Ethnic Rhinoplasty

Question:
What is septoplasty and is it often performed with ethnic rhinoplasty?

Answer:
The septum is the wall that divides your nose down the middle, into a right and left side. It is made of cartilage and bone and has a mucous membrane lining on both sides. Surgery on the septum – whether to straighten it when it is twisted and causing nasal blockage, or simply to obtain cartilage for grafting purposes in a rhinoplasty – this surgery is called septoplasty.

When the septum is straight, it simply acts as the divider of your nose and allows for streamlined, aerodynamic airflow and easy nasal breathing. If it is deviated or twisted it can cause nasal obstruction. The septum can twist to the right and block the right side, and then come around further back in the nose and twist to the left to block the left side too!