Septalign

Overview

SeptAlign is a minimally invasive option designed to straighten minor deviations in the nasal septal cartilage. By gently holding the septum in a corrected position while it heals, SeptAlign reduces nasal airway obstruction and improves nasal breathing.  Most patients can be treated comfortably under local anesthesia in an office or outpatient setting.

What is Septalign?

SeptAlign places a small, bioabsorbable implant into the septal cartilage near the front of the nose. The implant holds the septum in straighter alignment and then dissolves in months, leaving nothing behind.

Who is SeptAlign For?

SeptAlign is for patients who have:

• Symptoms of nasal obstruction linked to a deviated septum which include congestion, stuffiness, trouble breathing through the nose and snoring.
• A minor cartilaginous deviation with sufficient healthy cartilage.
• A preference for a minimally invasive approach that your ENT can often perform under local anesthesia in the office.

Your provider may use the NOSE (Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation) score to quantify symptom severity and track improvement over time.

Benefits

SeptAlign offers several potential benefits:

Improved Nasal Airflow: Correction of septal deviation reduces nasal airway obstruction and improves nasal breathing.

Minimally Invasive: Typically performed with local anesthesia.  The implant dissolves on its own.

Convenient Care Setting: Office or ambulatory surgery center options.

Quality-of-Life Gains: Less congestion often helps to improve sleep, exercise tolerance, and day-to-day comfort.

Procedure Details

How is SeptAlign Performed?

Your ENT doctor performs SeptAlign under local anesthesia, or for some patients under general anesthesia, depending on your needs. Steps include:

1. Anesthesia: Your ENT administers local anesthesia if performed in the office. An anesthesiologist provides general anesthesia if performed in a surgery center.
2. Assessment & Analysis: Your ENT evaluates the septal deviation, identifying the specific location in the septum where the implant will be placed .
3. Implant Placement: The SeptAlign implant is placed into the cartilage near the front of the nose to hold the septum in a straighter position. They then trim the implant to fit.
4. Bleeding Control: Standard measures are used to control any minor bleeding.
5. Recovery: You'll be monitored briefly after the procedure.

Estimated time: The procedure usually takes between 15 and 30 minutes

Recovery & Outlook

Recovery Time

• Initial recovery: Many patients return to routine, non-strenuous activities shortly after the procedure.  If the procedure is performed at the surgery center, it is important to follow standard post-anesthesia protocol provided by the nurse.
• Implant timeline: The bioabsorbable implant holds the septum during healing and dissolves within several months.

What to Expect During Recovery

• Nasal symptoms: Temporary congestion or mild pressure is common as swelling settles.
• Home care: Your ENT doctor will likely recommend saline rinses and avoiding heavy exertion or nose-blowing for a period of time.
• Follow-up: You will have a follow up to check healing and symptom relief progress

Long-term Outlook

Most SeptAlign patients experience easier nasal breathing once swelling resolves and healing progresses. The implant dissolves, leaving nothing behind.