Septoplasty
Have you ever experienced difficulty breathing for no apparent reason? You might have a deviated septum. At Aglow ENT Centre, our ENT specialist in Singapore can provide a proper diagnosis and offer treatment recommendations, such as day surgery to correct your nose and improve your breathing.
What is Septoplasty?
Septoplasty is a minor surgical procedure performed to straighten a crooked nasal septum, which is the wall of bone and cartilage separating the space between the two nostrils. While some septum deviation is normal, severe symptoms like difficulty breathing, frequent nosebleeds, sinusitis, and persistent headaches can lower patients’ quality of life, often necessitating surgery.
By nature, septoplasty is minimally invasive, with only a small incision inside the nose required at the beginning. This results in no external cuts on the face once the surgery is completed, which typically lasts for 45 minutes to an hour.
During the procedure, your ENT surgeon will work to reposition the deviated septum to the centre of the nose by either removing or repositioning parts of the septum. After the procedure, patients can often leave the clinic on the same day.
What is the Success Rate of Septoplasty? What Benefits Can Patients Expect?
Septoplasty is typically a safe procedure with a high success rate. The surgery aims to achieve the following outcomes:
- Enhanced Breathing: Corrects a deviated septum, allowing for smoother airflow through the nasal passages.
- Reduced Nasal Congestion: Helps alleviate chronic nasal blockages and congestion, making breathing easier.
- Increased Sleep Quality: Eases conditions like snoring and sleep apnoea, improving overall sleep quality.
- Decreased Sinus Infections: Reduces the frequency of sinus infections caused by impaired airflow and drainage.
- Enhanced Sense of Smell: Can restore or improve the sense of smell that may have been affected by nasal obstruction.
These benefits make septoplasty an effective treatment for some patients with structural nasal issues. At Aglow ENT Centre, your condition will be thoroughly examined by our ENT surgeon, who will advise you on whether septoplasty suits you.
What are the Potential Side Effects of Septoplasty?
As with any other surgical procedure, there are potential side effects. Some of the common observed side effects after a septoplasty include:
- Nasal congestion
- Minor bleeding
- Mild discomfort or pain
- Numbness affecting the upper front teeth
That said, these risks are usually mild and temporary, typically resolving on their own. They could potentially be minimised in the hands of an expert ENT specialist. At Aglow ENT Centre, our experienced ENT specialist, Consultant Otolaryngologist Dr Ker Liang will provide necessary guidance post-surgery to facilitate an optimal recovery and minimal side effects.
When should you see an ENT specialist in Singapore?
Please consult an ENT specialist if you are suffering from any ear, nose, or throat symptoms. It is also advisable to visit an ENT doctor if you experience persistent mouth breathing due to a chronic blocked nose or encounter snoring issues.
Dr Ker Liang sees adults and children for general ENT conditions and provides comprehensive management in a broad range of Ear, Nose, and Throat, as well as Head and Neck conditions. She has a special interest in treating throat and voice conditions, including persistent sore throat, voice issues, snoring, and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA).
Medical Teaching
Assistant Professor Ker Liang has a passion for teaching and is an Assistant Professor with NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (YLLSOM). As the NUS-NUH Otolaryngology Department Undergraduate Medical Director, Dr Ker Liang supervises the training of medical students from YLLSOM, NUS. She is actively involved
in the training of postgraduate junior doctors and residents in the Head and Neck Surgery department. She was conferred with an Undergraduate Teaching Award by the National University Health System in 2016 for her outstanding efforts as an Otolaryngology educator.
Medical Teaching
Assistant Professor Ker Liang has a passion for teaching and is an Assistant Professor with NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (YLLSOM). As the NUS-NUH Otolaryngology Department Undergraduate Medical Director, Dr Ker Liang supervises the training of medical students from YLLSOM, NUS. She is actively involved
in the training of postgraduate junior doctors and residents in the Head and Neck Surgery department. She was conferred with an Undergraduate Teaching Award by the National University Health System in 2016 for her outstanding efforts as an Otolaryngology educator.
