in the operating room 1 1/2 hours and in recovery for 45minutes to an hour. I actually was in the operating room 2 hours because my septum was so crooked and i was in recovery for about 2 1/2 hours because my breathing was so spiratic following the procedure. When i arrived home i was very sleepy. I slept a good portion of the day. You will definately need round the clock care for at least the first two days. Someone who will be able to keep track of your medication schedule and get you food. I had trouble walking by myself for the first couple of days after the procedure, so i needed someone to guide me to the bathroom.
I was never felt any nausea, and I didn't feel alot of discomfort because i took the prescribed pain medication every four hours. I bled quite a bit the first five days after the procedure. So you will need the gauze that is taped under your nose changed frequently. I developed alot of irritation from the tape being pulled off of my skin. Vitamin e oil helped with that alot on the abrasions. I had my packing taken out 3 days post op. That was not a fun experience. But the discomfort doesn't last long, and as soon as the packing is out you feel alot better. The splints that were placed internally in my nose are actually still in there. I get them out in seven days. So all in all they would have been in there for about 3 weeks post op. They don't cause me much bother. I can actually breath through my nose with them in which is a relief.
The plaster nose splint that was place on my nose post op was on for about a week. That didn't feel too good coming off either, but once again, it was very quick. It was actually a relief because about 4 days post op i started to get tickles under the cast that i couldn't reach, so it was a relief to be able to get those as they happened. Smile

My nose within the last day or so has stopped bleeding. It stopped bleeding heavily 4-5 days post op, but when i was getting drainage, it was bloody. It is just now to the point it isn't bloody anymore.
It gets easier to sleep every night. When you first have the procedure, you need to train yourself to breath through your mouth. This is something that even with a deviated septum i never had to do. So that was something i had to get used to. I still need to sleep propped up a little bit, just because if i lay down completely the pressure on my sinuses doesn't feel too good. I also have to wear a splint on my nose at night. It is nothing to the extent of the splint you will have to wear for a few days post op. I simply tape it on with cloth tape before i get into bed. I have woken myself up a few times having bumped my nose with my hand in the night, so i do highly suggest wearing it!!
The swelling and bruising has gone away alot. I still am a little bruised, but at this point, make up does the trick to cover the worst of it. Most people don't even notice it unless i point it out.
All in all on a scale of 1-10, One being no stress and bother and 10 being excrutiating, i would have to give this procedure a 7. I have a high tolerance for pain and discomfort, but it has been a long bumpy road for me. Not only having to deal with the physical discomfort, but also the mental. There were times when i just wanted to cry because i felt like i looked like a monster. But with each day, my looks start to come back to normal. You had asked if this surgery changes the appearance of your nose looking crooked. The answer is yes. My nose was extremely crooked and it looks 150% better. It looks great. And i can already tell even with the splints still in my nose that i can breath out of the right side of my nose, which i could not before. So positives are coming from this whole thing.
I took two full weeks off of work, there is no way i could have functioned with anything less. I almost wish i had taken off one more just because this really has been such an ordeal on my body. I just get very tired because of the meds they prescribed for me to take. That and i'm not looking forward to working with the splints in my nose.
So if you have the time to take off of work, and you can get some full time care for the first few days, and you can tolerate discomfort, i would suggest the procedure. I really don't feel anyone can fill you in on what you are going to go through, but like i said, with each passing day you start to realize what a good thing it is going to be for you in the long run.
I do wish you luck if you decide to go through with it!

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litebrite176 · Newbie Joined: 05 Jun 2007 Posts: 1

I actually had the surgery 7 days ago. I am back at work today. I had the septoplasty and the bilateral turbinoplasty which they normally do at the same time because most people will a deviated septum also have enlarged turbinates. I had a very bad deviated septum; it was almost C-shaped causing someo blockage in both sides of my nose. He corrected my septum and also removed some bone from my turbinates. There were splints placed inside both sides of my nose which were removed yesterday and after the splint removal he also suctioned out all of the backup from not being able to blow my nose or drain any drainage. Immediately after he cleaned out my nose and nasal passageways I could breath perfectly through both sides of my nose. It was incredible! I did not have ANY brusing at all and barely any swelling. Of course there will always be swelling with surgery though. I have to clean out my nose daily with a saline-saltwater solution to keep my nose clean and to help drain for 2 weeks and then I have my 2nd post-op appointment. I would recommend this surgery for sure but make sure you are going to a good doctor.

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I had chronic sinusitis, a badly deviated septum (sledding and biking accidents) and a big and crooked nose that looked better on my father (I'm female)
I went to a top surgeon complaining about not being able to breathe at all thru one nostril and barely thru the other. I was addicted to OTRIVIN spray which I hated, so I ended up having a Turbinectomy, septoplasty and rhinoplasty all the same time.
Although it was a tough road initially it is BY FAR the best thing I ever did for myself. My Doc joked with me and called it mallet sugery (as they had to break the bridge of my nose) that's the cosmetic part, and it was probably the worst part. I had two little kids at home and needed some help for about a week, but other than a bit of a lingering headache, I could BREATHE perfectly for the first time I could ever remember!
Here's the funny part....during the healing period after a couple of weeks or so, some giant 2inch ALIEN Boogers came out of my nose...Unbelievable! My doc said it was normal....ha ha
That was about 10 years ago...Still, the best thing ever...I would do it again....good luck!

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hi i had septoplasty and bi lateral turbinate reduction done on 04/21/08. i am glad that i had the surgery done but right now i feel all congested. the surgery was 2 hours long and i had sponge packing in both nostrils when i woke up. i had the packing removed the next morning and yes it did hurt but not as bad as most people said it would. i am doing a nasal spray twice an hour and the blood and mucus are starting to come out. i am allowed to blow my nose and there are stitches in there right now. i guess it will take time for everything to heal up and the congested feeling to be gone.

If you've had a Septoplasty, I have questions!

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