ACENT Alaska Center for Ear Nose and Throat
3841 Piper Street T-230
Anchorage, AK 99508
Phone: (907) 279-8800
Fax: (907) 279-8810
Monday–Thursday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
Deviated Septum - Septoplasty Surgery
A deviated nasal septum causes blockage of the nose and difficulty breathing on one or both sides. In some cases, the condition may contribute to snoring or interfere with sleep. The physicians at ACENT perform surgery to repair a deviated septum, called septoplasty, to help patients from Anchorage, Wasilla, Palmer, and surrounding areas breathe more freely and sleep more soundly.
The nasal septum is made up of bone and cartilage that divide the nasal cavity in half. If your septum is significantly crooked (deviated), it can make breathing difficult on one side or both. A deviated septum may be present at birth, but often results from trauma to the nose. The first step to diagnosing a deviated septum is a thorough examination which may include an endoscope.
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Our highly-trained providers look forward to meeting you and answering all of your questions.
Request My ConsultationProcedure
Septoplasty is performed under general anesthesia and usually takes about an hour to complete. During the surgery, which is often aided by an endoscope, any cartilage or bone that is blocking your nasal passage is removed. If you are also concerned about the appearance of your nose, cosmetic rhinoplasty can be performed at the same time as septoplasty.
Turbinate Reduction
Some patients’ breathing is obstructed by enlarged nasal tissues called interior turbinates. Interior turbinate reduction is a simple surgical procedure that can be performed alone or with septoplasty to improve breathing through the nose.
Words cannot describe how thankful I am to have met [you]. [Your] knowledge, competence, and patience in describing a procedure and humble demeanor all added up to a very positive overall experience surrounding my surgery. The staff was outstanding as well — always polite, responsive and informative. Thank you all for helping me to breathe through my nose better than I have been able to for the past 10 years, and for giving reason to believe that there really still are some patient, caring people left in the medical industry.
Mitch 45-year-old, nasal obstruction surgery patient
Recovery
Patients return home the day of surgery. Incisions inside the nose are closed with dissolvable stitches and nasal splints are placed on each side to help with healing. Pain relief medication is prescribed, although it may not be needed. Post-surgical swelling may make it difficult to breathe through the nose for a few days to a week.
If you have tried other sinus treatments and think you might need septoplasty, request a consultation at our Anchorage, Alaska practice to meet with one of our board-certified physicians. You can also call our office at (907) 279-8800 to schedule an appointment. For our Homer and surrounding patients, please call (907) 235-0310.
