Deviated Septum Treatment in Sydney

A deviated nasal septum occurs when the cartilage and bone wall dividing the nose is shifted to one side, restricting airflow and making it difficult to breathe through one or both nostrils. When a deviated septum causes significant obstruction, recurrent sinus infections or sleep disturbance, surgical correction with septoplasty can restore normal nasal breathing.

Symptoms of a Deviated Septum

Many people have a mild septal deviation without any noticeable symptoms. When the deviation is significant, common symptoms include:

• Blocked nose or difficulty breathing through one or both nostrils
• Preferring to sleep on one side to breathe more easily
• Recurrent nosebleeds from drying of the septum on the narrower side
• Recurrent sinus infections due to impaired sinus drainage
• Noisy breathing or snoring during sleep
• Awareness of the nasal cycle: alternating blockage between sides
• Facial pressure or headache
• Post-nasal drip

Causes

A deviated septum may be present from birth due to developmental factors during pregnancy, or it can result from nasal trauma such as a broken nose during sport, an accident or a fall. The septum can also shift gradually over time with normal growth. In many cases, patients are unaware their septum is deviated until symptoms develop or it is identified during an ENT examination.

Diagnosis

Your ENT surgeon will assess a deviated septum through:

Anterior rhinoscopy and nasal endoscopy: Direct examination of the nasal passages with a headlight and speculum, followed by endoscopic examination with a thin telescope to identify the location and severity of the deviation, turbinate enlargement, and any associated conditions such as polyps.

CT scan: If surgery is being considered, or if there is concurrent sinus disease, a CT scan provides detailed imaging of the septum, sinuses and surrounding anatomy for surgical planning.

Treatment Options

Conservative Management

For mild symptoms, non-surgical options may provide adequate relief:

• Nasal corticosteroid sprays to reduce mucosal swelling
• Saline nasal irrigation to keep passages clear
• Decongestants for short-term symptom relief (not for long-term use)
• Nasal dilator strips for nighttime breathing

Septoplasty

Septoplasty is the surgical correction of a deviated septum. Performed entirely through the nostrils under general anaesthesia, the procedure straightens the septum by repositioning or removing the deviated portions of cartilage and bone. There are no external incisions and no change to the external appearance of the nose.

The procedure typically takes 30 to 60 minutes. Most patients go home the same day and return to normal activities within one to two weeks. Internal splints or soft packing may be placed temporarily and are removed at a follow-up appointment.

Septoplasty is frequently combined with turbinate reduction to maximise airflow, or with endoscopic sinus surgery if concurrent sinusitis is present.

Septorhinoplasty

If you wish to address both nasal obstruction and the external shape of the nose, a septorhinoplasty combines functional septal correction with cosmetic reshaping in a single operation. Our surgeons Dr Jareen Ebenezer and Dr Arjuna Ananda perform both functional and cosmetic rhinoplasty procedures.

When to See an ENT Specialist

• You have persistent one-sided or bilateral nasal obstruction
• Nasal sprays no longer provide adequate relief
• You experience frequent nosebleeds
• Snoring or sleep disturbance is affecting your quality of life
• You have recurrent sinus infections that may be related to poor drainage

Related Conditions

• Chronic Sinusitis: poor drainage from a deviated septum can contribute to chronic sinus disease
• Nasal Polyps: may develop alongside septal deviation and sinusitis
• Allergic Rhinitis: allergic swelling compounds the obstruction from a deviated septum