If you are having trouble breathing through your nose, it could be due to physical obstruction. Nasal turbinates are natural bony structures inside your nose, but if something goes wrong with them, they can make breathing difficult. You should contact a sinus doctor in Los Angeles if you experience the following:
- Sleep apnea
- Congestion
- Postnasal drip
- Difficulty breathing nasally
Turbinates are supposed to cleanse and humidify the air that passes through the nostrils before it goes into the lungs. They are a bony structure surrounded by vascular tissue and topped by a mucous membrane that usually remains moist. They can become inflamed or swollen by allergies, irritation, or a sinus infection. The enlarged turbinates cause blockages that make it hard to breathe. They also can produce more mucus, which leads to more congestion.
How Can I Fix My Turbinates?
If you are suffering from this nasal condition, you’ll need turbinate reduction surgery in Los Angeles. Nasal turbinate reduction surgery must be performed in a surgical center, and this is usually an outpatient procedure, meaning you can leave once it’s over. It typically takes under 20 minutes.
During this procedure, your nasal surgeon will use an endoscope, which is a small tube with a light at the end, to see up into the nostrils. Then, the doctor makes a small incision to the lining of the turbinate so they can remove any bone. Some surgeons use a tool called a microdebrider to reduce the thickness of the nasal tissue if its swelling is causing the congestion.
After the surgery has been completed, the surgeon then may cauterize the wound or use a high-tech radiofrequency electrical current to stop bleeding. You will then remain in the clinic for about 30 minutes following the surgery to make sure you are not suffering a reaction.
The recovery process from turbinate surgery is normally painless. You also won’t notice any long-term side effects such as loss of smell. As with many nasal procedures, you may experience crusting on the nose for about 3 weeks. As you go through the recovery process, your doctor may recommend that you use nasal saline solution throughout the day to clear out your nasal passages. You can also use an antibiotic ointment during this time.
Despite your surgery, there is a chance that your nasal turbinates may become enlarged again after a period of time, making another turbinate removal procedure necessary.
