If one side of your nose always feels blocked, the cause may be inside it. The septum is the wall of bone and cartilage that divides the nose into two sides. When it leans to one side, called a deviated septum, it can narrow the airway. Septoplasty is the operation that straightens it.
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What septoplasty does, and what it does not
Cleveland Clinic describes septoplasty as surgery to straighten a deviated septum inside the nose. It does not change the outside shape. If you also want a change to the shape, it may be combined with rhinoplasty in one operation, often called a septorhinoplasty.
| Septoplasty | Rhinoplasty | Septorhinoplasty | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it changes | The septum inside the nose | The outside shape (and sometimes breathing) | Both |
| Main reason | Breathing | Appearance or breathing | Appearance and breathing |
| Insurance | May be covered when medically necessary | Usually not for shape alone | The breathing part may be covered |
Why it is done
Cleveland Clinic says septoplasty is done for a nostril blocked by a septum that was bent by an injury or from birth. It is sometimes part of treatment for nasal polyps, chronic sinusitis, sleep apnea or nosebleeds. A doctor decides whether your symptoms come from the septum or from something else, so the first step is an exam, not surgery.
Who does septoplasty
Septoplasty is often done by ear, nose and throat surgeons (otolaryngologists), certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (ABOto), an ABMS member board. Facial plastic surgeons and plastic surgeons who do rhinoplasty may also do it, especially when shape and breathing are treated together. Ask which board certifies the surgeon and check it on certificationmatters.org, then check the New York license on the NYSED Office of the Professions search. The surgeon guide explains the boards.
The operation
- Usually under general anesthesia, sometimes local.
- Takes 30 to 90 minutes.
- Usually outpatient, so you do not stay overnight in a hospital; arrange for someone to take you home.
Recovery
These are the general ranges Cleveland Clinic gives. Your surgeon will give you your own timeline and aftercare.
| When | What to expect |
|---|---|
| First 1 to 2 weeks | Initial recovery. No nose blowing. |
| About 1 week | Light activity again. |
| About 1 month | Strenuous exercise again. |
| Several months | Bone and cartilage keep healing. |
If you also have rhinoplasty
A combined operation has the longer rhinoplasty recovery: Cleveland Clinic gives 1 to 2 weeks in a splint, 4 to 6 weeks before exercise and up to a year for the final shape.
Risks
Cleveland Clinic lists these risks of septoplasty: infection, bleeding, a reduced sense of smell, scarring, a hole in the septum (septal perforation), a collection of blood in the septum (septal hematoma), and temporary numbness of the nose and teeth. Rarely, toxic shock or a spinal fluid leak. Ask the surgeon how they lower those risks and what to watch for at home.
Insurance and cost
ASPS says that when nose surgery is mainly to improve breathing, insurance may cover it as reconstructive. That usually needs a documented exam and prior authorization. A change to the outside shape is usually not covered, so in a septorhinoplasty ask the office how the two parts are billed.
The ASPS cosmetic fee tables give no national fee for septoplasty alone. For rhinoplasty, its 2024 national range for the surgeon’s fee is $7,500 to $12,500, without anesthesia or the facility. See the rhinoplasty cost guide for what a quote should include.
Questions to ask
- What is causing my blocked breathing: the septum, or something else?
- Would septoplasty alone help, or do you suggest a combined operation?
- Will this change how my nose looks from the outside?
- Is this likely to be covered by my insurance, and what do you need from me for prior authorization?
- Where is the operation done, and who gives the anesthesia?
- What should I avoid while it heals, and for how long?
Breathing after a past nose job
If your breathing got worse after an earlier rhinoplasty, read the revision rhinoplasty guide and tell the surgeon about the first operation. Filler is not a treatment for breathing: ASPS says it cannot improve breathing, and the FDA has not approved any filler for the nose. More in the non-surgical rhinoplasty guide.
Trouble breathing through your nose? Send a short request to an independent surgeon’s office in New York.
This page gives general information, not medical advice. Breathing problems have many causes, and only a doctor who examines you can say what yours is. In an emergency, call 911.
Questions people ask
Does septoplasty change the shape of my nose?
No. Cleveland Clinic says it straightens the septum inside the nose and does not change the outside shape. A shape change needs rhinoplasty, which can be done at the same time.
How long is septoplasty recovery?
Cleveland Clinic gives 1 to 2 weeks of initial recovery, light activity after about a week and strenuous exercise after about a month. Bone and cartilage heal over several months.
Is septoplasty covered by insurance?
It may be, when it is medically necessary to improve breathing. ASPS says this usually needs a documented exam and prior authorization. Ask the office and your insurer.
Can I blow my nose after septoplasty?
Cleveland Clinic advises no nose blowing for 1 to 2 weeks. Follow your surgeon’s own instructions.
Who should I see for a deviated septum?
Ear, nose and throat surgeons certified by ABOto often treat it. Facial plastic and plastic surgeons may treat it with rhinoplasty. Check the board and the New York license yourself.
What is a septorhinoplasty?
One operation that combines septoplasty for breathing with rhinoplasty for shape. The breathing part may be billed to insurance and the shape part to you.