Condition
I can't breathe through my nose
A nose that is always blocked, difficulty breathing through one nostril, snoring, breathing through the mouth — when the cause is not a cold but a deviated septum.
Why doesn't my nose breathe?
The nasal septum divides the nose into two sides. When it is crooked — from birth or after a blow — one side is narrower and air passes through it with more difficulty. The body compensates: the lining on the wider side swells, so the blockage moves from one side to the other. Nasal sprays open the lining for a short time, but they do not move the septum. That is why a blockage that lasts for months without a cold is not a matter of immunity or hygiene.
How is it recognised?
At the examination we look inside the nose and check how each side breathes. If the septum is the cause, it is corrected with surgery (septoplasty). If you would also like to change the shape of your nose, both are done in the same procedure (septorhinoplasty).
A blockage that comes with the seasons, with itching and sneezing, or with a purulent discharge, needs a different kind of examination — that is not a septum problem.
What do we look at during the examination?
The inside of the nose is examined with a light and, if needed, an endoscope, to see whether the septum is crooked, whether the turbinates are enlarged and whether the nostrils narrow when you breathe in. A simple test during the examination: if the cheek is gently pulled outwards and the breathing improves at once, part of the problem lies in weakness of the nostril wall, not in the septum.
We ask whether you breathe worse on one side, at night or during exertion, whether you snore, whether you have allergies and whether you use nose drops. Long-term use of decongestant drops damages the lining itself and makes breathing worse, and this is dealt with before any operation.
What can be done?
| Problem | Procedure | Also, in the same visit |
|---|---|---|
| Your nose is blocked even without a cold, and you are happy with its shape | Septoplasty (straightening the nasal septum) | When you also want to change the shape along with the breathing, the septum is corrected from the inside and the shape from the outside, in the same procedure and under the same anaesthetic (septorhinoplasty). |
| Along with the breathing, you want to change the shape of your nose | Rhinoplasty (nose surgery) | Chin correction, because the nose and chin form the profile together. |
Specialist and team
Specialty: plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery.
When the procedure is done under sedation or general anaesthesia, the anaesthesia is led by a specialist in anaesthesiology, resuscitation and intensive care who works full time at the clinic.
In the operating theatre, the surgeon is assisted by head nurse Martina Šereg, with the help of nurses Kristina Jurešić and Mateja Tomorad, and in recovery the care assistant Mirjana Kovačić is with you. Martina also looks after preparation, scheduling and contact after the procedure.
Who will operate is decided at the examination, based on the findings and the type of procedure. You know the name of the surgeon before the procedure and meet them at the examination.
→ Doctors and team at Poliklinika Barbel
Frequently asked questions
How do I know whether the problem is in the septum? A blockage that lasts without a cold, often more on one side, and that sprays relieve only for a short time. You only know for sure at the examination.
Does the operation solve snoring? If you snore because your nose is blocked and you breathe through your mouth at night, straightening the septum often reduces the snoring. If the cause is in the throat, the soft palate or body weight, nose surgery does not solve snoring. With heavy snoring and pauses in breathing, a sleep study comes first.
Can I have nose surgery if I have an allergy? Yes, but the allergy is brought under control first, and the procedure is planned outside the season that troubles you. The operation does not cure the allergy: it removes a mechanical obstacle, so allergy medicines work better afterwards.
Is septoplasty covered by HZZO (the Croatian health insurance fund)? In hospitals, septum correction is done on a referral, with a waiting list that differs from hospital to hospital. At Poliklinika Barbel the procedure is paid for privately; if the public system matters to you, ask your family doctor for an ENT referral.
How long does septum surgery take? Septoplasty takes 45 to 90 minutes and is done under general anaesthesia. You go home the same day.
How long is the recovery after septoplasty? The nasal packing is removed at a check-up after 3 to 5 days, sick leave is 7 to 10 days, and training is resumed after 3 to 4 weeks. Breathing settles over 1 to 2 months.
How much does septoplasty cost? Septoplasty costs €1,000–2,000, depending on the extent of the procedure. The price includes general anaesthesia, check-ups in the first three months and dressing changes.
Medical review: doctors of Poliklinika Barbel · October 2026.