# Septoplasty (Deviated Septum Surgery)

> Septoplasty by Op. Dr. Cenk Teker, Istanbul: the bent septum inside the nose is straightened through the nostrils for breathing; the outside is not expected to change.

Source: https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/procedures/septoplasty-deviation-surgery/  
Updated: 2026-10-29

Nose & sinus

For breathing only: the bent septum inside the nose is straightened, and the outside of the nose is not expected to change.

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Performed by Op. Dr. Cenk Teker

Operation time 45–90 minutes

Anaesthesia General

Hospital stay Day case or 1 night

Back to work 3–5 days

Final result 4–6 weeks

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](https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/procedures/combined-rhinoplasty/), in a single operation, with a single recovery. Dr. Teker will explain which applies to you after the examination.

## Is it right for you?

- One or both sides of your nose are blocked most of the time, not only during a cold.
- You sleep with your mouth open, snore or wake with a dry throat.
- Nasal sprays and allergy treatment have not helped, or you rely on decongestants.
- You have recurrent sinus infections or nosebleeds on one side.
- An examination or CT scan has shown a deviated septum.

## How the operation is done

1. Examination and endoscopy Dr. Teker examines the inside of the nose with a thin endoscope to see where the septum bends and whether the turbinates or valves also contribute to the blockage.
2. Incision inside the nose A small incision is made inside one nostril. There are no cuts on the outside of the nose.
3. Lifting the lining The mucosal lining is lifted off the cartilage and bone of the septum on both sides, keeping it intact.
4. Straightening the septum The bent portions of cartilage and bone are reshaped, repositioned or removed, while the front and top of the septum are preserved to keep the nose supported.
5. Turbinate reduction if needed Enlarged turbinates on the side walls are reduced with radiofrequency or a microdebrider during the same operation.
6. Closing The lining is laid back and held with a dissolvable stitch or soft silicone splints. Heavy packing is usually unnecessary.

## Recovery, step by step

1. Day 1 The nose feels blocked from swelling and the splints. Discomfort is usually mild; most patients go home the same day or the next morning.
2. Week 1 Internal splints, if used, are removed around day 5 to 7. Breathing starts to open up. Saline rinses keep the nose clean.
3. Weeks 2–4 Swelling inside the nose settles and breathing usually improves week by week. Normal work and light exercise are fine.
4. Week 6 The airway is essentially at its final size.
5. Month 3 Healing is complete. Contact sports can resume.

### A note on risks

Septoplasty is a short operation, but not without risk. Bleeding in the first days, infection and a reaction to anaesthesia are uncommon. Rarely a small hole in the septum, called a perforation, can form, which may cause crusting or whistling, or the septum can partially re-deviate over time. Numbness of the front teeth or the tip of the nose is occasionally noticed and usually temporary. A change in the external shape of the nose is not expected from a septoplasty alone.

In every surgical or interventional procedure, results may vary from person to person. Please obtain a detailed opinion from your physician before any procedure.

## Questions patients ask

**Will septoplasty change how my nose looks?**

Septoplasty works inside the nose; a change in the outside shape is not expected. If you also want the shape changed, the two are combined in a septorhinoplasty.

**Do I need packing in my nose afterwards?**

Dr. Teker rarely uses heavy packing. Soft silicone splints or a dissolvable stitch hold the lining in place.

**How soon will I breathe better?**

Once the internal swelling and splints are gone, usually in the second week. Breathing keeps improving until about six weeks after surgery.

**Can a deviated septum come back?**

The cartilage has a memory, and a small return of deviation is possible over years. If the blockage comes back, the nose is examined again.

**Is it done under general or local anaesthesia?**

Usually general anaesthesia, for comfort; it is a short operation. In selected cases it can be done under local anaesthesia with sedation.

Travelling from abroad? How long to stay in Istanbul, the consultation in person and follow-up after you fly home: [International patients](https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/international-patients/)

## References

1. Han JK, Stringer SP, Rosenfeld RM, Archer SM, Baker DP, Brown SM, et al. Clinical Consensus Statement: Septoplasty with or without Inferior Turbinate Reduction. Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. 2015;153(5):708‑720. [doi:10.1177/0194599815606435](https://doi.org/10.1177/0194599815606435).
2. van Egmond MMHT, Rovers MM, Hannink G, Hendriks CTM, van Heerbeek N. Septoplasty with or without concurrent turbinate surgery versus non-surgical management for nasal obstruction in adults with a deviated septum: a pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. The Lancet. 2019;394(10195):314‑321. [doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30354-X](https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30354-X).

Medically reviewed by Op. Dr. Cenk Teker, 26 October 2026

## Articles on this subject

[Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) · 6 min read Chronic sinusitis: when is surgery considered? What chronic sinusitis is, how it differs from a cold, the first treatments, how the nose is examined, and when endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is considered. Read more](https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/blog/chronic-sinusitis-when-is-surgery-considered/) [Crooked Nose Surgery · 6 min read A crooked nose after an injury: the first days, and straightening it later What to do in the first days after a blow to the nose, which signs need urgent help, why the septum bends too, and how a crooked nose is corrected later. Read more](https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/blog/crooked-nose-after-an-injury/) [Septoplasty (Deviated Septum Surgery) · 5 min read Recovery after septoplasty: from the first days back to normal life The first days after septoplasty, packing and splints, rinsing, when breathing opens up, getting back to work and sport, and when to call for advice. Read more](https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/blog/septoplasty-recovery/)

## Related procedures

[Rhinoplasty Combined Rhinoplasty (Septorhinoplasty) One operation for people who want to change the shape of their nose and who also breathe poorly: the bridge and tip are reshaped while the septum, turbinates and nasal valves are repaired. One anaesthetic, one recovery. Read more](https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/procedures/combined-rhinoplasty/) [Rhinoplasty Crooked Nose Surgery Straightening a nose that is visibly crooked from the outside (a deviated nose), leaning to one side or bent in a C or S shape, often after an old injury. The nasal bones, the septum and the cartilage are realigned together, aiming for a nose that sits closer to the midline of the face and breathes on both sides. Read more](https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/procedures/deviated-nose-surgery/) [Nose & sinus Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) Endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps that medication has not controlled. Done entirely through the nostrils, with no external cuts. Read more](https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/procedures/sinus-surgery-fess/)

[All procedures](https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/procedures/)

## Talk it through with Dr. Teker

Write on WhatsApp or call to request an appointment. Consultations take place at the practice in Bakırköy.

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