Illustration depicting the importance of cartilage in maintaining a healthy nasal passage after septoplasty.

Is Your Nose Job Harming Your Nasal Health? The Hidden Risks of Septoplasty

Soraya Malik in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Uncover the potential long-term effects of septoplasty on your nasal mucosa and how to protect your nasal health post-surgery."

Nasal septum deviations are a widespread issue, frequently leading to nasal obstruction and breathing difficulties. Surgical intervention, known as septoplasty, aims to correct these deviations, enhance nasal function, and improve overall quality of life. However, it's essential to consider the potential long-term effects of this procedure on the delicate nasal mucosa.

While septoplasty is designed to alleviate nasal obstruction, some patients experience persistent issues such as nasal dryness, crusting, or even the feeling of continued blockage. These lingering symptoms prompt a deeper look into how septoplasty affects the nasal environment at a microscopic level.

A recent experimental study delved into these microscopic changes, evaluating the histopathological effects of different septoplasty techniques on the nasal septal mucosa. By examining tissue samples under light and electron microscopes, researchers gained valuable insights into how these procedures impact nasal health.

What Happens to Your Nasal Tissue During Septoplasty?

Illustration depicting the importance of cartilage in maintaining a healthy nasal passage after septoplasty.

The study, conducted on 21 rabbits, compared three groups: one undergoing traditional septoplasty with cartilage resection, another with cartilage crushed and replaced, and a control group with no surgical intervention. Postoperative tissue samples were analyzed for changes in septum morphology, perichondrial thickness, and the presence of cilia and goblet cells.

The findings revealed significant differences between the groups. Both septoplasty groups showed a reduction in cilia, goblet cells, and serous glands, as well as an increase in collagen fibers. These changes suggest that septoplasty can indeed alter the composition and function of the nasal mucosa.

Cilia: Essential for clearing mucus and debris, their reduction can lead to impaired nasal hygiene.
Goblet Cells: These cells produce mucus, which keeps the nasal passages moist and traps irritants. A decrease can cause dryness and discomfort.
Serous Glands: Contributing to mucus production, their loss can further exacerbate dryness.
Collagen Fibers: An increase indicates fibrosis, which can stiffen the nasal tissues and affect their normal function.

Interestingly, the group with crushed cartilage replacement showed a statistically significant difference in perichondrium thickness compared to the control group. This suggests that while preserving some cartilage may be beneficial, the method of preservation can also impact tissue structure.

Protecting Your Nasal Health After Septoplasty

The study underscores the importance of cartilage presence in maintaining mucosal health. However, it also highlights that even with cartilage preservation, changes can occur. Further long-term studies are necessary to fully understand the progression of these changes and identify strategies to minimize them. If you're considering septoplasty, discuss these potential risks with your surgeon and explore proactive measures to support your nasal health post-surgery.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1007/s00405-018-5226-7, Alternate LINK

Title: Histopathological Effects Of Septoplasty Techniques On Nasal Septum Mucosa: An Experimental Study

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: Semih Ozdemir, Hatice Celik, Ceyhun Cengiz, Naciye Dilara Zeybek, Elham Bahador, Necmi Aslan

Published: 2018-12-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is septoplasty and why is it performed?

Septoplasty is a surgical procedure designed to correct deviations in the nasal septum. These deviations often lead to nasal obstruction and breathing difficulties. The goal of septoplasty is to enhance nasal function and improve the patient's overall quality of life by addressing these structural issues. While the procedure aims to alleviate breathing problems, it's crucial to be aware of potential long-term effects on the nasal mucosa.

What are the potential long-term effects of septoplasty on nasal health?

While septoplasty aims to improve nasal function, some individuals may experience persistent issues such as nasal dryness, crusting, or a continued feeling of blockage. Research indicates that septoplasty can lead to a reduction in cilia, goblet cells, and serous glands, along with an increase in collagen fibers. These changes can alter the composition and function of the nasal mucosa. Further long-term studies are needed to fully understand how these changes progress and to identify strategies to minimize potential negative impacts.

How does septoplasty affect the microscopic components of the nasal tissue?

Septoplasty can impact several key components of the nasal tissue. It may lead to a reduction in cilia, which are essential for clearing mucus and debris, potentially impairing nasal hygiene. Additionally, a decrease in goblet cells, responsible for mucus production, can cause dryness and discomfort. The loss of serous glands, also contributing to mucus production, can further exacerbate dryness. Furthermore, an increase in collagen fibers can result in fibrosis, stiffening the nasal tissues and affecting their normal function.

What role does cartilage preservation play in maintaining nasal health after septoplasty?

The presence of cartilage is important for maintaining mucosal health after septoplasty. However, even when cartilage is preserved, changes in the nasal tissue can still occur. One method of cartilage preservation, crushing and replacing the cartilage, has been shown to impact tissue structure, specifically perichondrium thickness. This suggests that the method of preservation also influences long-term nasal health. Further research is needed to determine the best strategies for cartilage preservation to minimize negative impacts.

What proactive measures can be taken to support nasal health after undergoing septoplasty?

If considering septoplasty, it's important to discuss potential risks with a surgeon and explore proactive measures to support nasal health post-surgery. While specific measures aren't detailed, the discussion highlights the importance of understanding that even with techniques like cartilage preservation, changes can occur. Further research is needed to understand these changes fully and identify strategies to minimize them, implying that patients should seek guidance on post-operative care, potentially including nasal irrigation or humidification, to mitigate dryness and promote healing.