Septoplasty procedures are usually done in the hospital with the administration of a combined intravenous and local anesthetic. Once the patient has been anesthetized, the surgeon makes an incision on the mucous tissue that encloses the portion of the deviated septum, which is made of cartilage. Once the tissue is lifted, the bony and cartilage parts of the septum are exposed after which the septoplasty on cartilage is done. This is the removal of the excess cartilage that needs to be taken out. Usually this cartilage is the root of the nasal problems that the patient is having.
As the septoplasty on cartilage commences, the deformities inside the nose have the tendency to correct themselves slowly, thus lessening the amount of cartilage that needs to be removed. This is because once the cutting of the cartilage started, the correction of the bony deformities could also begin. Most patients who undergo this procedure, this is just the degree of surgery that they need so that their nasal breathing can be improved and the deformities of their septum could be corrected. However, those whose nasal obstructions already include bony ridges and spurs would need further surgery than this.
Role of Septoplasty on Cartilage:
Once the septoplasty on cartilage has been done and there is already an amount of cartilage removed, then this can be reused to give support to the nose if it is needed. If this is the case, then there is no need for external supports for the septum to be used. However, there would be a need for the usage of splints to give support to the cartilage if extensive cutting was done during the procedure. These external splints will be used for a few days during the healing process. Other support materials also include tefla gauze, which is placed inside the nostrils to give support to the flaps of the nose as well as the cartilage. This gauze would also help in preventing fluid accumulation or nose bleeds.
So if you are thinking of going through a septoplasty procedure, then what have been mentioned above are just the few things that you could expect from the operation. The septoplasty on cartilage surgery could be the answer to your nasal problems, especially if these are just simpler ones. However, if there are other reasons to your nasal obstruction other than just a deviated septum caused by excess cartilage or bone, then you need more than just this extent of surgery.