Dr. Stephen Bane, an ENT specialist based out of Capitol Breathe Free's Woodbridge office in Virginia, said that a septoplasty procedure is the best solution for a deviated septum. Hollywood stars Jennifer Aniston and Cameron Diaz had similar procedures done to help with breathing and overall health. Dr. Bane, a former U.S. Navy flight surgeon, trained in general surgery in New York at NYU and Bellevue Hospitals and was recognized as one of Northern Virginia Magazine’s Top Doctors in 2020.
According to Mayo Clinic, a septoplasty procedure is a "surgical procedure to straighten the bone and cartilage dividing the space between your two nostrils (septum)."
"If you have a 'wonky nose, by which they mean a deviated septum, all the nasal spray in the world will not help," Dr. Bane told Business Daily. "If it is bone and cartilage, it needs to be moved, in other words, a septoplasty."
According to the Daily Mail, Jennifer Aniston and Cameron Diaz have both had septoplasty procedures to help improve breathing and overall health. A British medical journal study found that patients who go in for surgery to correct deviated septums experience half as many symptoms as those who use nasal sprays. "A deviated septum doesn’t just impact your breathing," said Mr. Sean Carrie, a nose expert at Newcastle University and lead author of the study, "it can also impact the quality of your sleep, which can have serious health implications over time."
The Daily Mail reported that Aniston and Diaz had nose jobs done not for cosmetic reasons but rather to improve breathing. A 'wonky nose' or deviated septum can occur naturally or come from injury. Both actresses had deviated septums and underwent septoplasty procedures.
Dr. Stephen Bane said a septoplasty procedure clears out the blockage completely and is the best solution for this issue. Those who are struggling with breathing or sleeping can try a nasal spray, but "a badly deviated septum needs to be fixed or moved out of the way to clear the blockage." He added, "It’s like a partly closed door; you are not going to get by it until it is opened wide enough, so the air can’t get in until the nasal passage is opened.”
Capitol Breathe Free can handle outpatient procedures completely in the office without requiring a visit to the hospital. Patients treated by Dr. Bane report being pleased with their experience and say that they have recovered well. Patrice, who had endured a deviated septum and chronic throat issues since childhood, was informed of the potential benefits of a septoplasty procedure and called her visit to Capitol Breathe Free an "eye-opening" experience.