Nasal Septum Surgery in Hamburg

A deviated nasal septum can impair nasal breathing. Such functional limitations can, of course, also be improved during a rhinoplasty.

Infants are exclusively nasal breathers in the first few months of life. If nasal breathing becomes severely restricted after birth, rapid action is sometimes required, including surgery to improve nasal breathing. Fortunately, this is not as serious in adults, as air can alternatively reach the lungs through the mouth. The most common cause of poor nasal breathing is a deviated nasal septum. Poor nasal breathing can severely limit quality of life and cause numerous problems. For one thing, the sense of smell is often impaired, as odor molecules can no longer reach the olfactory cells in the upper part of the nose. As a result, not only are smells perceived less effectively or not at all, but the delicate sense of taste, which always works in conjunction with the olfactory organ, can also function with limitations. Therefore, if you frequently add spices, you may also have a problem with your nasal septum.

The inside of the nose is lined with mucous membrane. As the name suggests, this produces mucus. However, if this fluid cannot drain normally due to a severely deviated nasal septum, pain and inflammation of the paranasal sinuses (so-called sinusitis) can occur. The reduced flow through the nose and the resulting reduced ventilation of the paranasal sinuses can also result in headaches and facial pain.

If you breathe more through your mouth than through your nose, your throat dries out more quickly, and the mucous membranes are more susceptible to pathogens, thus increasing the risk of gingivitis, pharyngitis, and colds. Likewise, breathing through your mouth while sleeping is usually louder and can significantly impair your partner's sleep quality due to loud snoring. Furthermore, acute deviated nasal septums are often a cause of frequent nosebleeds.

A deviated nasal septum is a common finding, but not every deviated nasal septum directly leads to impaired nasal breathing. If enough air flows past the deviated area, breathing is not restricted. Treatment is only advisable when your nose is so blocked that it is difficult to breathe and you have to breathe through your mouth.

Impaired nasal breathing is not only uncomfortable but can also lead to more serious problems:

• Sleep disorders
• Snoring with the development of sleep apnea syndrome, which also affects the cardiovascular system
• Impaired sense of smell
• Frequent sinus infections
• Nosebleeds
• Headaches

The problems caused by a deviated nasal septum can usually be successfully resolved by straightening the nasal septum, a procedure known as septoplasty. It is important that the nose's important supporting function is not compromised.

Unfortunately, in Germany, nasal septum surgeries are often performed by inexperienced surgeons who are not specialized in nasal surgery. In our practice, we frequently see the consequences of overly aggressive surgery on the nasal septum, which then compromises the stability of the nose. External and internal deformities can result. Patients' complaints are usually not resolved.

If an experienced specialist performs septum surgery, the risks described above are extremely low, and the procedure can be considered very safe.

Modern septum straightening is gentle on the tissue, maintains the stability of the nose, and improves its function.

No additional incision is necessary for rhinoplasty to straighten the nasal septum. With septum straightening alone, a small incision inside one nostril is sufficient to access the deviated nasal septum. From there, the deviated cartilage is reshaped so that it assumes a central position within the nose. As little cartilage and bone as possible are removed to ensure sufficient stability of the nose.