Turbinate hypertrophy is an enlargement of the turbinates. What does all that mean? Really, it’s just a fancy way of saying the cartilage that separates your nostrils is a little larger than it’s supposed to be. While it may not seem like a big deal, that divide is in charge of some pretty important stuff — like cleaning and humidifying the air as you breath. And if it’s too large, it’s probably not doing its job correctly. If you’re considering a turbinate reduction here’s what you should know.
Reasons for a Turbinate Reduction
An enlarged turbinate can cause serious health problems. Most often, people with an enlarged turbinate suffer from:
- Chronic nasal congestion
- Difficulty breathing through their nose
- Recurrent or chronic sinus infections
- Chronic nosebleeds
- Migraine headaches
- Sleep apnea
- Snoring
Turbinate Reduction Options
Depending on the severity of your turbinate, you may require one of three possible procedures:
- Turbinectomy: During a turbinectomy, part or all of the inferior turbinate is removed. For this procedure, the patient would be placed under general anesthesia and a microdebrider would be used to shave the tissue down.
- Turbinoplasty: Instead of removing the turbinate, like in a turbinectomy, a turbinoplasty will reposition the affected bones within your nose.
- Radiofrequency or Laser Ablation: Each procedure is performed slightly different, however both use a form of energy to shrink the turbinate to a healthier size. This procedure is the least invasive of the three.
The Benefits
After a turbinate reduction, patients have been known to breathe easier, sleep better, and experience less frequent respiratory infections.
If you’re considering a turbinate reduction, make sure to consult the experts at Florida ENT. We can quickly and accurately assess your symptoms and design a treatment plan that is specialized to your needs. To schedule an appoint, give us a call at (877) EAR-NOSE!
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