Nasal Turbinate Reduction Surgery in Los Angeles, CA

What is Nasal Turbinate Reduction Surgery?

A turbinate reduction procedure is a form of reconstructive surgery designed to reduce nasal obstructions. Turbinates are tissues that are on the sidewall of your nose and can get bigger in response to cold, flu, allergies or other conditions. There are three pairs of turbinates, and the lowest pair, the inferior turbinates, can cause nasal obstruction when they swell.

Why is nose turbinate reduction done?

When the turbinates are too big, they can block nasal breathing. Medications are always used as a first treatment, however, some patients may not experience any relief with medical treatment, and a turbinate reduction procedure is necessary to improve nasal breathing and nasal health.

Resect Inferior Turbinate reduction can treat hypertrophy, which is swelling of the turbinates, that does not respond to medications, as well as some conditions that are difficult to treat. This includes:
Chronic infections
Severe allergies
Anatomic issues with the nose

A Commitment to Excellence

Hootan Zandifar, MD, FACS, Board Certified Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon

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Process

For chronic nasal obstruction caused by turbinate swelling, the nose turbinate reduction treatment process begins with non-surgical, medical treatments, prior to any surgical treatments.

Initial Medical Treatments first

These treatments include medications that are designed to reduce inflammation in the nose and open your nasal passages to improve breathing

Nasal Antihistamine Sprays
Oral Decongestants
Oral Steroids
Nasal Steroids Sprays

The Turbinate Reduction Surgery

If initial medical treatments fail, your doctor will likely recommend turbinate reduction surgery to reduce the size of your turbinates. Each person is different, and each patient may have different needs. In general, though, turbinates can be reduced either by shrinking the soft tissue or removing soft tissue and bone, also known as resection.

What happens during the procedure? Turbinate reduction surgery can be done using either a local anesthetic or general sedation. With local anesthesia, we will first numb your nasal tissue using a topical numbing cream and injections of local anesthesia. After your nose is numb, we will generally use either a radiofrequency or laser device to shrink the soft tissue of the turbinates. In case of inferior turbinate resection, we usually use general anesthesia and remove some bone and soft tissue to improve nasal breathing. The shape of your turbinate and the amount of obstruction that is caused by bone versus soft tissue will determine which procedure is most appropriate for you.
Does it hurt? For most patients, turbinate surgery is not very painful. You may have some pain the first few days after surgery but is typically not severe.

Recovery

The recovery for nasal turbinate reduction surgery is usually one week. Depending on which turbinate reduction procedure you have done, your nose may take longer to heal completely. During this time it is important to avoid strenuous activities and blowing your nose in order to prevent bleeding and allow the tissue in your nose to heal. You will receive complete post-op instructions after your surgery, including what to expect at home. After turbinate surgery, you should be able to breathe through your nose and depending on the procedure, you may notice the effects immediately.

Are there side effects?

After the turbinate reduction procedure, you may feel congested for the first couple of weeks, and you may experience nasal crusting and a dry nose. Saline irrigation and antibiotic ointments can help minimize these side effects. With any surgery, there is always a risk of bleeding and infection. There is also a condition called empty nose syndrome where the nose is open, but the patient still feels like it is blocked. Fortunately, the risk of this is very low. There is also a possibility the turbinate tissue will regrow after surgery, which Dr. Zandifar will discuss with you prior to surgery.

How Much Does Turbinate Reduction Surgery Cost?

The cost for nasal turbinate reduction surgery depends on which procedure is being done and can range from $2000-$5000. When done for medical reasons, such as chronic nasal obstruction, oftentimes insurance will cover a portion of the cost. Our office can help you determine if your insurance will cover this procedure, and if so, how much they are willing to cover.

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If you seem to have a constantly stuffy nose, and you have difficulty breathing through your nose, contact our office to see if turbinate reduction could help you breathe freely.