Ear, Nose & Throat Treatment Submucosal Resection of the Nose for Treatment of Deviated Septum By Kristin Hayes, RN Kristin Hayes, RN Facebook Twitter Kristin Hayes, RN, is a registered nurse specializing in ear, nose, and throat disorders for both adults and children. Learn about our editorial process Updated on April 10, 2021 Medically reviewed by John Carew, MD Medically reviewed by John Carew, MD on September 11, 2020 LinkedIn Twitter John Carew, MD, is board-certified in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. He is an adjunct assistant professor at Mount Sinai Medical Center and NYU Medical Center. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Submucosal resection (SMR) of the nose is a surgical procedure used to treat a deviated septum. This procedure is also called a septoplasty. According to some sources, septoplasty differs from SMR in that during an SMR, large portions of tissue are removed while a septoplasty is a "tissue sparing" procedure. Most ENT surgeons use these 2 names interchangeably. however, as the surgery is used to correct a deviated septum. lyosha_nazarenko / Getty Images Issues Associated With a Deviated Septum The septum is the wall that divides the nose in half. It is composed primarily of cartilage and some bone. Approximately 80 percent of people have a septum that is not exactly centered, but this isn't usually a problem. A deviated septum can cause problems with breathing through the nose or may cause problems with the way the sinuses drain. A deviated septum can also lead to other problems, such as frequent nosebleeds, frequent sinus infections, or facial pain. Symptoms may get worse if you have a cold. Many individuals are born with a deviated septum, but this condition can also be caused by facial trauma. Septal deviation actually may start out mild and can progress with time. Indications for Submucosal Resection SMR is not always necessary for treating a deviated septum. But you and your healthcare provider may consider this option if you are having chronic sinus infections that have not responded to other treatments. It may also be considered if you have a septal deviation that is causing chronic nosebleeds, or if the deviation is causing difficulty breathing. This procedure may also be done if you are having nasal sinus surgery and your deviated septum is making it difficult for your healthcare provider to access other parts of your nose or sinuses. Sometimes SMR is done as part of a cleft palate repair. The Procedure SMR of the nose is usually performed as same-day surgery. It can be done using a local or general anesthetic. The procedure lasts for an average of an hour to an hour and a half. During the surgery, some portions of the septum may be either entirely removed or readjusted. SMR is performed entirely through the nostrils and does not change the external appearance of the nose—you will look the same after surgery as you did before, with no visible incision or scar. This procedure is not usually performed on individuals under the age of 18 since the septum is still growing. Risks Risks of SMR of the nose may include, bleeding, infection, septal perforation (hole), and complications from anesthesia. You may have some bleeding from the nose for about 24 hours after surgery. You may also have a stuffy nose for a few days after this surgery due to swelling. A cool-mist humidifier can be helpful and may prevent crusting around the nostrils. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Deviated septum. Harvard Health Publishing. 2019. Teixeira J, Certal V, Chang ET, Camacho M. Nasal Septal Deviations: A Systematic Review of Classification Systems. Plast Surg Int. 2016;2016:7089123. doi:10.1155/2016/7089123 Deviated septum. Drugs.com [internet]. Updated 14 Mar 2019. Fettman N, Sanford T, Sindwani R. Surgical management of the deviated septum: techniques in septoplasty. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2009;42(2):241-52, viii. doi:10.1016/j.otc.2009.01.005 Chand G, Shafiq M, Khan A. The comparative study of submucosal resection of nasal septum under local and general anaesthesia. J Pak Med Assoc. 2012;62(10):1020-2. Deviated nasal septum. Texas Sinus Institute [internet]. 2009. Low WK, Willatt DJ. Submucous resection for deviated nasal septum: a critical appraisal. Singapore Med J. 1992;33(6):617-9. Additional Reading Aetna. Clinical Policy Bulletin: Septoplasty and Rhinoplasty. American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery. Deviated Septum. Medscape. Septoplasty.