The nose is a huge indicator of beauty for humans, which means it’s not surprising that nose jobs are the 2nd most common type of cosmetic surgery done.
If you feel self-conscious about your nose and want to fix up its minor imperfections, then you might be considering a nose job yourself. But did you know that in addition to rhinoplasty, there’s also septoplasty?
So when it comes to septoplasty vs rhinoplasty, what’s the difference? Read on to find out.
What’s Septoplasty?
Septoplasty is a surgery done to fix the septum, which is a piece of bone and cartilage that sits in between your nostrils. This means that the surgery’s results can’t be seen at a glance, as it’s on the inside of your nose. You’ll have to tilt your head up for someone to see your septum, and even then, they might not notice much of a difference.
What’s Rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasty is what people refer to when they talk about “nose jobs”. This type of surgery changes the shape and size of your nose, as well as your nostrils, which means it’s immediately noticeable after you’ve been under the knife.
Septoplasty vs Rhinoplasty: Similarities
Septoplasty and rhinoplasty are similar in that they’re both procedures to change your nose’s shape. Both will change how your nose looks.
Many people get both of these procedures done together because they complement one another (this is called septorhinoplasty). You’ll get the best results possible since your nose is altered on both the inside and the outside.
If you want either surgery done, you’ll need to get a qualified surgeon to do the job. Not only that, but both require anesthesia.
Septoplasty vs Rhinoplasty: Differences
While these 2 surgeries change your nose, they’re more different than similar.
For one, septoplasty’s end goal is function while rhinoplasty’s is aesthetics. Septoplasty addresses the issues that come with a deviated septum, such as difficulty breathing, frequent nosebleeds, sinus infections, and sleep apnea. Because rhinoplasty is done for purely cosmetic reasons, this surgery doesn’t really alleviate anything besides your nose being misshapen from a previous injury.
Typically, rhinoplasty is more invasive, especially if you want major changes done. However, with advances in technology like piezosurgery, rhinoplasty swelling and bruising is decreased significantly.
When it comes to septoplasty and rhinoplasty cost, septoplasty is usually covered by insurance while rhinoplasty isn’t. This is because the former is necessary for your health while the latter is just a cosmetic procedure.
Get the Right Surgery for You
Now you know the difference between septoplasty vs rhinoplasty. If you have health issues related to a deviated septum, then septoplasty is right for you. But if you just want to improve the look of your nose, then rhinoplasty surgery might be the better option.
Of course, you can always combine the 2 surgeries to get optimal results. So discuss this with a surgeon to see what the best options are.
To learn more about cosmetic surgery, make sure you take a look at our other blog posts!
