Common symptoms
- Blockage that is worse on one side
- Breathing through the mouth, particularly at night
- Snoring, or disturbed sleep
- Repeated sinus infections
- Nosebleeds from the front of the nose
- A feeling of pressure across the bridge or the face
- Reduced sense of smell
- Blockage that shifts from side to side through the day
When to see an ENT specialist
- Blockage on one side that has lasted more than a few weeks
- Mouth breathing or snoring that is affecting sleep
- Sinus infections several times a year
- Nasal sprays and allergy treatment that have not helped
- A nose injury after which breathing has not returned to normal
- Blockage or bleeding on one side only — this should be examined promptly
Do not wait for an appointment. A nosebleed that will not stop, or difficulty breathing after an injury to the nose, needs the hospital emergency department now.
How it is assessed
Examination of the nose comes first, followed by nasal endoscopy in the clinic — a thin camera passed gently into the nose after a numbing spray. This matters here, because the front of the septum is visible on simple examination but the deviation that actually blocks airflow is often further back, along with the turbinates and the sinus drainage pathways. You can watch on the monitor as it is done.
A CT scan is advised when sinus surgery is being considered at the same time, or where the picture is not clear on endoscopy.
Treatment
A deviated septum itself does not respond to medicine, but the swelling and allergy that often sit alongside it do — so treatment usually begins with nasal sprays, saline rinses and allergy control. Many people improve enough that no operation is needed.
Septoplasty is considered when blockage persists despite that. It is done entirely through the nostrils, so there is no cut on the face and no change to the external shape of the nose. Turbinate reduction is often carried out in the same sitting, since the turbinates commonly enlarge on the more open side. Where sinus disease is also present, endoscopic sinus surgery may be combined.
Frequently asked questions
Will septoplasty change the shape of my nose?
No. Septoplasty works on the partition inside the nose, through the nostrils, and does not alter the external shape. Changing the outward appearance is a different operation, rhinoplasty, and is planned separately.
Is the operation done under general anaesthesia?
Usually yes, though it can be done under local anaesthesia in selected cases. Which is appropriate is decided at consultation, taking into account the extent of the correction and your general health.
How long does recovery take?
Most people are back to routine activity within about a week. The nose feels blocked and heavy for the first several days, which is expected, and breathing improves as that settles. Heavy exertion and nose-blowing are restricted for a short period.
Can a deviated septum come back after surgery?
The correction itself is permanent. Blockage can return if allergy or turbinate swelling is not controlled, which is why nasal treatment usually continues after surgery.
This page is general information to help you decide when to seek care. It is not a diagnosis — the right treatment depends on examination.