Turbinates

The turbinates are made of bone and soft tissue and are located inside the nose near the septum. The nasal septum is the structure that divides your nasal passages into the right and left sides. It is made up of cartilage and bone, which are lined with a thin membrane called the mucosa.

Turbinates can become swollen and inflamed from allergies, irritation, or infection. This inflammation can then nasal obstruction and produce an excessive amount of mucous which leads to congestion.

This nasal airway obstruction is uncomfortable. It can force you to breathe through your mouth, making eating, speaking, and sleeping more difficult.

Decongestants and anti-histamines only offer temporary relief. If this is the case, surgery may be the recommended treatment.

Turbinate reduction surgery

Fortunately, many surgical techniques exist to reduce the size of the inferior turbinates. Conventional surgical options include partial or total turbinectomy, turbinoplasty, electrocautery, cryotherapy, laser cautery, submucosal resection, and submucosal resection with lateral displacement.

Turbinate coblation is an advanced technology that helps to remove and shrink soft tissue inside the nasal turbinates. Because coblation is not a heat-driven process, it is designed to specifically preserve surrounding healthy tissue. This procedure can typically be done on an outpatient basis allowing patients to return home shortly after the procedure.