Turbinate reduction is a procedure to reduce the size of the inferior nasal turbinate. The inferior turbinate is a large structure on the inside of the nostril that can enlarge and contribute to nasal obstruction. If you have trouble breathing through your nose and frequent nasal congestion you may have a condition called turbinate hypertrophy. We recommend every patient start a trial of a nasal steroid spray such as Flonase, Nasonex, Nasacort, or Rhinocort. This may shrink the turbinate and also control nasal allergies. If the obstruction persists after a trial of a nasal steroid spray for at least 2 weeks you may benefit from a procedure called Turbinate Reduction, also termed Submucosal resection of turbinates. This is a simple procedure which has minimal pain and a quick recovery period. It can be done in the office setting under local anesthesia. If you feel like your nose is always blocked discuss turbinate reduction with your surgeon.
