Can A Septoplasty Help With Sleep Apnea?

Not only is snoring a nuisance, but it may also be a sign of a more serious problem: sleep apnea. When undetected or untreated, sleep apnea can even be a life-threatening condition. In many cases, nasal surgery can dramatically improve a patient’s sleep apnea and related symptoms, reducing their health risks and leading to a better overall quality of life. At VIP Plastic Surgery in Las Vegas, NV, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Christopher Khorsandi is an expert in a wide range of both cosmetic and functional nasal surgeries, including septoplasty. Below, you’ll find helpful information regarding the benefits of septoplasty and other nose surgeries for the improvement of snoring and sleep apnea.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a fairly common condition, though many men and women don’t know that they have it. The primary characteristic of sleep apnea is a repetitive starting and stopping of breathing while asleep. Signs and symptoms that may mean you have sleep apnea include:

• Snoring
• Feeling tired even after getting a full night’s sleep
• Fatigue
• Waking up with a headache
• Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
• Partner notices that you stop breathing while sleeping

What causes sleep apnea?

There are several different types of sleep apnea, the most common of which is obstructive sleep apnea. Causes and risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea include:

• Obesity
• Alcohol or tobacco use
• Deviated septum
• Obstructed airway
• Enlarged tonsils or adenoids

For men and women whose sleep apnea and snoring are related to a restricted nasal airway, a deviated septum, or another structural abnormality in the nose, nasal surgery may be highly beneficial.

Does septoplasty fix sleep apnea?

Depending on the nature, cause, and severity of your sleep apnea, septoplasty surgery may help improve your condition or even reverse it altogether. Patients with a deviated septum, or an asymmetry within the nose that obstructs one or both sides of the nasal passage, often undergo septoplasty to straighten the septum and restore proper airflow. In many cases, this results in a dramatic improvement in both snoring and sleep apnea. In addition, patients may benefit from a combination septoplasty plus turbinectomy for sleep apnea.

During your initial consultation for septoplasty in Las Vegas, NV, Dr. Khorsandi will carefully evaluate your nasal anatomy, review your medical records and imaging studies, discuss your symptoms, and determine if you may qualify for surgery. It is important for patients to understand that their sleep apnea may be multifactorial and that a septoplasty alone may not correct the condition completely.

Will my nose look different after septoplasty for sleep apnea?

Having a deviated septum often makes the nose appear crooked or asymmetric. When septoplasty is performed for functional reasons, patients may notice a subtle change in the appearance of their noses. Oftentimes, patients who have concerns about the appearance of their nose use deviated septum surgery as an opportunity to make aesthetic improvements with a cosmetic rhinoplasty as well.

Whether patients are hoping to alter their nose cosmetically or not, having a qualified plastic surgeon perform septoplasty offers the added benefit of ensuring the most pleasing outcome possible – both aesthetically and functionally – that can last for a lifetime.

Get a restful night’s sleep with septoplasty in Las Vegas, NV

If your partner has had it with your snoring or you’re concerned about the health implications of sleep apnea, you may be a candidate for septoplasty surgery. To learn more about the life-changing benefits of nasal surgery for sleep apnea, call VIP Plastic Surgery to schedule your one-on-one consultation with renowned board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Christopher Khorsandi today.