Nasal Turbinate Surgery: Post Surgery Care

Nasal turbinates are bulges in the airway in the nose from the nasal sidewall. There are two types of turbinates – the inferior turbinates and the middle turbinates. Turbinoplasty is the surgery done to reduce the size of these turbinates.

Inferior Turbinate

This large structure and can change its size considerably. It swells up when one has cold and shrinks when a decongestant is sprayed. It dampens the air that passes and collects the dirt and dust on its surface. A deviated septum is also the reason for the turbinate to swell.

The inferior turbinate enlarges due to allergies, irritating surroundings, and continued inflammation. When this turbinate enlarge and do not reduce even after the related problem is treated, then surgery is necessary. As it helps to keep the nose clean and humidifies the air we breathe, the surgeon tries to keep as much tissues as possible during surgery. The surgery is done with local anesthesia and laser to remove soft tissues.

The risks and side effects of this turbinate surgery are bleeding, crusts, and dryness. The doctor suggests water spray to reduce dryness. This nasal turbinate surgery has no complications as it uses modern technology and procedure.

Middle Turbinate

This middle turbinate acts a canopy that helps in protecting the sinus opening from the airflow. It consists of more bone structure and thin mucous membrane covering and is located on the top of the nasal cavity. This middle turbinate causes problem on enlargement, blocking the sinus opening and putting pressure on the neighboring areas causing pain.

The deformities of this middle turbinate is concha bullosa, club shaped middle turbinate and the absurd curved middle turbinate. Surgery helps to remove the enlarged bottom of the middle turbinate.

Sometimes nasal turbinate surgery is necessary after rectifying the deviated nasal septum. Turbinate surgery is necessary when medications fail to open the airway passage. The turbinate surgery is performed with local anesthesia and absorbable stitches are sewn in.

The surgery takes around one hour. The nose bleeds for a few days after the surgery and is swollen inside which subsides very soon. Strenuous exercises should be avoided and the head needs to be placed in a raised position to avoid leakage.

The patients can get back to work within two weeks but it is better to avoid heavy tasks. The cost of the nasal turbinate surgery is covered by most of the insurance companies.

This nasal turbinate surgery is seldom done separately it is mostly done in collaboration with other surgeries like septoplasty, rhinoplasty. Although in turbinate surgery, patient can recover within two weeks, the other surgeries done along with it also determine the recovery period and time taken to heal.

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