What can a surgeon do to help with swollen turbinate this without removing tissue?

Question

I am looking to get rhinoplasty as a medium- thickskinned person. When I look up my nostrils, I see a balloon like thing up there on one side. I have been told in the past that I a swollen turbinate. What can the surgeon do to help with this w/o removing tissue?

Oakley Smith, MD, FRCSC · Answer

Hello,
The turbinate size can be reduced by cauterization to make it shrink, or by excising small portion of it. The aim is to restore your nose airway patency. It is better to consult with your surgeon who can examine you and discuss which option is better for you case.

Cory Bovenzi, MD · Answer

Hi and thanks for the question! It sounds like you have inferior turbinate hypertrophy. Symptoms of this are nasal congestion, only being able to breathe out of one side of the nose at a time, and can be associated with allergic rhinitis. Typically this is treated if you have nasal breathing problems. Since people don't look on the inside of your nose, this is not usually treated for cosmetic reasons.
That said, there are multiple ways to treat the inferior turbinates which can be used in combination or alone-1. outfracture: your surgeon may break the bone that makes the turbinates and push them to the side to give more room for breathing2. submucous resection: the surgeon may use a device to remove some of the interior portion of the turbinate without removing the outer layer of tissue3. reduction: the surgeon may use an instrument to trim the excess portion of the turbinate

Alan Gonzalez, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello @sweet_lavendar, thank you for your question. A personalized assessment of the process is necessary to have a surgical plan or if it's possible a non surgical protocol that takes into account a number of factors, including what you expect and what you may be able to accomplish in the long run. To determine the best course of action, a personalized consultation is necessary, in which all aspects are considered. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez MD, FACS. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez MD FACS

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

Turbinates can be shrunken with either steroid injections or the use of a radio frequency device. These can both be fine easily while awake

Robert Ciardullo, MD · Answer

Swollen turbinates: there are non-surgical procedures to reduce swollen turbinates. It depends what is making the turbinate swollen. In some cases patients may have allergies, in which case nasal steroid sprays and anti-histamine sprays may be effective. Direct steroid injection into the Turbinate can also be used. For more serious cases ultrasonic Coblation can be performed. If the Turbinate is swollen on one side it may be due to a deviated septum in which case the turbinate may revert back to normal if a septoplasty is performed.

What can a surgeon do to help with swollen turbinate this without removing tissue?

Answers (5)

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