The turbinates are three fleshy shelves on the side of the inside of the nose that serve to warm, moisturize, and filter inhaled air before it enters the lungs. If the turbinates become too enlarged from repeated infections, allergies, or other irritants, they can cause nasal blockage. This problem is called turbinate hypertrophy (enlarged turbinates).
If you have turbinate hypertrophy, you may be initially placed on a nasal steroid and have your allergies managed to reduce their size medically. If your turbinates persistently cause nasal obstruction, you may be a candidate for reducing the size of the turbinates surgically called partial turbinate reduction.
Partial Turbinate Reductions are performed through the nose without any scars on the outside of the nose or face. A small incision is made on the front of the turbinate and a small bone is removed causing the turbinate to collapse and reduce in size. Dr. Pasha does not remove the entire turbinate. The turbinate is critical for proper nasal breathing (warming, filtering, and moisturizing) therefore Dr. Pasha only reduces the size of the turbinate. He is careful to preserve the mucosa or lining of the turbinate to maintain the turbinate’s function in preventing nasal crusting.
The total time for this operation is 20-30 minutes and is performed using general anesthesia (while you are asleep). You should anticipate going home the same day unless other medical conditions complicate recovery. Since Dr. Pasha rarely uses packing, significant pain and discomfort usually resolves within the first 2-3 days.
Dr. Pasha routinely combines septoplasties and endoscopic sinus surgery with partial turbinate reductions to widen the nasal cavity and to allow access to the sinuses.