Nasal polyps can develop in various sizes and colors. They typically range from brownish-yellow to pink in color. Nasal polyps look like teardrops initially and gradually become larger to look like grapes on a stem.

They can occur in one or both nostrils simultaneously and grow alone or in clusters.

Polyp clusters or substantial polyps can cause issues in breathing and impact the sense of smell. Polyps can obstruct the sinuses and cause recurrent infections. The nose surgeon will assess the patient’s nasal polyps and recommend an appropriate treatment plan based on this evaluation.

Board certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Eric Yavrouian provides rhinoplasty cosmetic surgery to patients in Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank, Greater Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, CA, and surrounding communities.

Who may Develop Nasal Polyps?

Nasal polyps exist in around four to 40 percent of the population and are almost two to four times more common in men than in women. Polyps usually develop in people in their youth or middle age.

They are more likely to occur in individuals with recurring sinus infections, asthma, and allergies. Nasal polyps also have a higher possibility of developing in children with cystic fibrosis.

Diagnosis

An experienced surgeon can detect nasal polyps just by asking the patient questions on their symptoms and assessing the condition of their nose. A lighted instrument can enable the surgeon to see the nasal polyps within the nose.

Moreover, the surgeon may order the below mention tests to confirm the diagnosis:

• CT scan
• Nasal endoscopy
• Cystic fibrosis
• Skin prick allergy test

Treatment

Steroid Nose Drops or Spray

The surgeon may prescribe a steroid spray or nasal drops to the patient. These will help reduce the inflammation in the polyps. This is a standard course of treatment for patients with a single polyp or a cluster of small polyps. The side effects of the treatment may include:

• Headache
• Nosebleeds
• Sore throat

Steroid Pills

In case the patient has larger polyps or severe inflammation, they may require steroid pills. The doctor may prescribe these pills by themselves on along with a nasal spray.

Steroids can effectively decrease the size of the polyps. However, they can lead to complications such as weight gain. The surgeon will ask the patient to be on these pills for a few weeks and not for a longer duration.

Other Medications

Sometimes the surgeon may prescribe other medicines to address the conditions that may be aggravating the swelling. For instance, they may prescribe antifungal drugs to treat fungal allergies, antihistamines to treat allergic responses, and antibiotics to treat bacterial conditions.

Surgery

If the nasal polyps are substantial in size, or the patient does not respond to other treatments, the surgeon will recommend a surgical procedure to correct this condition.

Polypectomy

This is a common procedure to excise polyps. The procedure is done with the patient under local or general anesthesia. The surgeon will place a long, narrow pipe connected to a camera inside the patient’s nose to view the nasal polyps and sinuses.

Facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Eric Yavrouian receives patients from Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank, Greater Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, CA, and nearby areas for rhinoplasty cosmetic surgery.
For more information about treatments and procedures by Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Dr. Eric J. Yavrouian, serving patients in and around Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank and the Greater Los Angeles, CA area call 818-241-2150 or click here to contact him for a consultation.

Rhinoplasty cosmetic surgery is an effective treatment for enlarged turbinates. Turbinates are thin, narrow bones that project outwards from the sides of the septum inside the nasal cavity. Turbinates end in small, curled knobs.

There are three types of turbinates. Superior turbinates are the bones found in the upper portion of the nose located between the eyes and nose. Middle turbinates are located in the middle part of the nose, and inferior turbinates lie right on top of the nostrils.

The plastic surgeon will assess the patient’s nose at the time of the pre-operative consultation to determine if enlarged turbinates surgery is appropriate for them.

Board certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Eric Yavrouian provides rhinoplasty cosmetic surgery to patients in Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank, Greater Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, CA, and surrounding locations.

Turbinate Rhinoplasty

Turbinate rhinoplasty can address turbinates that are swollen due to allergies or irritants. At times, the turbinate may become constricted if a deviated septum pushes it to one side.

As a result, the turbinate on the opposite side becomes larger to compensate for the constricted turbinate. This causes additional breathing problems.

Some surgeons remove tissue to reduce their size when treating enlarged turbinates while other do not eliminate any tissue. Instead, the surgeon fractures the turbinate outwards. Turbinates generate moisture and warm the air entering the nose to facilitate proper breathing.

Sometimes removing these turbinates can cause a painful condition known as atrophic rhinitis. However, if the surgeon breaks a turbinate in the outward direction and away from the septum and repositions it properly, it creates a larger airway. This allows proper breathing and functioning of the turbinates.

Surgical Procedure

Various techniques can be used to eliminate turbinate size. The procedure to correct the turbinate size is known as turbinate resection or turbinate reduction.

This surgery can be undertaken in an operating room or the surgeon’s office. The surgeon will typically perform a septoplasty and turbinate resection simultaneously.

The complete removal of a turbinate can impact overall turbinate function. This could lead to a very dry and crusty nose. The turbinate tissue may grow back in some cases. Such patients will need additional surgery to address the re-growth. This is still more acceptable than complete turbinate removal.

Certain techniques can decrease the size of a turbinate without the removal of turbinate tissue of the bone. Techniques such as coblation, radiofrequency reduction, and cauterization can help accomplish this reduction.

In these techniques, a part of the turbinate is warmed with a specialized instrument. The turbinate constricts after some time due to the formation of scar tissue from the process of heating.

Aspects of this Procedure

In some procedures, the surgeon may remove a part of the turbinate. While undertaking these procedures, the surgeon should ensure that adequate turbinate remains within the nose. The remaining turbinate can moisten and warm the air entering the nose.

Submucosal resection is a standard technique used in the treatment of enlarged turbinates. Facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Eric Yavrouian receives patients from Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank, Greater Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, CA, and nearby areas for rhinoplasty cosmetic surgery.
For more information about treatments and procedures by Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Dr. Eric J. Yavrouian, serving patients in and around Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank and the Greater Los Angeles, CA area call 818-241-2150 or click here to contact him for a consultation.

Rhinoplasty plastic surgery can help correct the commonly occurring problem of a deviated septum. The surgeon will evaluate the nature and extent of the deviated septum prior to developing an individualized surgical plan to correct it.

Board certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Eric Yavrouian provides rhinoplasty cosmetic surgery to patients in Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank, Greater Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, CA, and surrounding communities.

What is Septum Deviation?

The septum divides the nasal cavity into two narrow passageways starting at the upper nasal region where it connects to the nostrils. The septum comprises various bone and cartilage sections.

The lower part of the septum sits on the anterior nasal spine. This is a supportive bone and can be felt in the area where the nose joins to the upper lip.

Septum deviation refers to the shifting or development of the septum to one side of the nasal cavity instead of dividing it into two identical passageways. The septum either bends outward in the shape of a bow creating a C-shape or bend to one side creating an S-shape.

The surgeon will reshape either the bony upper part of the septum located on the top of the nose or the cartilaginous lower portion of the nose.

Sometimes the septum may move off the anterior spine. This condition is called a caudal septal deviation. In such cases, the surgeon will realign the base of the septum to the anterior nasal spine.

A deviated septum may be present from birth in some people while others may develop it due to a traumatic injury. This condition can obstruct breathing and cause recurring nosebleeds and facial pain. Rhinoplasty cosmetic surgery is a proven technique to correct the septal deviation.

Septoplasty Procedure

The time taken to complete a septoplasty procedure is usually between 30 and 90 minutes. The complexity of the procedure will determine the time taken for the surgery. The surgeon and patient can decide in advance whether the septoplasty will be performed under general or local anesthesia.

The surgeon usually commences the procedure by placing an incision in one area on the nose to access the septum. Subsequently, they will ease the deviated septum to its correct position. They will remove impediments such as undesirable bone pieces and cartilage. After that, the surgeon will reposition the mucous membrane.

The patient may need sutures to help the septum and membrane remain in position. Sometimes, packing the nose with cotton is all it takes to ensure that the septum and membrane remain in place.

Recovery

The surgeon will undertake the septoplasty as an outpatient procedure unless a significant complication occurs. This means that the patient can go back home on the day of the surgery itself. The nose will be inflamed, painful, and stuffed with cotton to prevent bleeding. In the next one or two days after the surgery, the surgeon will remove the packing.

Facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Eric Yavrouian receives patients from Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank, Greater Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, CA, and nearby areas for rhinoplasty cosmetic surgery.
For more information about treatments and procedures by Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Dr. Eric J. Yavrouian, serving patients in and around Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank and the Greater Los Angeles, CA area call 818-241-2150 or click here to contact him for a consultation.

Functional rhinoplasty can address physical abnormalities in the nose that can impact breathing, such as those caused by congenital defects. In addition, functional nose surgery can treat the effects of physical trauma as well.

The nose surgeon will reshape and reposition the nasal bones and cartilage to help the patient attain the nasal contours that will enable them to breathe properly and feel more self-confident.

Board certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Eric Yavrouian provides rhinoplasty cosmetic surgery to patients in Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank, Greater Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, CA, and surrounding locations.

Correcting a Deviated Septum

A deviated septum develops or moves to one side of the nasal cavity instead of bifurcating it into two equal airways. The septum can bend to one side creating an S-shape or bow out into a C-shape. Regardless of the type of deviation, a deviated septum can obstruct airflow gradually damaging the delicate tissues of the nose.

The surgeon may reshape the bony upper portion of the septum or the cartilaginous lower portion depending on where the septum has deviated.

Some patients experience a condition known as caudal septal deviation where the septum moves off the anterior nasal spine.

The surgeon can address this shift in the septum by realigning its base on the anterior nasal spine.

Enlarged Turbinates

Rhinoplasty is also an effective treatment for enlarged turbinates. Turbinates are long, narrow bones that project outwards from either side of the nasal cavity which ends in tiny, curled, knob-like shapes.

The nose has three sets of turbinates:

• Superior Turbinates: These are located high within the nose between the eyes.
• Middle Turbinates: These are situated in the middle portion of the nose
• Inferior Turbinates: These turbinates end just above the nostril line.

Turbinates humidify air when a person inhales as soft tissue covers the turbinates.

Turbinate rhinoplasty can effectively treat turbinates that may have become inflamed due to allergies and other irritants. Sometimes one turbinate may contract as the septum pushes it to one side. Consequently, the turbinate in the opposite nasal airway grows larger to compensate for the constricted turbinate. This further impedes the breathing process.

Nasal Polyps

Similar to enlarged turbinates, nasal polyps are usually associated with irritation and allergies. Nasal polyps are harmless growths that develop within the nasal airways and appear as soft, jelly-like bulbs.

The surgeon will use a snare instrument to reach within the nose and cautiously excise the polyps.

Nasal polyps, unfortunately, have a tendency to grow back. Therefore, patients with this condition should take allergy meds as well.

Nasal Fractures

Various types of nasal fractures may warrant different types of osteotomy (the practice of rejoining and resetting bones). If left untreated, these fractures can obstruct breathing and lead to a misshapen or crooked nose.

Fractures can develop anywhere along the nasal “bony pyramid” which is the pyramid-like bony structure of the nose projecting outward from the face.

Greenstick fractures may develop along the sides of the nasal bones. They commonly occur in children as their bones are still developing and are much more pliable than adult bones. Consequently, greenstick fractures are usually incomplete breaks instead of completely broken bones.

The saddle deformity is a more severe type of fracture. The nasal bridge and septum break down in this condition and become depressed toward the face leading to the development of a saddle-like shape that is noticeable when viewing the face in profile.

Facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Eric Yavrouian receives patients from Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank, Greater Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, CA, and nearby areas for rhinoplasty cosmetic surgery.
For more information about treatments and procedures by Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Dr. Eric J. Yavrouian, serving patients in and around Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank and the Greater Los Angeles, CA area call 818-241-2150 or click here to contact him for a consultation.