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.