Turbinates are tiny nodules made of bone and soft tissue inside the nose that clean and humidify the air you breathe before it moves into your lungs. These turbinates are coated in tiny hairs, known as cilia, that remove debris from the air before it reaches the lungs, warm the air to body temperature, and add moisture to it. In some people, these bones swell – creating breathing challenges and other difficulties like snoring, facial pain, congestion, and sinus infections. When this occurs, a turbinate reduction with Dr. Ridgway can correct this abnormality and provide you with long-lasting symptom relief. See Dr. Ridgway for some excellent Turbinate Reduction results from a trusted Bellevue rhinoplasty surgeon.
Nasal obstruction occurs when, for whatever reason, the nasal passage is blocked or narrowed, impeding regular airflow and causing difficulties breathing. We’ve all experienced some degree of nasal obstruction at one point or another due to allergies, a common cold, or a sinus infection, but these cases are temporary and generally resolve themselves within a short matter of time. Ongoing cases of nasal obstruction are commonly caused by a deviated septum (a condition in which the tissue that separates the nostrils is off-center, narrowing one of the nasal passageways) or enlarged turbinates. It is not unusual for these two conditions to be present concurrently, compounding the problem, so a turbinate reduction can also be performed at the same time as a septoplasty -- the surgical procedure used to correct a deviated septum.
Patients with nasal obstruction have difficulty breathing, as the nasal passage is not wide and clear enough to permit easy airflow. Sometimes, patients will try to compensate for these difficulties by breathing through their mouths, which can cause a sensation of dry mouth. Individuals also frequently report having trouble sleeping as a result of nasal obstruction.
Enlarged turbinates can occur when either the bones or the soft tissue become inflamed. Many patients see dramatic improvements in their symptoms by using medication alone, but if the problem persists, it may be time to consider a functional rhinoplasty to alleviate your symptoms.
To begin your turbinate reduction, Dr. Ridgway will administer either local or general anesthesia to ensure your comfort and safety. From there, he will use an endoscope (a tiny instrument with a light and camera attached to the end) to gain an inside view of the nose. He will then remove tiny portions of the turbinate bones that are obstructing your breathing. There are multiple approaches to surgical turbinate reduction, and Dr. Ridgway will discuss the options with you to determine which option is best for you:
Once your procedure is complete, you will be able to return home to begin the rhinoplasty recovery process, which typically lasts about one week. It is possible that the doctor will pack your nose with cotton for the first day or two after the procedure, but this is often not necessary. Once your healing process is complete, you can expect your breathing to improve while your other symptoms also subside substantially.
At Ridgway Face & Aesthetic Center, we are dedicated solely to cosmetic solutions for the face, and this specific concentration allows us to focus all our efforts on staying on the cutting edge of facial aesthetics and to offer high-quality, precise care every time. As the lead Bellevue plastic surgeon at the practice, Dr. James M. Ridgway, MD, FACS, believes that a well-informed patient is at the heart of every procedure. When you entrust your care to us, you can rest assured that we will provide you with all the information and options you need at every step of the way. To learn more about our surgical and non-surgical cosmetic interventions, contact us today.
If you are ready to refresh and rejuvenate your look today, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with one of the best plastic surgeons Seattle has to offer: Dr. James M. Ridgway. During your private consultation Dr. Ridgway will carefully evaluate your face and the subtle imperfections that concern you most before providing you with a personalized blend of Bellevue cosmetic surgery procedures that will help you achieve your ideal facial appearance.
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