If you’ve ever wished for a new nose, you are certainly not alone. Plastic surgery focusing on the nose is hugely popular. The American Academy for Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery reports that nearly 70,000 rhinoplasties and septoplasties were performed in 2013. These two procedures are often confused. But rhinoplasty and septoplasty focus on two totally different issues and areas of the nose.
Rhinoplasty is surgery designed to reshape the nose. When people talk about “nose jobs,” rhinoplasty is most likely what they’re referring to. Many people desire to make their noses smaller, and a rhinoplasty can do that, but the procedure is about more than size. A skilled plastic surgeon can dramatically reshape the nose, promoting overall facial harmony and leading to a totally different look for the patient. Some prominent celebrities, like Lisa Kudrow, have been very open about how rhinoplasty has bolstered their self-esteem.
Septoplasty, on the other hand, is a non-cosmetic surgery that corrects a deviated septum. The septum is the bone and cartilage that divides your nostrils. It’s fairly common for the septum to deviate over time, but if the deviation is drastic, the septum can block airflow through one nostril and make breathing difficult. Septoplasty entails reshaping and repositioning the septum to correct this kind of problem. This procedure is covered by most insurance carriers, because it corrects the functionality of the nose.
Both rhinoplasty and septoplasty can have dramatically positive effects on a patient’s life, and they can both be performed by a plastic surgeon. In fact, the two procedures are sometimes performed in conjunction with one another during one surgery. If you have trouble breathing, have a complicated relationship with the look of your nose, or both, come in to speak with Dr. Wooten. It may just change your life.