The septum is the wall of cartilage and bone inside the nose that divides it into two passages; it cannot be seen from outside. In many people it is bent (a deviated septum), either from birth, from growth or from an old injury, and a bent septum narrows one side, sometimes both. Typical signs are a nose that never quite opens, mouth breathing at night, snoring, a dry throat in the morning, and a tendency to sinus infections on the blocked side. This operation deals only with that inner wall and with breathing; it is not meant to change the outside shape of the nose.
Septoplasty, known in Türkiye as deviation surgery, straightens that wall.
Why the septum matters
Nasal breathing matters beyond comfort: the nose warms, filters and humidifies air before it reaches the lungs, and steady nasal breathing supports better sleep. A deviated septum also disturbs the airflow to the sinuses and the middle ear, which is why it is frequently found behind recurrent sinusitis and pressure in the ears. Septoplasty aims to correct the structural cause of the symptoms.
How the operation works
Everything is done through the nostrils. Dr. Teker lifts the lining off the septum, reshapes or removes the bent segments of cartilage and bone, and lays the lining back. The front and upper parts of the septum, which hold up the nose, are kept intact so that the external shape is not expected to change. Enlarged turbinates, the shelves of tissue on the side walls that swell with allergy, are reduced at the same time when they contribute to the blockage. The whole procedure takes under an hour and a half.
What recovery is like
Most patients go home the same day or the next morning. The nose feels blocked for the first week from swelling and the soft silicone splints that protect the lining; once they are removed, breathing begins to open up and keeps improving for about six weeks. There is normally no bruising and no visible sign of surgery. Saline rinses, no nose-blowing for the first days and a week away from strenuous exercise are the main instructions.
Septoplasty or septorhinoplasty?
If breathing is your only concern, septoplasty alone is the answer. If you would also like to change the shape of your nose, the septum is corrected as part of a combined rhinoplasty, in a single operation, with a single recovery. Dr. Teker will explain which applies to you after the examination.