A deviated septum is one of the most common reasons for a persistently blocked nose. When the wall of bone and cartilage that divides your nostrils sits off-centre, it can cause chronic nasal congestion, breathing difficulties on one side, frequent sinus infections and disturbed sleep. Septoplasty is the operation that straightens that wall to open the airway. This guide, reviewed by our consultant plastic surgeon, explains what deviated septum surgery in London involves: what a deviated septum is, when septoplasty is worth considering, what recovery is like, and what it costs privately versus on the NHS.
Key Takeaways
- Septoplasty corrects a deviated septum by straightening the bone and cartilage inside the nose to improve airflow. It is a functional operation, not a cosmetic one.
- It is usually done under general anaesthetic as a day case, and most operations take around 45 to 60 minutes.
- Most people go home the same day. Everyday activities return within a week or two, with full internal healing over roughly 4 to 6 weeks.
- It does not change how your nose looks unless it is deliberately combined with rhinoplasty (a combined operation called septorhinoplasty).
- Mild symptoms often do not need surgery and can be managed with sprays or medication first.
- Septoplasty is available on the NHS when it is clinically indicated, and privately in London for those who prefer to be seen sooner.
What Is a Deviated Septum?
The nasal septum is the partition of cartilage and bone that separates the left and right nasal passages. A deviated septum simply means that partition is off-centre or crooked, so one nasal passage is narrower than the other. It is extremely common. Very few people have a perfectly straight septum, and a mild deviation on its own is not a problem.
A deviated septum can be something you are born with, or it can follow an injury to the nose. It becomes worth treating when it narrows the airway enough to cause symptoms.
Symptoms of a deviated septum
- A blocked or stuffy nose, often worse on one side
- Difficulty breathing through the nose, especially when lying down or exercising
- Recurrent sinus infections or facial pressure
- Nosebleeds, or a dry, crusting nostril
- Noisy breathing or snoring, and disturbed sleep
If these symptoms are affecting your daily life or your sleep, it is worth having your nose assessed. Not everyone with a deviated septum needs surgery, and the first step is always an examination to confirm where the blockage is coming from.
What Is Septoplasty (Deviated Septum Surgery)?
Septoplasty is the surgical procedure that corrects a deviated septum. The surgeon straightens and repositions the septum towards the midline of the nose so that air can move freely through both nostrils again. It is a well-established operation with the single aim of improving your breathing.
The operation is done entirely through the inside of the nose, so there is no external scar, and it is not intended to change how your nose looks. It is sometimes called a septum operation or deviated septum surgery, and all three terms describe the same functional procedure.
We perform septoplasty in London at our clinic on Harley Street, with one named consultant surgeon looking after you at every stage.
What to Expect Before, During and After Deviated Septum Surgery
Before surgery
As with any nose surgery, you begin with a consultation. Your surgeon examines the inside of your nose, discusses your symptoms and confirms that the blockage is caused by the septum rather than allergy or another treatable cause. Where symptoms are mild, medical treatment such as a steroid nasal spray is usually tried first.
During surgery
Septoplasty is usually performed under general anaesthetic, though in selected cases it can be done under local anaesthetic. It is a day-case (outpatient) procedure that typically takes about 45 to 60 minutes, and there is normally no need to stay overnight.
The surgeon makes an incision inside the nostril, then trims, repositions and straightens the deviated bone and cartilage to open the airway. Where extra support is needed, small cartilage grafts can be used. Because the incision is inside the nose, any scar is hidden. The incision is then closed with dissolvable stitches that do not need to be removed.
Recovery
Most people feel tired for the first day or two and may have a blocked, congested feeling while the inside of the nose heals. Soft internal splints or dissolvable packing are sometimes used and, if a non-dissolvable type is used, these are removed at a short follow-up. Discomfort is usually mild to moderate and controlled with simple pain relief.
Everyday activities and desk work usually resume within a week. Strenuous exercise and heavy lifting are best avoided for about two weeks, and full internal healing takes around 4 to 6 weeks. Following good nasal aftercare, such as saline rinses and not blowing your nose early on, helps healing.
Septoplasty Cost in London: Private vs NHS
Deviated septum treatment is available two ways in the UK. On the NHS, septoplasty is free when your symptoms are significant and other treatments have not worked, but waiting times for a routine functional operation can be long. Privately, you are seen and treated sooner, at a time that suits you, with continuity of care from the same surgeon throughout.
| Route | Cost | Typical wait | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| NHS septoplasty | Free, if clinically eligible | Often several months to over a year | Those happy to wait for a funded, functional operation |
| Private septoplasty (London) | Quoted at consultation | Weeks | Those who want to be seen and treated quickly, with one named surgeon |
The exact price of private deviated septum surgery depends on the complexity of your septum, the anaesthetic and the hospital, so it is always confirmed in writing after your consultation rather than quoted blind. If you are also considering a change to the shape of the nose at the same time, the combined operation is priced differently again, and you can see the full breakdown on our rhinoplasty cost in London page.
Septoplasty Risks and Complications
Septoplasty is a common and generally low-risk operation, but as with any surgery there are possible complications to be aware of. Your surgeon will go through these with you before you consent. They include:
- Bleeding, and bruising or swelling around the nose
- Infection
- A hole in the septum (septal perforation), which is uncommon
- Numbness of the front teeth or tip of the nose, usually temporary
- A residual or returning deviation that occasionally needs a second procedure
- A change to the external shape of the nose, such as a slight loss of support, which is rare
- Toxic shock syndrome, a very rare reaction associated with nasal packing
Septoplasty vs Rhinoplasty
Both are operations on the nose, but they have different purposes. Septoplasty is a functional operation to straighten the septum and improve breathing. Rhinoplasty is mainly done to change the appearance of the nose. You can read more about the differences between rhinoplasty and septoplasty.
The two can also be done together in a single operation. When the septum is straightened for breathing and the outside of the nose is reshaped at the same time, it is called septorhinoplasty, which is often the right choice if you have both a breathing problem and a cosmetic concern.
Related reading
- Septorhinoplasty in London, the combined operation that improves breathing and reshapes the nose in one procedure.
- Nose surgery on the NHS, how NHS funding works for functional nasal surgery and who qualifies.
- How rhinoplasty can affect your breathing, the link between the shape of the nose and the airway.
- Nose collapse and nasal valve collapse, breathing problems and a collapsed nose after rhinoplasty, and how they are repaired.
- Rhinoplasty in London, our full guide to cosmetic nose reshaping surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions
How bad does a deviated septum have to be for surgery?
Surgery is generally considered when the deviation causes ongoing symptoms that affect your quality of life, such as persistent blockage on one side, difficulty breathing at night, or recurrent sinus infections, and when sprays or medication have not helped enough. A mild deviation with no symptoms does not need surgery. The decision is made together with your surgeon after examining your nose.
How long does it take to recover from deviated septum surgery?
Most people return to everyday activities and desk work within a week, and avoid strenuous exercise for about two weeks. The inside of the nose can feel congested at first while it heals, and full internal healing takes roughly 4 to 6 weeks. Your surgeon will give you tailored aftercare advice.
How painful is deviated septum surgery?
The operation itself is painless because it is done under anaesthetic. Afterwards, most people describe mild to moderate discomfort and a blocked feeling rather than sharp pain, and this is usually well controlled with simple over-the-counter pain relief.
Do they break your nose for septoplasty?
Usually not. Septoplasty is done through the nostrils and works on the septum inside the nose without breaking the nasal bones. In a small number of cases with a severe deviation the surgeon may need to release part of the bone to straighten it, and this is discussed with you beforehand.
Does septoplasty change your face?
Septoplasty on its own is not designed to change how your nose or face looks, because it works on the internal partition rather than the outside of the nose. If you want the shape of the nose changed as well, that is done deliberately by combining it with rhinoplasty as a septorhinoplasty.
Is septoplasty worth it?
For people whose breathing, sleep or sinus infections are genuinely affected by a deviated septum, septoplasty can make a real difference to daily life. For mild symptoms that do not interfere with your day, the sensible first step is medical treatment such as a nasal steroid spray, because the small risks of surgery may not be justified. An honest assessment of your symptoms is the best way to decide.
What can you not do after septoplasty?
For the first week or two, avoid blowing your nose, strenuous exercise and heavy lifting, and try to sneeze with your mouth open. Once any packing is removed, gentle saline rinses help keep the nasal passages clean. Follow your surgeon's specific aftercare instructions, as these protect the result.
Is septoplasty a major surgery?
Septoplasty is a common, routine operation that is generally considered low-risk and is usually done as a day case, so most people are home the same day. It is still real surgery under anaesthetic, however, so it is worth preparing properly and following your surgeon's advice closely during recovery.
Struggling to breathe through your nose?
If a blocked nose is affecting your sleep or daily life, the first step is an examination to find out exactly what is causing it. Book a consultation with Mr Taimur Shoaib at 64 Harley Street, London.
Book a consultationReferences and Further Reading
- Mayo Clinic on Deviated Septum Treatment: initial symptom management and surgical options for correcting a deviated septum. (Mayo Clinic)
- Cleveland Clinic on Septoplasty: the procedure, recovery, risks and benefits, and its role in improving nasal airflow. (Cleveland Clinic)
- NHS on nose reshaping: explains when nose surgery is and is not available on the NHS, and how functional surgery for breathing differs from cosmetic. (NHS)
