Your nose plays an essential role in breathing, filtering air, and maintaining overall comfort, so when problems arise, they can quickly affect your daily life. Conditions like a deviated septum or frequent nosebleeds can make breathing difficult, cause discomfort, and disrupt sleep or activity. Understanding the underlying cause of your symptoms is the first step toward finding lasting relief.
At Virginia Ear Nose and Throat, our experienced ENT specialists diagnose and treat nasal conditions using advanced technology and gentle, effective techniques to help you breathe easier and feel better.
What is a Deviated Septum?
A deviated septum refers to a condition in which your septum, or the thin skin that separates your left and right nasal passage, is off-center. When this happens, one nasal passage is smaller than the other, causing the nasal passage to swell and form a blockage. As a result, deviated septums can lead to trouble breathing, chronic nasal congestion and frequent sinus infections.
Deviated Septum Surgery (Septoplasty)
Our team is ready to help you breathe easy again. You will begin with a physical exam of the inside of your nose to help your ENT provider determine the severity of your deviated nasal septum. Though symptoms may respond to decongestants and other therapies, septoplasty surgery is the only way to correct a deviated septum.
During your surgery consultation, your surgeon will review the procedure with you and answer any questions you may have. On the day of surgery, our experienced team will administer anesthesia. Your surgeon will repair the deviated septum by making small incisions inside the nose, then trims, repositions, or replaces the cartilage to straighten the septum. All surgeries are performed at our surgery center on Broad St.
Septoplasty Recovery
While recovering from surgery, it is important to follow all aftercare instructions provided by your doctor. This could include limiting physical activity and avoiding touching the surgical area for several weeks. Full recovery from septoplasty can take several months, and over time successful surgery restores a patient’s ability to breathe more easily.
What Are Nosebleeds?
There are few things more inconvenient than a nosebleed. Unexpected and unpredictable, most nosebleeds are a result of the drying out of the sinus cavity, or nasal mucosa, but chronic nosebleeds can lead to heavy blood loss and point to more serious conditions. High blood pressure and blood thinning medications can contribute to nosebleeds. Very rarely, nosebleeds can be a symptom of a nose tumor.
Treating Nosebleeds
Nosebleeds caused by dry sinuses can be prevented by keeping the area from drying out, especially during the cold months, by using nasal spray, an ointment or a humidifier. We recommend the following for immediate relief from a nosebleed:
Fortunately, most nosebleeds resolve themselves with time. If the nosebleed lasts for over 30 minutes or if you start to feel sick, you should consider visiting an emergency care center.
If you frequently experience persistent nosebleeds or heavy blood loss, it’s time to make an appointment with us. Once we know the underlying issue, we will work with you to effectively treat it.
Breathe Easier with Expert Nose Care in Richmond, VA
Whether you’re struggling with a deviated septum or dealing with recurring nosebleeds, the specialists at Virginia Ear Nose and Throat are here to help. We take a personalized approach to diagnosis and treatment, offering safe, effective solutions that restore comfort and improve airflow, so you can finally experience clear, comfortable breathing again.
Call us today at (804) 484-3700 to schedule your consultation and find lasting relief from nasal discomfort.