What is turbinate reduction?

Turbinate reduction is a surgical procedure done by ear, nose and throat (ENT) physicians to enhance airflow in individuals with chronic nasal congestion - It's also referred to as nasal turbinate reduction and inferior turbinate reduction - (It's bilateral turbinate reduction if the surgery is conducted on both sides of your nose.)

Why is turbinate reduction performed?

Turbinate reduction surgery eliminates excess tissue surrounding your turbinate bones so you can breathe more easily - Turbinates are tiny bones in your nose - They filter, warm, and humidify air as it moves through your nasal passages and into your lungs.

Your turbinates may become inflamed and swollen due to irritation, allergy or infection - Most of the time, the swelling is only temporary - Some individuals, however, may develop chronic swelling of their turbinates (hypertrophy).

How common is turbinate reduction surgery?

Turbinate reduction is a relatively standard procedure - It often occurs along with other procedures, such as Septoplasty (straightening a crooked septum) or rhinoplasty (reshaping the nose or fixing breathing difficulties).

Is Turbinate Reduction 100% Successful?

Around 82% is the success rate for turbinate reduction; even though the tissue surrounding your turbinates can re-grow after some time, most patients are pleased with the outcome of turbinate reduction.

How do we understand the need for turbinate reduction surgery?

Your doctor will examine you physically to determine whether or not you need turbinate reduction to determine if you need it. They will use nasal endoscopy to look inside your nose to diagnose you. Your doctor will recommend steroid nasal sprays and/or antihistamines as a first-line treatment - But if these are not effective, turbinate reduction becomes appropriate - Turbinate reduction surgery is typically recommended if nasal obstruction produces congestion, post-nasal drip, sleep apnea or other respiratory problems.

What is done in turbinate reduction surgery?

Reduction turbinate surgery can be done on an outpatient basis — either in an outpatient clinic, an ambulatory surgical centre or a hospital - The surgery is generally done under general anaesthesia, but some patients only require local anaesthesia.

During reduction turbinate surgery, your surgeon carefully reduces your turbinate tissue by applying some techniques as follows:-

Cauterization: A hot probe is inserted into your nose to constrict some of the blood vessels in your turbinates - This cuts back on blood supply, causing your turbinate tissues to shrink.
Radiofrequency turbinate reduction: During radiofrequency ablation, a thin, long probe delivers heat energy into your inflamed turbinates, which causes scar tissue to form - Your turbinate tissues shrink as a consequence.
Coblation: Coblation is short for "controlled ablation." Like radiofrequency reduction, ablation uses heat energy to shrink turbinate tissues - However, it's performed at a lower temperature to not damage the surrounding tissue.
Microdebrider Submucosal resection: In this procedure, your doctor makes a small incision into your turbinate - They drain tissue from this, but not on the outside layer - Your turbinates constrict during recuperation.
Partial resection: During this operation, a section of your turbinate is removed - Unlike all of the other techniques so far, partial resection takes out soft and hard tissue.

How painful is turbinate reduction?

Individuals who undergo turbinate reduction can feel slightly uncomfortable for a few days. Still, it is not typically severe - Depending on whether you underwent your turbinate decrease in conjunction with other surgeries, you will be more uncomfortable - To feel better, take all medication strictly as directed by your doctor.

What happens after turbinate reduction?

Following your turbinate reduction surgery, your doctor will provide complete postoperative instructions - These will enable you to remain comfortable as your body heals.

Crusting will may show on your nose due to nasal discharge during turbinate healing, which can take up to three weeks - Saline nasal spray or a cold mist humidifier usually helps improve symptoms, apart from petroleum jelly, which may be applied to your nasal passages.

Beneficial Effects

Turbinate reduction surgery:-

Occurs as an outpatient procedure.
It splits your nasal airway and improves breathing.
Eliminates snoring.
Fixes severe nasal allergies.

Disadvantages of Turbinate Reduction Surgery

Turbinate reduction surgery may cause:-

Syndrome of the empty nose (a scarce condition where you can't feel the air that goes through your nasal passages).
Craving for nasal dryness.
Bleeding in the nose.

Recovery & Outlook

How long is recovery from turbinate reduction?

You can return to work, school, and other everyday activities in a day if you have the office procedure or in a week if you have the general anaesthetic procedure - Full recovery after turbinate reduction will take place in six weeks - In that period, your physician will regularly check up with you to ensure you're recovering in line -

When to contact the Hospital?

If you have already undergone turbinate reduction surgery, phone your physician if complications occur - Watch for fever, bleeding, pain, and shortness of breath.

Why choose Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for Turbinate Reduction in Lucknow, India?

Tender Palm is the Best ENT Hospital for Turbinate Reduction Surgery in Lucknow, India. We have experienced team of ENT surgeons provides advanced diagnostic endoscopy, minimally invasive turbinate reduction techniques, and personalized post-operative care for patients with chronic nasal congestion, snoring, or breathing difficulties due to turbinate hypertrophy.