Our doctors are educated in a variety of nasal issues, and we work to educate our patients, and potential patients, about everything surrounding the nose. Besides sinus issues, a common problem that affects your ability to breathe through your nose is called a deviated septum.
The septum is the vertical column of bone and cartilage that divides the nostrils, and it can obscure one or both of your nasal airways if it is crooked or off-center. This condition may be noticeable to the naked eye, resulting in a C or S shaped septum.
Statistics show that about 80% of Americans have a deviated or crooked septum. The reality is that many people don’t experience any symptoms when they have a deviated septum. However, those who do experience symptoms will need to undergo deviated septum repair in Los Angeles.
Our ENT specialists for deviated septums explain below the different reasons why someone might choose to have surgery to fix this issue.
Those who cannot breathe properly often have trouble sleeping, or they snore loudly, even waking themselves and their significant other up. While this issue can vary in severity, those with a deviated septum interrupting sleep may want to look into having surgery.
Sleep apnea or snoring problems that become unbearable may be a sign you need surgery. Our ENTs will first try non-surgical treatments for sleep problems before resorting to septoplasty.
Nasal polyps are non-cancerous tumors that grow in the sinus cavities. While they are not cancerous, they can interfere with your ability to breathe. A polypectomy is a surgical procedure to remove these tumors and reduce the chance of recurrence. Your ENT doctor in Los Angeles may also recommend that you undergo septoplasty because it clears out the nostrils and mucous membranes.
Enlarged turbinates can also lead to breathing problems for some people. The turbinates are thin, bony plates inside your nostrils, and when they swell, they can obstruct your breathing. Whether it’s allergies, cold weather, or a facial injury, swollen turbinates can be hard to deal with, and septoplasty can help correct this. During the Los Angeles septoplasty procedure, your doctor can address this issue since they are already operating on the inside of your nose.
A deviated septum is sometimes not noticeable, but other times, you may feel like your crooked nose diminishes your attractiveness. A crooked nose is a very common concern in those who visit plastic surgeons, and you are not alone if you want to fix it.
If your crooked septum is noticeable, then you likely also have breathing issues. You should get septoplasty if this describes your situation, as it’s interfering with both your health and self-esteem.
Rhinoplasty, which is the typical cosmetic surgery to fix an unsightly nose, can be performed in tandem with septoplasty in a procedure referred to as septorhinoplasty. If you want cosmetic changes to be made to your nose, then this may incur additional costs not covered by insurance.
Our doctors are highly specialized in nasal surgery, and we assure you that you will be happy with your results. Any breathing or cosmetic issues you may have will be fixed through surgery at one of our offices.
The ENT surgeons of Westside Head & Neck treat all general conditions of the ear, nose, and throat. Every doctor that works at Westside Head & Neck has extensive training and experience in treating nasal issues.
We hold ourselves to the highest standard of care so that our patients feel comfortable and anxiety-free prior to surgery. During your first consultation, we will walk you through your surgery so that you understand what will happen during and after your procedure.
In an effort to make breathing relief open to more Los Angelenos, we accept most PPO insurance plans, Medicare, and select HMO’s. Our two offices are located in Santa Monica and Culver City. To set up an appointment to discuss your ENT issues with any of our physicians at either location, please call (310) 361-5128 or email appointments@westsidehn.com.