Many people in Orange County suffer from a deviated septum which happens when the midline cartilage structure that divides the two halves of your nasal cavity becomes misaligned by a significant degree. A deviated septum can lead to a stuffy nose and many breathing difficulties or even lead to snoring at night. A procedure known as a septoplasty can correct the deviated septum. Septoplasty is one of the most misunderstood surgical procedures among lay people and physicians alike. Many patients even equate septoplasty with a nose job, which is not true. Some people with a crooked septum and nasal bone require a septorhinoplasty; and, done correctly can help patients breathe and sleep better as well as improve a crooked nose.
In order to decide if septoplasty is right for you, an introductory lesson in anatomy might be helpful. First of all, no one has a perfectly straight septum. Other parts of the nasal anatomy contribute to your ability to breathe, including nasal turbinates. Turbinates are wing-like structures located just inside the nasal side walls. They normally warm, filter, smooth and humidify the air that you breathe. Inside the turbinate structure is bone and features an outside lined with a mucous membrane. The middle section is made of vascular tissues that swell when filled with blood and regulated by the involuntary nervous system. The nervous system normally swells and shrinks the turbinates, alternating from side to side, every few hours. This is called the nasal cycle. If you would like a consultation with Dr. Sadati please contact out Newport Beach office.
