turbinate reduction

The erectile tissue in the nose, which primarily includes the nasal turbinates, significantly controls airflow through the nose.

Along with the nasal septum, they are one of the main factors in restricted nasal breathing.

There are three nasal turbinates on each side of the nose, arranged one above the other. The inferior turbinate has the primary effect on nasal breathing.

Nasal breathing is not a passive process in which air simply flows from outside through the nose to the lungs, because the air is initially far too dry and cold for our lungs. Heating and humidification occur in the nose. In this process, heat and moisture are released from the mucous membrane inside the nose into the air. However, this moisture is then lost in the mucous membrane, so it needs time to recover.

The body has devised a mechanism for this – the so-called nasal cycle: moderate swelling of the erectile tissue in the nose reduces airflow through one nostril, while the mucous membrane can recover and become enriched with fluid. During this time, the main airflow occurs through the other nostril. After a few hours, the airflow switches to the other nostril, and so on. We usually don't notice the nasal cycle. Severe swelling of the nasal turbinates, for example, due to colds, allergies, or very dry air, can lead to pronounced swelling of the turbinates, even on both sides, severely restricting nasal breathing.

In cases of persistent (chronic) nasal breathing obstruction, caused not only by a deviated septum but also by permanently enlarged turbinates, the temptation to shrink them with a decongestant nasal spray is great. Nasal breathing is usually improved after a few seconds. However, this disrupts the nasal cycle, and the interior of the nose no longer has a chance to recover. The body reacts even more strongly when the effect of the nasal spray wears off – now the turbinates on both sides go into "recovery mode" and swell to their maximum. For patients who feel dependent on nasal spray, this is the time to reach for the nasal spray again...

If turbinate hyperplasia is primarily a permanent swelling of the mucous membrane, it can be reduced through scarring. After treatment of the turbinates with electricity or laser, scars form, which then lead to shrinkage of the cavernous bodies of the turbinates.

If the bone within the turbinate, the so-called os turbinale, is particularly enlarged, shrinking the mucous membrane alone will not produce sufficient results. In this case, the bone of the turbinate must be reduced as gently as possible using a procedure called "turbinoplasty." The advantage of turbinoplasty is that it protects the vital mucous membrane in the nose while achieving maximum and permanent results.

We usually combine turbinate reduction with nasal surgery, i.e., rhinoplasty, revision rhinoplasty or nasal septum straightening. Depending on the severity of the turbinates, it is an integral part of the procedure.