If you have a deviated septum, you will need a type of surgery called septoplasty. In this procedure, the surgeon will move your septum to a normal position. In some cases, the surgeon also will reshape the external appearance of your nose in a procedure called rhinoplasty. When the two procedures are done at the same time, the surgery is called a septorhinoplasty.

If your child has a deviated septum, the doctor may wait until your child's nose has finished growing before doing surgery. In most cases, this occurs around age 15 or 16. Boys usually need to wait a little longer than girls for growth to finish.

Lifestyle changes, medication, air pressure devices, oral appliances, and surgery are used to treat obstructive sleep apnea. Physicians usually advise people with this condition to lose weight and avoid alcohol and sedatives. Sleeping in a different position may help if you experience apnea only when lying on your back. If the appropriate lifestyle changes don't reduce apnea, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines or oral appliances may be effective. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) have a mild positive effect on airway muscle tone and are helpful for some people. In some cases, surgery may be necessary. It's best to get an opinion from a specialist with expertise in sleep disorders before agreeing to surgery.
 
Therapy for central sleep apnea usually involves treating the underlying medical condition that has disrupted breathing. Sometimes CPAP, oxygen or medications are helpful.