High School Musical star Ashley Tisdale had a rhinoplasty to repair a deviated septum in 2007. According to Tisdale, the decision was a medical one, rather than a cosmetic one. She claims she opted for the surgery for health reasons, rather than to alter her appearance.

A deviated septum is the term for a displacement of the wall between the nostrils that causes one nasal passage to be narrower than the other. The condition can cause unpleasant symptoms like nasal congestion, trouble breathing through the nose, sleep issues, nosebleeds, headaches, and postnasal drip. A deviated septum can be caused by an injury, or it can be a congenital condition.

Conservative treatments such as antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal steroid sprays are generally the first line of attack. Yet, if symptoms persist despite these measures, surgery is sometimes needed to correct the problem. In Tisdale’s case, she said she was literally unable to breathe through one side of her nose, and that’s why she chose to go under the knife.

Photo source: Ashley Tisdale by Contagious Chemistry