When consulting my ear-nose-and-throat doctor (in French, which means I
may not use the correct terms in this present message), the doctor
looked at me strangely after talking for about half an hour.  We were
going through the regular shpeal about how everyone has a deviated
septum and no-one should be operated.

So he looked at me strangely and said, here let me try something.  He
stuck half of the nostral-opening thing on the inside outer wall of one
nostral, held the other nostral closed and aske me to breath.  I did. It
worked and improved my breathing ability.

His conclusion was that I have weak and overly-flexible skin flaps on
the side of the nose.  Apparently, according to the laws of nose
aerodynamics, when breathing in, the skin between the nostral and the
top of the nose can close and pinch,hence obstructing breathing further.

I liked, loved, the slight imporvement by sticking half of the
thing-of-a-migger and holding the skin straight.  Walking around with
medical instrucments tied to my face hasen't yet set a fasion trend here
in France.  Thus, surgery seems like the only solution if I want
stronger nose walls.

Now, I have a severe deviated septum as well, but in the middle,
touching neither the bone nor the bottom part.  If we reinforce the
skin, he'd take care of the deviated septum anyhows.  Before I do this,
I'd like to :

(1) know if nose-wall reinforcing is normal, and what involved (I
understand my nose will be a millemeter or two wider, and the sugery
will put rods or something up there).

(2) hear about experiences from other normal people who have had
nose-wall-reinforcing surgery too and what came from it.

Doctors, can you help me with item number (1) ?
Normal people, can you help me with item number (2) ?

Here is some further information on my condition.

From 0 to 20 years old, I would only breath through my mouth, mainly
due to allergies.   I was treated for allergies when I was 24 years old.
 That was when I firt saw the Ear-Nose guy.  He said I have a severe
deviation in my septum.  I said what ?  I told him flat out not to say
another word... getting my nose back from allergies was the main priority.

Having followed allergy treatement, I have some use of my nose now, but
make weird noises from time to time.  It is most unpleasant in social
situations.  Going back to my mouth makes a big sighing sound and people
think I'm bord.  When I use my nose to get more air, it is also loud and
ugly.  Breathing through my mouth is hard when my nose half-works.

No more mucous though (I like that).  I have very strong nostrals (so my
ear-nose guy says) because I often force them wide open to breath.

My current ear-nose doctor (not the guy from 6 years ago when I was 24)
says that the septum deviation is severe.  In and of itself, he wouldn't
suggest surgery.  But when combined with the the problems it causes,  he
thinks surgery can be justified.

As a subsidiary consideration, my ear-nose doctor is quite young.
Because of this, he thinks he is better trained for this kind of surgery
than his older colleges (due to medical schooling considerations in
France I think).

As a last afterthought, what are the chances that the nose will
'press-in" after an eventual surgical procedure that would comine septum
deviation and nose-wall reinforcement ?