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The septum can be deviated at birth (congenital) or because of injury, such as a broken nose. It also may bend to one side or the other as a result of aging. Very few people have a perfectly straight septum. Septoplasty generally is necessary only when breathing problems or snoring do not get better without surgery.  It is a common procedure performed by a Los Angeles plastic surgery specialist.  Many people seeking plastic surgery for Latinos also have this procedure.

Surgery to straighten the septum is called septoplasty, submucous resection of the septum, or septal reconstruction. The surgery may be done along with other procedures to treat chronic sinus infections, inflammation, or bleeding, or to correct sleep apnea. Septoplasty also may be done to allow access into the nose to remove nasal polyp. For more information on surgery to treat chronic sinusitis, you should speak with your physician.

Before surgery, the doctor may use a thin, lighted instrument called an endoscope to look at your nasal passages and to see the shape of your septum. In some cases, the endoscope may be used during surgery. You will receive local or general anesthesia for the 60- to 90-minute operation, which is usually done in an outpatient surgery center by a qualified surgeon.

The septum and nasal passages are lined with a layer of soft tissue called the nasal mucosa. To repair the septum, the surgeon works through the nostrils, making an incision to separate the mucosa from the underlying cartilage and bone. The doctor trims or straightens the bent cartilage and then replaces the mucosa over the cartilage and bone.  The procedure is often done along with a rhinoplasty.