thegraphicdesigner wrote:

MaryS wrote:

thegraphicdesigner wrote:
Did anyone correct a post-surgery deviated septum? I can't breath through my right side and it drives me crazy.

 While I did not correct a post-surgery deviated septum, I should tell you what was said to me by three ENTs, one of whom was my surgeon. My surgeon offered to do another septoplasty. Mine moved back very shortly after surgery - not totally, but in some way - I don't quite understand ( I have had bigger things to worry about). He also offered to do a nasal valve collapse repair too. He said I would need cartilage from my rib, because I did not have enough in my septum!

I did not understand this. Even so, I was in so much pain, and breathing was strange open, I instinctively knew it was a bad idea. So I said no to any more surgery.

A second ENT I saw who recognized the dryness and a lot of tissue missing, although he would not admit to ENS, said until my mucosa improved, he would not recommend a septoplasty to fix it again, nor a repair of the Nasal Valve Collapse. He noted too that I was probably lacking enough septal cartilage for a valve repair.

Why was I lacking cartilage? I asked. Well, it seems that rhinoplasty I had many years ago, was in effect a septoplasty. I had no idea! But the important fact is that a septoplasty depletes the cartilage

So, for you I think a second septoplasty would take away from your cartilage too. That is the first consideration.

The second consideration is that surgery could be counter productive to your mucosa healing. 

The thrid consideration, which I learned from reading medical literature, is that repeated nasal surgeries in and of themselves can cause nasal dryness.

A fourth consideration I have heard here (but not confirmed on the literature or by a Dr. ) is that the septoplasty can take away more of your musoca and can even open you up more in a way you don't want.

Finally, I also read in medical literature, that a septoplasty can cause a nasal valve collapse. Which, if that happened to you, would mean that you might not have enough cartilage for a repair.

The third ENT I saw said the same things about the septoplasty that ENT # 2 said. He would not recommend it - "You just had surgery" and that it would worsen the dryness. I have though alot about it and I hope this information helps.        

Hey MaryS,

Thank you so much for your answer.

Yes, I wouldn't touch my septum, ideally. But I really feel my right side blocked and I know it's because of the septum - that was already touched, and therefore more fragile and thin. I know that the mucosa will suffer with repeated surgeries, but I really can't stand having only one side having enough air.
But I'm wondering about seeing a ENS-conscient doctor, like Bodlaj (I wish I was at USA to meet Houser or Das...), and ask him if there isn't any other way of correcting a fragile septum, like with splints?


 It should be possible to correct the septum with splints, if the septum was previously straight.