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.
