Rhino/Septoplasty without turbinate reduction?

Hello, and thank your for your question. In the 20 years I have been doing surgery on noses I have rarely seen empty nose syndrome-the few patients I have encountered with that problem had very aggressive removal of essentially all of their inferior turbinates (this was done by other doctorsNasal turbinates  provide many functions for the nose. They moisturize the air we breath. They filter out many particles from the air we breath. They also provide a sense of nasal resistance and provide information to the brain that is telling us how our breathing is. I think this is where taking out too much turbinate tissue can cause problems-even though our nose is wide open without the turbinate telling us that air is flowing through that can be sensation of resistance-this is the "empty nose syndrome". Where I practice in Oklahoma-we have a dry climate and we are very careful with surgery on turbinates. I typically do not remove any tissue from turbinates during a rhinoplasty and if they are blocking they can be treated successfully by repositioning them laterally. Every patient is treated for their individual goals with respect for their nasal anatomy. A frank discussion with your surgeon about what they are planning to do to your turbinates is essential.Good luck and I hope this helps you.Dr. Wayne

Thank you for asking. Empty nose syndrome is an airway condition after the lower (sometimes middle) turbinates are excessively removed. It is much more uncommonly done today. Surgeons from Rochester, MN have described this. Talk with your surgeon about your needs- chances are a reduction is not a total removal. Best wishes

Empty nose syndrome is uncommon.  It usually happens if the turbinates have been removed.  Most surgeons do not remove the turbinates during the turbinectomy but only move them to the side or reduce its size internally.  That is a safe procedure.  You should discuss this with you surgeon and not be afraid.RegardsDr. J

Unfortunately, much of the rhinoplasty surgery (functional and/or cosmetic) performed and taught in the 1970's and 1980's was destructive to normal anatomic structures....over resection of supporting and functional structures led to bad cosmetic results and poor functional outcomes.Modern day experts in rhinoplasty surgery who devote a significant amount of their practice to the discipline of nasal surgery generally adhere to 'constructive' principles with meticulous attention to anatomical detail...in this way, cosmetic results are much more predictable and shouldn't come at the expense of function.... in addition, the correction of many functional issues will be synergistic with aesthetic goals.... older methods of turbinate resection have been replaced by radiofrequency ablation and minimally invasive meansgood luck

Thank you for your question.Nasal surgery to address nasal obstruction and difficulty breathing through the nose is a complex and multi-layered set of procedures that work together to correct various parts of your nasal airway in order to improve airflow.  In order to properly improve nasal airflow, it is necessary to first understand the anatomy and physiology of the nose, and then treat each portion of that anatomy and physiology that are functioning suboptimally.  In the right patient, a turbinate reduction can be a transformative procedure that helps patients breathe like never before.Certain types of turbinate reductions have been more associated with empty nose syndrome than others, and other types of turbinate reduction have been associated with only temporary results.  The "Gold Standard" of turbinate reduction is the submucous resection of the inferior turbinates.  This prevents empty nose syndrome while also yielding long-lasting results.I suggest that you ask your surgeon these questions specifically and find out how he plans to avoid this potential complication.  Of course, you're also entitled to a second opinion if you need more reassurance - you deserve to be happy with your surgical plan, as well as the team you've chosen to carry it out.Best wishes.