Rhinoplasty vs. Septoplasty
Rhinoplasty is the modification of the nose, septoplasty deals with surgery of the septum.
The septum is the primary support structure and contributor to the shape and function of the nose.
This does not mean that no other structures contribute to the form and function of the nose. What this means is that you cannot have a straight nose after a rhinoplasty if you do not address the septum.
The purpose of this page is to try and clear up some of the confusion between rhinoplasty and septoplasty procedures.
About Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty is the modification of the nose.
The septum is the primary support structure and contributor to the shape and function of the nose. You cannot have a straight nose after a rhinoplasty if you do not address the septum.
A septoplasty is included in EVERY rhinoplasty that Dr. Athré does. It is an integral part of the rhinoplasty procedure. However, the septoplasty portion of the procedure is not performed as a window cutout as described earlier.
Modifications are made to the septum to get it straight but preserve as much cartilage as possible. Dr. Athre’s experience as a Ear Nose and Throat surgeon in a prior life, along with all of his rhinoplasty training and experience combine to provide an excellent framework for rhinoplasty surgery and give you the best possible aesthetic and functional result.
About Septoplasty
Septoplasty deals with surgery of the septum.
It is performed when there is a deviation of the septum causing nasal airway obstruction.
As mentioned on the rhinoplasty page, the septum is the primary cartilage structure that supports the nose. Also, some literature papers have the incidence of deviated septum in the population as high as 80+%.
In most septoplasty surgery, the mucosa or lining of the nose is lifted and a small window where the septum is deviated is cut out of the septum. A good way to think about this is two equal-sized adjacent rooms that represent the nostrils, and the wall in-between the rooms representing the septum. If the wall is curved into one room, it makes that room smaller. One way to make the rooms the same size is to cut a window in the wall where the wall is curved. This makes both rooms the same size. This is a brief description of septoplasty surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rhinoplasty vs. Septoplasty FAQ's
See below for frequently asked questions about rhinoplasty vs. septoplasty.
Why Dr. Athré for Rhinoplasty?
Dr. Athré is one of the foremost rhinoplasty surgeons in Houston, Texas though his patients come from all over the US, Mexico, South America, and the Middle East.
He is known for cutting-edge techniques continuously innovating new techniques, and adapting older techniques to achieve beautiful, soft, natural, consistent results.
Approximately 75-80% of Dr. Athré’s rhinoplasty practice is primary rhinoplasty, with revision rhinoplasty being 20-25% of his practice. The fact that revision rhinoplasty occupies such a large percentage of his practice gives credence to his rhinoplasty skill, and many fellow physicians refer revision rhinoplasty patients to Dr. Athré.
Patient Review
“Dr. Athré did an amazing job on my nose. His staff treated me like family and I felt very comfortable getting the work done. He was very intuitive on what I was trying to accomplish and knowledgable enough to work through the issues involved to get the result I wanted, especially considering it was a revision surgery. The whole experience was great and helped me so much!”
