Already in ancient times, people were able to correct the physical and cosmetic defects of the nose with the help of surgical intervention. Such manipulations were very painful, since the medicine was still not sufficiently developed, and the material for transplantation had to be taken from the patient's forehead or cheeks. Nose surgery today refers to a variety of easily tolerated. Full rehabilitation takes no more than 10 days. Moreover, in some cases, the elimination of flaws is vital for the normal functioning of the patient.
Rhinoplasty
Surgery aimed at changing the shape of the nose and eliminating various physiological deficiencies is called rhinoplasty. A similar practice originated in ancient India. There are 3 stages in its development. The beginning of the first of them dates back to about 1000 BC. At this time, the operations were very rude in nature and were aimed, first of all, at restoring the normal appearance of people maimed by an unfair court sentence.
After a fairly long time, rhinoplasty becomes fashionable in Europe. From 1400 to 1700, surgeons perfected Indian technology in the Old World. Skin flaps began to be taken from the arm or buttocks. The use of pork cartilage also allowed to achieve incredible results.
But it was the 19th century that became the golden era of rhinoplasty. During this period, many scientific papers are published on the restoration of not only the external contour, but also the nasal mucosa. Today rhinoplasty has reached great heights. Surgery on the nasal septum or elimination of the hump has become commonplace and is carried out in clinics along with cutting out appendicitis.
Types of surgical interventions
All surgical procedures to remove the physiological defects of the nose can be performed using one of two methods. The first of them involves incision of the skin along the nose. Such operations can be carried out only under general anesthesia and last up to 4 hours.
With the closed method, the surgeon performs manipulations without cutting the skin. So, for example, polyps in the nose can be removed. The operation is most often performed without anesthesia, as it is less painful. Complete rehabilitation of the patient takes about a week. Today, endoscopic nose surgery is gaining great popularity. With the help of them, sinusitis is successfully treated.
Indications and contraindications
Surgery to eliminate cosmetic defects is carried out only at the request of the person himself. In this case, the patient must be at least 18 years old, and he must be fully competent. As for the physiological flaws caused by congenital mutations or injuries, then the decisive word should belong to the doctor. An operation is not prescribed if the deviation does not interfere with normal nasal breathing.
Before rhinoplasty, the patient must undergo a complete medical examination. A contraindication may be the presence of diabetes mellitus, AIDS, severe liver and heart diseases. For these, as well as some other reasons, the operation can be canceled. Removal of polyps in the nose and some other simple manipulations are an exception to the general rule.
Nasal septum: what is it?
The nose is an external contour with 2 channels that are separated by a vertical formation. It consists of cartilage and bone tissue and is called the nasal septum. It takes its final form by 10 years. The elastic part of the septum that extends beyond the nasal cavity is more prone to deformation. According to statistics, only 1 person out of 20, it remains flat by 18 years.
Causes of curvature
Otolaryngologists distinguish traumatic, compensatory and physiological causes of septum curvature. In each case, it is determined whether nose surgery is needed.
The physiological deformations of the septum occur due to the fact that it consists of 2 types of tissue: bone and cartilage. One of them for some reason may lag behind in development. In this case, a more characteristic curvature along the entire length of the nose.
Traumatic curvatures arise, as a rule, due to physical impact, therefore, they can have the most diverse character. Often they are accompanied by fractures of the facial bones of the skull. They can also occur at birth, when there is a micro-dislocation of the nasal cartilage.
Compensatory curvatures are a combination of 2 of the above types. They are the most dangerous, since any, even a slight injury can lead to additional complications. When diagnosing such a curvature, an operation is performed on the nasal septum.
Manifestations of curvature
Nasal breathing is a very important aspect for normal functioning. Curvature of the nasal septum can obstruct the passage of air. Depending on the type of deformity, breathing can be difficult both through both and through one nostril. The deterioration of air circulation contributes to the development of the following concomitant diseases: rhinitis, otitis media, sinus inflammation and so on. Therefore, in especially advanced cases, nose surgery is prescribed.
Where and how is the partition corrected?
Defects in the nasal septum are corrected by surgical intervention. The operation, with the exception of urgent cases, is planned, refers to plastic surgery and can be carried out in most ENT hospitals.
The duration of the procedure is less than 30 minutes. Its purpose is to remove a curved area. General anesthesia is most often not required, but local anesthesia is practiced. At the end of the operation, cotton swabs are introduced into the nasal cavity, which should be there for 2 days.
Modern rhinoplasty offers several options for how nose curvature can be eliminated. The operation for resection of the septum consists in the fact that first all the mucous membranes exfoliate, the defective cartilage is removed, and the soft tissues return to their place. Such manipulations are easily carried out in most clinics, they are free, but the recovery period after them is the longest.
A more modern way to eliminate curvature is plastic septa. Its feature is that the mucous membrane exfoliates only on one side. In this case, the defective portion of the cartilage is not removed, but is leveled. The advantage of plastic surgery is a shortened adaptation period, but it is not carried out in all medical institutions and usually on a paid basis. However, when it comes to health, few people will think about how much nose surgery is. Moreover, you will have to spend only 3 thousand rubles.
Finally, the most progressive way to eliminate defects of the nasal septum is thermal plastic. It was first held successfully in 1998. The whole essence of the process is to heat the cartilage to a temperature at which it becomes elastic, and further alignment of the septum. Thermal plastic is an absolutely bloodless method. After the procedure, the patient does not need additional time to recover. Unfortunately, this method due to the inaccessibility of special equipment is used only in large clinics.
Features of the rehabilitation period
As noted above, not all methods of correcting the nasal septum require restoration procedures. However, certain recommendations must be heeded. So, for example, after resection, the first 2 days it is better to refrain from bending and abrupt movements of the head, eat only soft, non-hot food, sleep on your back. During the week, increased physical activity is prohibited, and a visit to the pool is completely possible only on the 15th day after the operation.
In addition to limitations, there are a number of recommendations that contribute to the speedy healing of the damaged nasal mucosa. So, the patient is prescribed a course of antibiotics and special washes.
Possible complications
Nose surgery is not a risky operation, so you should not be afraid of any serious complications. As a rule, no scars on the face also remain. Possible functional complications include only perforation of the membrane, which occurs only in 12% of cases when resection is performed.