While many people get nose surgery for cosmetic reasons, there are medical reasons for undergoing nose surgery as well. It can, for example, help a person breathe more easily by correcting such problems as a deviated septum.
What is a Deviated Septum?
The nasal septum is the thin wall of cartilage and bone that divides the nose in half. If it’s crooked or off-center, it’s called a deviated septum. The condition is very common; some researchers believe that 80 percent of people have a deviated septum.
Most people probably don’t notice, but a severely deviated septum can cause breathing problems, nosebleeds and recurrent sinus infections. A deviated septum can also cause sleep apnea, which is a serious condition. Many people are born with deviated symptoms, but they can also be caused by injury.
What is Chronic Sinusitis?
Chronic sinusitis is a common condition in which the sinuses become swollen and inflamed for at least eight weeks. It keeps mucus from draining out, so the mucus builds up. Chronic sinusitis makes it hard to breathe through the nose. It can also cause a headache and/or facial pain, and it can make the area around the eyes feel swollen.
Chronic sinusitis has multiple causes, including a deviated septum, nasal polyps or injury to the nose. While chronic sinusitis can usually be treated with a variety of medications, resistant cases may require nose surgery.
What are Nasal Polyps?
Nasal polyps are small, benign growths that look like teardrops or grapes. They most commonly develop in the area where the sinuses meet the nasal cavity. While small polyps are harmless, big ones can block drainage from the sinuses. If too much mucus builds up, it can cause an infection.
Most people with nasal polyps develop a runny nose, postnasal drip and sneezing. About 75 percent of patients develop an impaired sense of smell. Nasal polyps increase the risk of developing chronic sinusitis, and large polyps can even alter the shape of the patient’s nose. While nasal polys are generally treated through medication, large and obstructive polyps often need to be surgically removed.
Broken Nose
Injuries to the nose can break it, and such injuries are not always caused by fights. Many people can break their nose in a car accident, for example. Some people also have noses with abnormally weak bones. In some cases, the bones are so weak that they will break from the pressure placed on them by the patient sleeping face down.
No matter how the patient got their nose broken, they will need to have it set properly. If the patient doesn’t get a broken nose properly set, it will heal incorrectly and cause chronic pain and swelling. The condition will get worse over time, too.
Can Nose Surgery Help You?
Whether you simply don’t like the nose you were born with or you are experiencing breathing problems as a result of a deviated septum, it is a good idea to consult the experts at the Cosmetic Surgical Arts Center. We have locations in Lynnwood and Mount Vernon. Contact us today to schedule your consultation to learn more about how nose surgery can benefit you.