The septum is the divider wall between the two nasal passages in the nose. Mostly made of cartilage, it provides support for the nose structure. The septal cartilage is covered with soft tissue that keep the nasal passages moist and healthy. If the tissue and cartilage are damaged or perforated, it can impact the function of the nose. Dr. Stefan Shuaib at Dallas Facial Plastic Surgery Center offers advanced septal perforation repair surgery at our clinic in Irving, TX.

Causes and Symptoms of Septum Perforations

The septum is very thin and flexible – you can bend your nose sideways, and the septum will bend and return to its position. However, it can still be damaged from a variety of incidents. Nose surgery, trauma, infections, intranasal drug use and certain medical conditions can result in small holes or perforations in the septum. In severe cases, the septum may be susceptible to deviation or collapse if too much cartilage is damaged.

When there is a perforation in the septal cartilage, it can cause functional and aesthetic issues for the patient. Symptoms that often accompany a septum perforation include:

• Whistling noise inside the nose
• Crusting or scabbing inside the nose
• Difficulty breathing due to nasal passage obstruction
• Nose bleeds
• Saddle or pug nose appearance

Symptoms may start mild but increase in severity over time. While small perforations may heal on their own, many require treatment or surgery to repair the weakened septum.

Septum Repair Surgery

The extent of repair needed depends on the size of septal perforation. Some small holes can be covered or filled with a flap of surrounding tissue. For more extensive damage to the septum and nose structure, grafting may be required to strengthen the septum and nasal walls. If a saddle nose deformity has developed, nose reconstruction may be required to restore the nose form and function.

If you have symptoms of a septal perforation, repair surgery can relieve your discomfort and may improve the nose function and appearance. To discuss septum repair options, contact us at Dallas Facial Plastic Surgery Center. We can schedule a consultation with our facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Stefan Shuaib, at our center in Irving, TX.