Exact Answer: 2 Days
With the ever-growing medical science today, all kinds of diseases are treatable and uncurable problems from the past, from minor to major issues. All pests and diseases have a solution and are curable.
Breathing is one of the most critical futures of the human body. Without breathing, we cannot survive, as breathing helps in purifying blood and acts as basic survival for our cells and even our body, but there are many problems related to breathing.
One of them is septoplasty. And with today’s advanced medical facilities and experienced doctors, septoplasty is curable within hours. Still, there are a few precautions that have to be taken for at least a week.

How Long After Septoplasty Can I Breathe?
The human nose has a well-defined septum made out of the bone and cartilage that divides the nostril. Due to undefined situations, the septum can get displaced from the initial position that can ruin the nose structure.
Many people are born with a displaced septum, or injuries or accidents can acquire it. The septum can cause one nostril to be bigger than the other or vice versa; this can cause many problems like swollen nose, difficulty in breathing, and constant nose bleeding, and surgery is the only way to align the septum.
Septoplasty is a simple surgery that can is painless and is done within a fraction of hours. The procedure is quite simple. First, the person will be given anesthesia to numb the upcoming pain so that the surgery can be performed. Second, the incisions have to be made so the doctor can access the septum, the nose is cleaned from inside, and the mucous membrane is lifted.
The septum is then moved to the correct position. The bones and cartilages are cleaned, and the septum is then placed; stitches are essential, so the septum holds onto one place. This process can last from 40 to 100 minutes, depending upon the situation of the septum.
For the first few hour’s anesthesias holds onto the pain, but after a few hours, as it drains down, the pain sets in, and the person’s nose is stuffed with cotton, so the septum does not move, and stitches are added to both sides.
Age Groups | Recovery Time |
15-25 | 3 to 4 days |
25-45 | 2 to 3 days |
45-60 | 1 to 2 days |
60 and above | 1 to 3 days |
Why Does it Take So Long to Breathe After the Septoplasty?
After the surgery occurs, the person’s nose is stuffed with cotton, so the septum does not move in any other direction. The cotton can cause problems in breathing. The following factors can affect how long after Septoplasty the person can breathe.
The condition of the septum, the amount of the mucous discharge, and the recovery time.
The whole surgery depends on how the septum is; if the septum is tilted toward the nostrils, more stitches have to be added to hold the septum, but if the septum is not tilted and has moved only a few millimetres, then the surgery and recovery are fast. The person can start breathing from the nose.
The mucous discharge is also a fact to consider; while the surgery is being performed, the doctors move the mucous gland.
After the surgery is done and the person has completely recovered, there is a mucous discharge from the nose that can affect the breathing. The release is completely connected with the septum condition.
As the septum is tilted, more of the mucous gland has to be moved, which results in a mucous discharge and can affect the breathing process.
The recovery time also depends upon the age of the person. It has been found that young adults take less time to recover from the Septoplasty, whereas the aged people and the children take relatively longer. The adult has a well-defined blood vessel system that helps to hold the septum back in place.
Conclusion
The human nose has a well-defined septum made out of the bone and cartilage that divides the nostril. Due to undefined situations, the septum can get displaced from the initial position that can ruin the nose structure. The displaced septum can cause breathing problems, swelling of the nose, and constant blood flow.
But with today’s increasing medical science and experienced doctors, the Septoplasty can be carried without any problem. After the Septoplasty is carried, the person, the nose, has stitches, and thick cotton swabs must be added to recover completely. The septum does not move away from the initial position.
References
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1053/hn.1999.v120.a93047
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0161642003010649

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