115 East 61st Street Suite 7C New York, NY 10065 212-980-2600


What is a Septoplasty?

The inside of your nose is separated by a midline wall into a left and right side with a nostril and nasal cavity on either side. The separation is termed the nasal septum. Many people may suffer the symptoms of a deviated nasal septum and feel that this is normal. When a deviated nasal septum obstructs your breathing or decreases your quality of life, the nasal septum may need to be straightened. This surgical procedure is known as septoplasty and is meant to correct the deviation in your nasal septum.


When the cartilage and bones that form the nasal septum become misaligned it can lead to severe airflow concerns. Trauma to the nose or nasal cavities is the most common cause of a deviated nasal septum. But there are many people who have no clear event of trauma that can be tied to being the cause. A deviated septum may start to twist after the nose has completed its growth during the teen years. This deviation can cause conditions such as snoring, persistent sinus infection and dry mouth. The most appropriate person to consult with is a board certified ENTo learn if septoplasty surgery can help alleviate your breathing concerns. Dr. Garrett Bennett is an experienced New York City sinus and nasal surgeon.


Preparation For Septoplasty Surgery

Dr. Bennett will perform a thorough physical examination of the nose, including a nasal endoscopy. Sometimes a sinus CAT scan will be ordered to provide a comprehensive view of the nasal cavities. Dr. Bennett has extensive experience treating patients who are also suffering from chronic sinus infections. A sinus ventilation treatment can be combined with the septoplasty surgery to treat both conditions simultaneously. When a minor deviation occurs, the body may compensate and try to adjust to the blocked airways. Most notably this can be seen in the enlargement of the unaffected nostrils’ inferior turbinate. This condition is known as compensatory hypertrophy. Dr. Bennett only operates on the nose and sinuses and can complete a septoplasty surgery in about an hour.


How Is A Septoplasty Performed?

The only way to physically make the septum more even inside your nose is with a surgical procedure called a septoplasty. The surgery you have will depend on where you have a deviation and where you have your obstruction. If your septum deviates deeper inside of your nose then all otolaryngologists are trained to remove the deviated portion and give you a straighter septum. If you have a very anterior septal deviation, near your nostrils or even extending into your nostrils, you may want to have a facial plastic surgeon correct your septum. Facial plastic surgeons have extensive training in the cosmetic and functional front of your nose.


Septoplasty Surgery Aftercare

Dr. Bennett rarely needs to use packing inside the nose after surgery and patients can generally breathe through the nose very soon afterward. In most cases, you will be able to go back to work within the first week but avoid any physical exertion or heavy exercise for 2 to 3 weeks. A deviated nasal septum is a medical condition and the cost of a septoplasty in New York is typically covered by insurance companies.


Dr. Bennett New York Septoplasty Expert

Dr. Bennett is a sinus specialist and septoplasty surgeon in New York City who practices exclusively on the nose and breathing. A septoplasty can repair the nose internally while avoiding external scarring, swelling, or bruising. Typically, repair of a deviated septum through a septoplasty does not alter the shape of the nose, unless you decide to combine the surgery with rhinoplasty. One of the most noted and largest benefits of combining surgeries is that there is only one recovery period from both treatments. In a minority of patients, the location of a deviated septum can cause an external nasal deformity. Septoplasty in these individuals will improve the external appearance of the nose, as well as lead to improved breathing.


Meet Dr. Garrett Bennett



84 Total Reviews

Meet Dr. Garrett Bennett
