Septorhinoplasty in Jaipur

What is septorhinoplasty and deviated nasal septum

Inside your nose, a wall of bone and cartilage sits right in the centre. This wall is called the nasal septum. It separates the inside of your nose into two chambers, or nostrils. A straight septum lets air flow through both sides without effort. When this wall bends or leans to one side, doctors call it a deviated or crooked septum.

A crooked septum can narrow one or both nostrils. When airflow gets blocked, breathing through your nose becomes hard work. Septoplasty is a surgical procedure that fixes this crooked internal wall. It is one of the most common operations done by otolaryngologists, who are ear, nose, and throat doctors.

The procedure reshapes the cartilage and bone inside your nose so you can breathe better. Septoplasty alone targets only internal structures and does not change the outside look or shape of your nose.

Many people also wish to alter the external appearance or structure of their nose. Rhinoplasty is a procedure that focuses on reshaping the outside of the nose. It is generally an aesthetic procedure, while septoplasty restores nasal function. If you have breathing trouble along with an external deformity, your surgeon can combine both steps into one operation called septorhinoplasty.

At Jaipur Hospital, our surgical team evaluates both your breathing passages and your outer nasal frame. Combining these steps allows your surgeon to clear the airway and correct external contour during the same operation.

Common surgical techniques include:

• Open septorhinoplasty
• Closed septorhinoplasty
• Preservation rhinoplasty
• Structural grafting

Your surgeon will advise which technique suits your nasal anatomy.

Symptoms of a deviated septum and when to seek urgent care

A deviated septum causes noticeable changes in everyday breathing. Many people find that one side of the nose stays blocked most of the time. In clinical studies of nasal airway surgery, patients had moderate to severe nasal obstructive symptoms before treatment. You may struggle to get enough air during exercise or while lying down to sleep.

Blocked airflow often leads to restless nights. It can contribute to mouth breathing, loud snoring, and sleep apnea. Some people experience regular facial pressure or headaches across the forehead, cheeks, and eyes. When nasal passages remain narrow, normal mucus drainage slows down, which can feel like a lingering sinus cold. Airway obstruction can lower your daily quality of life.

Certain warning signs mean you should not wait for a routine clinic visit. You should visit our 24x7 emergency department at Jaipur Hospital or call your doctor immediately if you notice severe warning signs:

• Sudden, heavy nasal bleeding that does not stop after applying gentle pressure
• High fever or chills accompanied by severe facial swelling
• Increasing redness, tenderness, or throbbing pain around the nose, cheeks, or eyes
• Sudden changes in vision or clear, watery fluid draining steadily from one nostril
• Difficulty breathing or chest discomfort that makes resting difficult

Causes of a crooked septum and risk factors

A crooked septum can develop before birth or occur later in life. Many people are simply born with a septum that tilts to one side as the nasal bones grow. In other people, a normal straight septum shifts out of place due to an unexpected physical injury.

Physical trauma is the leading cause of acquired nasal deviation. Direct blows during contact sports, road traffic accidents, simple falls, or accidental bumps at home can fracture or bend the delicate nasal bone and cartilage. Even minor injuries in early childhood can cause the cartilage to grow crooked over time.

Certain groups face a higher risk of experiencing nasal obstruction from a deviated septum:

• People who engage in active contact sports or outdoor work without protective gear
• Individuals who have had a past fracture or blow to the facial bones
• People born with congenital nasal asymmetry or structural cartilage weakness
• Patients who have had past nasal surgeries where cartilage support shifted over time

At Jaipur Hospital, our surgical team evaluates whether your breathing trouble stems from past trauma or developmental growth. Identifying the exact cause helps your surgeon plan the safest corrective approach.

How a deviated septum is diagnosed in the OPD

Not every breathing problem is caused by a crooked septum. Other nasal issues can mimic similar blockages. Because of this, a qualified doctor must examine you in person to find out exactly what causes your symptoms. At Jaipur Hospital, your evaluation begins in our otolaryngology OPD.

Your doctor will review your medical history, past injuries, and daily symptoms. During the physical check, your doctor inspects the outside of your nose for bends, asymmetry, or collapsed areas. Next, your doctor looks inside each nostril using a bright light and a small nasal instrument.

This allows your doctor to check the position of the septum, the condition of the mucosal lining, and the size of the turbinates.

Diagnostic tests are often recommended to assess the deeper nasal passages before any procedure:

• Diagnostic nasal endoscopy: A thin, lighted scope is gently guided inside to view the entire septum and sinus openings; this test typically costs ₹1,500 to ₹4,000
• Sinus X-ray: A routine view of the facial bones, usually costing between ₹200 and ₹750
• Imaging tests (such as a CT scan): High-resolution scans that show bone deviation and sinus anatomy, typically costing ₹1,500 to ₹4,000

These tests confirm whether a septoplasty can help you breathe easier. They also help your surgeon see if combining septoplasty with rhinoplasty or turbinate reduction is needed.

Non-surgical treatment options and when surgery is advised

When nasal obstruction is mild, non-surgical measures are often explored first. While medicines cannot straighten a bent bone or cartilage, they can reduce tissue swelling inside your nose. Saline nasal sprays help clear crusts and soothe irritated mucous membranes. Decongestants and anti-inflammatory sprays available at your local chemist may temporarily ease breathing by shrinking swollen turbinates. In research studies, herbal supplements have also been incorporated into practice with minimal risk.

Non-surgical methods have clear limits. If your nasal blockage is caused by an actual physical bend in the cartilage, medicines cannot move the bone back to the centre. Healthcare providers recommend surgery when your crooked septum causes ongoing breathing difficulty that medicines cannot relieve. If you have trouble breathing because of a deviated septum, septoplasty may be an option.

Surgery is also advised when a crooked septum triggers recurrent sinus infections, severe sleep disruption, or when combined aesthetic changes are desired. In clinical trials assessing rhinoplasty, nasal obstruction scores improved by 43 to 50 points out of 100 over a 12-month follow-up. When you wish to fix internal airflow and reshape the external nose together, septorhinoplasty provides a combined solution.

At Jaipur Hospital, septorhinoplasty typically takes 2 to 3 hours under general anaesthesia. Patients typically stay 1 to 2 nights in the hospital, with an attendant staying to assist. Desk work can usually be resumed in 2 weeks, while final nasal shape emerges over 6 to 12 months.

The typical price in India ranges from ₹1,00,000 to ₹2,50,000, depending on surgical complexity and hospital stay. Your surgeon will discuss your symptoms in detail and advise whether surgery is right for you.

Preparing for septorhinoplasty at Jaipur Hospital

Before your septorhinoplasty, your surgeon will review your medical history. You will discuss all the medicines and supplements you take at home. Your healthcare provider will let you know which medicines to stop before surgery. Medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen may increase your risk of bleeding during surgery. In studies, herbal supplements may be incorporated into practice with minimal risk to the patient.

Your surgeon will order diagnostic tests to check your nasal passages and general health. In studies, common diagnostic tests include a sinus X-ray, imaging tests like CT or MRI scans, and nasal endoscopy. In study reports, a sinus X-ray costs ₹200 to ₹750, imaging tests cost ₹1,500 to ₹4,000, and an endoscopy costs ₹1,500 to ₹4,000. Jaipur Hospital has an in-house diagnostic laboratory, 24-hour laboratory, X-ray, and ECG facilities.

Your healthcare team will give you clear instructions about fasting. They will tell you the exact time to stop eating and drinking before your operation. You should follow these fasting hours strictly so your stomach is empty for general anaesthesia.

On the day of surgery, arrive at the hospital at the scheduled time. Wear loose, comfortable clothing that opens in the front so you do not pull fabric over your nose.

Bring your:

• Doctor prescriptions
• Past test reports
• Government identity cards
• Health insurance documents

You should plan for an adult attendant to accompany you and stay at the hospital during your admission.

How septorhinoplasty is done

When you arrive for your operation, our surgical team will prepare you for the modular operation theatre. A healthcare provider called an anaesthesiologist will place you under general anaesthesia. General anaesthesia is typically used for this surgery, and local anaesthesia to numb the nose may also be an option.

You will be asleep during the surgery, so you will not feel any pain. The operation typically takes 2 to 3 hours.

Septorhinoplasty combines septoplasty to improve your breathing and rhinoplasty to change the external shape of your nose. In studies, septoplasty can also be combined with turbinoplasty or turbinate reduction. If a turbinate reduction is performed alongside septoplasty, the surgeon removes parts of swollen bone and tissue that slow airflow through your nasal passages.

Your surgeon will advise which surgical technique suits your nose. These surgical techniques include:

• Open Septorhinoplasty: The surgeon makes an incision across the columella, which is the tissue between your nostrils, allowing full exposure of internal structures for complex shape changes.
• Closed Septorhinoplasty: The surgeon makes internal cuts only inside the nostrils, leaving no external scar on your skin.
• Preservation Rhinoplasty: A dorsal preservation technique that maintains your natural nasal contour without disturbing the underlying bony and cartilaginous bridge.
• Structural Grafting: The surgeon places cartilage grafts to give shape and structural support to your nose.

During the procedure, your surgeon creates an incision, lifts the thin mucous membrane covering your septum, and reshapes the bone and cartilage. In techniques such as preservation rhinoplasty, surgeons manage the bony nasal vault using a pushdown procedure or a letdown procedure to adjust the nasal bridge. If structural grafting is needed, autologous rib cartilage is a common source of graft material.

After reshaping, the surgeon repositions the mucous membrane over your septum. The tissue may be held together using dissolving stitches. Your surgeon inserts soft packing or internal splints inside your nostrils. This material holds nasal tissue in place, reduces swelling, prevents nosebleeds, and lowers the risk of scar tissue.

Risks and possible complications of septorhinoplasty

As with any surgical operation, septorhinoplasty carries certain risks. These include bleeding, infection, and numbness around the nose.

In studies where rib cartilage grafts were used to support the nasal bridge, specific complications were tracked at both the chest donor site and the nose recipient site. In one systematic review of 10 studies with 491 patients, the combined rate for cartilage warping was 3.08%.

The combined rate for cartilage resorption was 0.22%, the combined rate for infection was 0.56%, and the combined rate for pneumothorax was 0%. In these studies, overall long-term complications and donor-site problems were low.

In another systematic review of 21 eligible studies, pooled donor-site complications from rib cartilage harvesting included scar-related problems in 2.9% of patients, pleural tear in 0.6%, wound infection in 0.6%, seroma in 0.6%, severe donor-site pain in 0.2%, and pneumothorax in 0.1%.

In that same pooled analysis, recipient-site complications in the nose included graft warping in 5.2% of patients, infection in 2.5%, graft resorption in 0.9%, graft displacement or extrusion in 0.6%, and graft fracture in 0.2%. No cases of thromboembolic events were reported in these reviewed studies.

Certain surgical steps can temporarily affect post-surgery swelling. Studies show that nasal packing increases postoperative oedema and ecchymosis, which are swelling and bruising. Periosteal elevation before bone cutting also increases swelling and bruising.

In clinical trials, giving medicines such as oral or intravenous tranexamic acid or intravenous methylprednisolone reduced bleeding during surgery and significantly lowered eyelid and eye-area swelling and bruising.

Recovery and aftercare for septorhinoplasty

After your surgery, your medical team will monitor you closely in the recovery area while the anaesthesia wears off. Patients typically stay in the hospital for 1 to 2 nights. Jaipur Hospital has an Intensive Care Unit and inpatient rooms where an attendant can stay with you.

In the first few days after surgery, you can expect mild to moderate discomfort. Many patients compare this feeling to having a severe sinus infection. You may feel dull pain and pressure around your eyes, across your forehead, cheeks, and upper teeth. These feelings are common and generally fade within a few days.

In studies, keeping your head elevated after surgery decreases swelling and bruising. Intraoperative cooling also helps decrease swelling and bruising.

Your surgeon will give you a list of discharge instructions to help you heal properly at home. Recovery typically requires about two weeks away from work. You can typically return to desk work in 2 weeks.

Overall healing of the nasal bones and cartilage continues for several months, and the final shape of your nose typically settles in 6 to 12 months. You can collect any prescribed ointments, nasal sprays, and medicines from our in-house chemist before you leave.

Call our surgical team or visit our 24x7 emergency department immediately if you notice warning signs during your recovery.

You should contact the hospital if you experience:

• Severe bleeding from your nose that does not stop
• Sudden or worsening pain
• High fever
• Chills
• Increasing redness or heat across your face
• Foul-smelling drainage from your nostrils
• Sudden difficulty breathing

Results and long-term outcomes in studies

Septorhinoplasty aims to improve the airflow inside your nasal passages and reshape your external nose. Breathing more easily can improve your overall quality of life. In clinical reports, opening blocked nasal passages can also help with related sleep issues, such as loud snoring or sleep apnea.

In medical studies, doctors evaluate outcomes using validated scoring tools. One standard tool is the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale, which rates nasal blockage on a 100-point scale. In study reports where patients had moderate to severe nasal blockage before surgery, nasal obstruction scores improved substantially after surgery.

In clinical trials, NOSE scores decreased by 43 to 50 points out of 100 points over 12 months of follow-up. Researchers noted that absolute reductions were 50 points at 3 to 6 months, 43 points at 6 to 12 months, and 49 points at 12 months or longer.

Studies have also examined how often the original nasal shape problem or dorsal hump returns after surgery. In a study by Ishida and colleagues of patients who underwent midlevel septal strip resection, a 15% partial hump recurrence rate was reported. In a series by Saban, a lower hump recurrence rate of 3.4% was reported.

In another series of 520 patients by Tuncel and Aydogdu using a subdorsal resection technique, a 12% rate of hump recurrence was observed. Researchers note that studies show high variability in outcomes beyond 12 months and further research is needed.

Cost of septorhinoplasty and insurance in Jaipur

The cost of septorhinoplasty typically ranges from ₹1,00,000 to ₹2,50,000 in India. You can ask Jaipur Hospital for an estimate based on your specific nasal evaluation.

Several factors change the final cost of surgery. These include the extent of your nasal deviation, whether structural grafting is needed, the experience of your ENT or plastic surgeon, and the surgical technique selected. The cost also varies depending on whether functional septoplasty is combined with cosmetic rhinoplasty or turbinate reduction.

Other factors that influence your final bill include the choice of room category, hospital facility charges, operation theatre charges, anaesthesia fees, diagnostic imaging tests like CT scans, and post-surgery medicines from the chemist.

In Indian study data on related nasal procedures, traditional septoplasty had a reported cost range of ₹25,000 to ₹85,000 with an average cost of ₹45,000. In the same study data, functional septorhinoplasty had a reported cost range of ₹45,000 to ₹70,000 with an average of ₹57,500.

Endoscopic septoplasty had a reported cost range of ₹65,000 to ₹80,000 with an average of ₹75,000. Turbinate reduction had a reported cost range of ₹40,000 to ₹60,000 with an average of ₹50,000. Revision septoplasty had a reported cost range of ₹45,000 to ₹65,000 with an average of ₹52,500.

In general septoplasty data from India, the average surgeon's fee was ₹24,077, hospital facility charges averaged ₹7,778, operation theatre charges averaged ₹10,928, anaesthesia charges averaged ₹5,463, and post-operative medicines averaged ₹1,754.

Jaipur Hospital is empanelled under major government health schemes, including:

• Rajasthan Government Health Scheme (RGHS)
• Mukhyamantri Ayushman Arogya (MAA) Yojana
• Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS)

We also work with a panel of private health insurance companies and Third Party Administrators (TPAs) to assist patients seeking cashless admission or reimbursement for functional nasal surgery.