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What is Septoplasty?

Septoplasty is a surgical procedure to straighten a deviated nasal septum, the cartilage and bone dividing the nasal cavity, which can cause breathing difficulties, infections, or headaches when misaligned. It’s often performed to improve airflow and quality of life. In India, septoplasty is conducted in ENT departments at hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, and AIIMS, often at affordable costs. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs is essential for patients.

Why do you need Septoplasty?

Septoplasty is indicated for:

  • Deviated nasal septum (DNS):
    • Misalignment causing nasal obstruction, difficulty breathing through one or both nostrils.
    • Symptoms: Chronic nasal congestion, snoring, recurrent sinus infections, facial pain, or headaches.
  • Associated conditions:
    • Often combined with other procedures (e.g., Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery [FESS], as you asked earlier, or turbinate reduction).
  • Functional issues:
    • Sleep disturbances (e.g., sleep apnea), nosebleeds, or difficulty with nasal medications (e.g., sprays).

The procedure aims to straighten the septum, improve nasal airflow, reduce infections, and alleviate symptoms, without altering the external appearance of the nose (unlike rhinoplasty, which is cosmetic).

Why Do Septoplasty Costs Vary in India?

Costs range from ₹30,000 to ₹80,000:

  • Procedure Complexity: Simple septoplasty (₹30,000–₹50,000); with turbinate reduction or sinus surgery (₹50,000–₹80,000).
  • Hospital/Location: Higher in metro cities (Apollo, Fortis: ₹50,000–₹80,000); lower in government hospitals (AIIMS: ₹10,000–₹20,000, often subsidized under Ayushman Bharat).
  • Surgeon’s Expertise: Experienced ENT surgeons charge more.
  • Additional Costs: Anesthesia (₹5,000–₹15,000), hospital stay (₹5,000–₹10,000/day), nasal splints (₹1,000–₹3,000), medications (₹1,000–₹3,000).
  • Insurance: Covered for functional issues (e.g., breathing difficulty); confirm with your provider.

Septoplasty Procedure

  • Before Surgery Evaluation:
    • Diagnosis:
    • Medications: Stop blood thinners (e.g., aspirin) 5–7 days prior if safe.
    • Consent: Risks, including bleeding, are explained.
  • Surgical Techniques:
    • Septoplasty:
      • Performed under general or local anesthesia with sedation, lasting 30–60 minutes.
      • Incision: Inside the nose (no external scars); typically on one side of the septum.
      • Septum correction:
        • Mucosa (nasal lining) elevated to access cartilage and bone.
        • Deviated cartilage/bone removed, reshaped, or repositioned.
        • Mucosa repositioned and sutured with absorbable stitches.
      • Packing/Splints: Nasal packing (if used) controls bleeding (removed in 1–2 days); silicone splints may be placed to support the septum (removed in 5–7 days).
    • Intraoperative Tools:
      • Endoscope: Visualizes nasal structures.
      • Nasal speculum: Opens nasal cavity for access.
      • Microinstruments: Removes or reshapes cartilage/bone.
  • After Surgery:
    • Hospital stay: Same-day discharge or 1 day.
    • Care: Nasal saline sprays to keep passages moist; avoid blowing nose for 1–2 weeks.
    • Pain management: Mild to moderate discomfort for 3–5 days; managed with acetaminophen.
    • Instructions: Sleep with head elevated; avoid strenuous activity for 2 weeks.

Recovery After Septoplasty

  1. Hospital Stay: Same-day discharge or 1 day.
  2. Post-Surgery Care:
    • Discomfort: Mild nasal congestion, pressure, or headache for 3–5 days; improves in 1–2 weeks.
    • Bleeding: Minor nasal bleeding or discharge for 2–3 days; use drip pad if needed.
    • Breathing: Initial congestion due to swelling/packing; improves in 1–2 weeks, with full benefit in 4–6 weeks.
    • Activity: Rest for 2–3 days; avoid heavy lifting or sports for 2–3 weeks.
    • Nasal care: Saline sprays or irrigation for 2–4 weeks; avoid irritants (e.g., smoke).
  3. Follow-Up:
    • Visits at 1 week (remove splints/packing), 2 weeks, and 1 month.
    • Endoscopy: At 1 month to check healing and airflow.

Most resume normal activities in 3–5 days; full recovery takes 4–6 weeks. Success rate: 80–90% achieve improved breathing; some (10–15%) may have persistent symptoms if other issues (e.g., allergies) remain.

Risks and Complications

  • Surgical Risks:
    • Bleeding (2–5%): Minor nasal bleeding common; severe bleeding (<1%) may need packing or cauterization.
    • Infection (1–2%): Nasal or sinus infection; treated with antibiotics.
    • Anesthesia risks (<1%): Reaction to anesthesia; rare in healthy patients.
  • Post-Surgery:
    • Septal perforation (1–3%): Hole in the septum; may cause whistling or crusting, needs repair if symptomatic.
    • Change in smell (1–2%): Temporary (due to swelling); rarely permanent.
    • Persistent deviation (5–10%): Incomplete correction; may need revision surgery.
    • Nasal collapse (<1%): Rare; if too much cartilage removed, may affect nasal structure.
  • Long-Term:
    • Recurrence of symptoms (5–10%): If allergies or sinus issues persist; needs further management.

Report heavy bleeding, severe pain, fever, or breathing difficulty promptly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What causes a deviated nasal septum?

Congenital (present at birth), trauma (e.g., nasal injury), or aging; affects 70–80% of people to some degree.

Can I avoid septoplasty?

Yes, if mild: Nasal sprays, decongestants, or allergy management; surgery is for significant breathing issues or complications.

Is septoplasty painful?

Mild to moderate discomfort for 3–5 days, managed with medication; congestion improves in 1–2 weeks.

How soon can I resume activities?

Normal activities: 3–5 days; full recovery: 4–6 weeks; avoid strenuous activity for 2–3 weeks.

Is septoplasty covered by insurance in India?

Yes, for functional issues; confirm with your provider.

Signs of complications?

Heavy bleeding, severe pain, fever, or breathing difficulty.

Will septoplasty change my nose’s appearance?

No, septoplasty is functional; rhinoplasty is needed for cosmetic changes (can be combined if desired).

Lifestyle changes post-surgery?

Avoid blowing nose, use saline sprays, manage allergies, and avoid nasal trauma.

Conclusion

Septoplasty is a safe and effective procedure to correct a deviated nasal septum, significantly improving breathing and reducing related symptoms with a quick recovery. India’s top hospitals (Apollo, Fortis, AIIMS) provide affordable care, often covered by insurance. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs helps patients approach surgery confidently. Consult an ENT surgeon for personalized guidance.

Looking for Best Hospitals for Septoplasty

Note: we are not promoting any hospitals

we are not promoting any hospitals we sourced all the details from google and hospitals website, please verify and start with your surgery here we go the list includes government, budget and superspeciality hospitals accreditation bodies are the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI)

  • click on your city and schedule your surgery now done in good hands.
City Minimum Price (₹) Maximum Price (₹)
Agra
20,000
70,000
Ahmedabad
25,000
80,000
Ajmer
20,000
70,000
Aligarh
20,000
70,000
Allahabad
20,000
70,000
Amritsar
22,000
75,000
Aurangabad
22,000
75,000
Bangalore
25,000
80,000
Bareilly
20,000
70,000
Belgaum
22,000
75,000
Bhopal
22,000
75,000
Bhubaneswar
22,000
75,000
Bikaner
20,000
70,000
Chandigarh
25,000
80,000
Chennai
25,000
80,000
Coimbatore
25,000
80,000
Dehradun
22,000
75,000
Delhi
25,000
80,000
Dhanbad
20,000
70,000
Durgapur
20,000
20,000
Faridabad
25,000
80,000
Ghaziabad
25,000
80,000
Gorakhpur
20,000
70,000
Guntur
22,000
75,000
Gurgaon
25,000
80,000
Guwahati
22,000
75,000
Gwalior
20,000
70,000
Hyderabad
25,000
80,000
Indore
22,000
75,000
Jabalpur
20,000
70,000
Jaipur
25,000
80,000
Jalandhar
22,000
75,000
Jamshedpur
22,000
75,000
Jodhpur
20,000
70,000
Kanpur
20,000
70,000
Kochi
25,000
80,000
Kolkata
25,000
80,000
Kollam
22,000
75,000
Lucknow
22,000
75,000
Ludhiana
25,000
80,000
Madurai
22,000
75,000
Mangalore
22,000
75,000
Meerut
20,000
70,000
Moradabad
20,000
70,000
Mumbai
25,000
80,000
Mysore
25,000
80,000
Nagpur
22,000
75,000
Nashik
22,000
75,000
Navi Mumbai
25,000
80,000
Noida
25,000
80,000
Patna
20,000
70,000
Pune
25,000
80,000
Raipur
22,000
75,000
Rajkot
22,000
75,000
Ranchi
20,000
70,000
Surat
25,000
80,000
Thane
25,000
80,000
Vadodara
22,000
75,000
Varanasi
20,000
70,000
Visakhapatnam
22,000
75,000

Disclaimer

This information is sourced from open platforms and is for general awareness only. Costs may vary based on individual cases. Please consult a qualified doctor for medical advice and explore options within your budget before deciding on the procedure.

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