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Radiofrequency Ablative Therapy of the Turbinate

For those who mouth breathe at night or whose nose is a cause of snoring you may be considered for a minor procedure in the office.

In-office Radio-Frequency (RF) Reduction of the Turbinate addresses the most common source of nasal obstruction: the turbinates. Turbinates are fleshy shelves that are located on the inside of the nose. There are three on each side, however, the lower turbinate is the largest and what causes nasal obstruction. Turbinates become enlarged or congested from allergies, colds, and other irritants such as smoke. If the turbinates become persistently enlarged you may feel constantly congested. Turbinate reduction reduces the size of the turbinates while maintaining its important functions of moisturizing, filtering, and warming inspired air.

Radiofrequency (RF) ablation works by “shaking up” the microscopic cells causing the fleshy portion of the turbinate to dry and scar. After a few weeks, the outside layer of the turbinate will begin to crust, shed, and reduce in size. This allows you to breathe better through your nose as it dries out the lining of the turbinate.

rf ablative therapy image

The procedure begins by numbing your nose with a nasal spray in the office. The procedure causes little pain and recovery is instant as you can return to work or school the same day. As you recover you will need to keep your nose moist with nasal salt-water spray for three weeks. During your recovery your turbinates may swell slightly and become dry and crusty. After 2-3 weeks your turbinate will shed, revealing a smaller turbinate.

FAQ about Radiofrequency Ablative Therapy of the Turbinate

Does In-Office RF Reduction of the Turbinates hurt?

Dr. Pasha spends the majority of the time in performing RF Reduction of the Turbinates is preparing and numbing your nose. We begin by spraying your nose with an anesthetic agent to begin the numbing process. Shortly afterwards we will place cotton soaked in a topical agent to further numb your nose.

After approximately 10-20 minutes, your nose should be pretty numb. Dr. Pasha will then inject your nose much like a dentist for further anesthesia.

Discomfort varies from patient to patient.

How long does In-Office RF Reduction of the Turbinates take to complete?

The total treatment times varies from a 15 minutes to 30 minutes depending on the complexity of the case.

What are the risks of In-Office RF Reduction of the Turbinates?

Since RF is performed in the office without general anesthesia the risks are minimal.

Dr. Pasha has seen very few complications aside for some occasional bleeding. Another potential risks include inability to perform the procedure because of tolerance.

How long does it take to recover from In-Office RF Reduction of the Turbinates?

After your procedure there is very little recovery time. You should be able to return to normal activity and duties right after the procedure with little pain or discomfort.Your nose will become dry over the next few weeks. The crusts will need to be removed approximately 2-3 weeks later. Afterward you should have a dramatic relief of congestion.

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