Breathing Easier: Exploring the Impact and Benefits of Turbinate Reduction
Breathing comes naturally to us. None of us can imagine going without breathing, even briefly. Hence, when there is even a slight discomfort in the nose, such as an enlarged Turbinate, Nose Fillers can distract us from daily activities.
What Is Turbinate Reduction?
Turbinate reduction in Mumbai is a surgical procedure that addresses the breathing and nasal congestion problems caused by enlarged nasal turbinate. The turbinate reduction or the turbinate hypertrophy treatment in India improves airflow and feeling of congestion and gets much-needed relief from snoring and sleep apnea.
The best ENT surgeons in India perform turbinate reduction procedures in Mumbai to reduce the size of turbinate by removing extra tissue growth. Surgeons also recommend turbinate hypertrophy treatment in India when nonsurgical treatments don’t provide the much-needed relief. Nasal obstructions can force a person to breathe through the mouth and make daily activities difficult.
Turbinate reduction is also known as nasal and inferior turbinate reduction in Mumbai. When it is done on both sides of the nostrils, it is termed bilateral turbinate reduction.
Being able to breathe easily is essential for a person’s overall well-being. It helps with better oxygenation, detoxification, improved circulation, lung function, and reduced stress levels. A precise nose without congestion is also essential for quality sleep and enhanced focus.
What Is Turbinate?
The turbinate al, also known as nasal turbinate or nasal conchae, are small and spongy bony structures inside the nasal passage. The functions of nasal turbinate are:
- Cleanse, filter, and heat the air that passes through the nasal cavity and maintain the air temperature that goes into the lungs.
- Humidify the air inside the cavity, thus protecting the olfactory receptors from damage.
- They prevent dust, allergens, and other particles from entering the lungs. The mucus membrane lining the turbinate produces it.
- The thin layer of tissues is the first line of defense against microbial and chemical irritation.
The nasal cavity has three turbinates, namely, superior, middle, and inferior, on each side of the nostril.
- Inferior turbinates are located at the bottom of the nasal passage and are the largest of the three.
- Middle turbinates are responsible for airflow regulation and air conditioning.
- Superior turbinates are the smallest in size. Their primary function is to direct their flow. They are situated on top of the nasal cavity.
Under normal function, the turbinates swell and shrink as we breathe, which helps regulate the airflow in the nasal cavity. The inferior turbinates often swell because of inflammation and need treatment. When the middle turbinate is enlarged then, it can cause the sinus openings to shrink, which can lead to pain in the area. Conca bullosa is when an air bubble develops in the middle turbinate, leading to nasal obstruction. In most cases, the swelling in turbinates reduces on its own, but sometimes, a permanent increase in the size might occur because of
- Allergic rhinitis
- Chronic inflammation or rhinosinusitis
- Environmental irritants
- Hormonal fluctuations
- Structural abnormalities such as a deviated septum
- Temperature changes
- Acute sinus infections
- Chemical and physical irritants
- Stress
- Some medications
The swelling of inferior turbinates is called turbinate hypertrophy and makes breathing through the nose difficult for a person.
Treatment for turbinate hypertrophy in India
The treatments for temporarily swelled-up turbinates include
- Nasal steroid sprays
- Anti-allergic medications
- Nasal decongestants
- Saline irrigation of the nasal passages
The above solutions are not temporary and do not relieve permanent turbinate inflammation. In such cases, ENT surgeons suggest turbinate reduction surgery or a submucous resection to reduce the size of turbinates and improve airflow in the nasal cavity.
Turbinate reduction is a standard surgical procedure in India. It can be performed as a standalone procedure or combined with other nose surgeries, such as septoplasty and rhinoplasty, to correct breathing problems and improve the shape and size of the nose.
Surgical treatments for turbinates
There are two types of surgical treatments for turbinate reduction in Mumbai: invasive and minimally invasive procedures.
Turbinate reduction surgery
The turbinate reduction procedure in Mumbai is performed under general anaesthesia. Turbinate hypertrophy treatment is often indicated when nasal obstruction caused by inflamed turbinates causes nasal congestion, sleep apnea, breathing disorders, snoring, postnasal drip, etc.
Once the ENT surgeon has examined the patient in detail with tests such as endoscopy and evaluated their general health, they will proceed to set up a date for turbinate surgery. Suppose other issues cause nasal obstruction, such as a deviated septum, uneven nostril shape, etc. In that case, the surgeon might recommend correcting the nasal defects, too, so that any future problems can be avoided.
Methods for Inferior Turbinate Enlargement Correction Surgery in India
Three main procedures are best ENT surgeons in India use to correct inferior turbinate hypertrophy:
- Resection: In this procedure, a small portion from the bottom of the inferior turbinates is removed to reduce the size.
- Submucous resection: This type of turbinate resection is needed when the bone making up the turbinate is to be removed. The outer layer of the mucosa is not disturbed, and thus, the functioning of turbinates is not affected at all. There is less postoperative pain, and this procedure’s healing time is quick.
- Outfracturing: This invasive procedure creates a gap between the turbinate and septum to open the nasal passage. The process, also called lateralization or lateral displacement, involves breaking the turbinate bone and moving it away from the nasal septum. Small incisions are made in the lining near the inferior turbinates.
Top ENT surgeons in India use various techniques to reduce the turbinate size and improve the airflow.
Middle turbinate enlargement surgery
Middle turbinate’s health is essential because of its role in warming and humidifying the air. Three procedures are generally used to reduce the middle turbinate size:
- Turbinectomy: Turbinate resection removes the portion or all of the middle turbinate to widen the airway.
- Reduction: This process uses techniques such as submucosal resection to remove the excess tissue on turbinates or, when combined with outfracturing, to reposition the turbinate.
- Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS): This less invasive procedure treats turbinate tissue when chronic sinusitis or nasal polyps bother the patient. It uses a flexible endoscope to remove the turbinate tissue and open the sinus passage.
The treatment chosen depends on the underlying cause of turbinate enlargement, the type of obstruction, the individual nose shape, and the patient’s health.
Other procedures and techniques for turbinate reduction surgery in Mumbai
- Cauterization is when a heated probe is placed inside the nose to seal some blood vessels in the turbinates. Shrinking the blood vessels reduces blood flow to the turbinates and thus shrinks their size.
- Radiofrequency ablation turbinate reduction in Mumbai involves a long and thin probe to deliver heat through radiofrequency to the inflamed turbinate, causing scar tissue formation and thus shrinking the turbinates. This is an exact method of reducing turbinate size. This is a less painful method; the results last a long time.
- Coblation, or controlled ablation, also uses heat energy but at a lower temperature to protect the tissues from damage.
Some FAQs for Turbinate Reduction Surgery
- Is turbinate reduction a painful procedure?
The procedure is done under general or local anesthesia, depending on the procedure used. There will be some discomfort for a few days, but it is usually minimal. If the turbinate reduction in Mumbai is combined with other procedures, then the recovery might be longer.
- What happens after turbinate reduction surgery?
Post-turbinate reduction, the patient can usually go home on the same day. The surgeon and his team will give you detailed instructions on how to help with the healing and make the process comfortable. Here are some tips:
- Crusting is common after turbinate reduction and can last up to three weeks. To reduce the discomfort, you can use a nasal spray or humidifier. Applying Vaseline around the nose helps, too.
- Sleep with your head elevated for a few days after the procedure.
- Avoid heavy activities or lifting that might induce heavy breathing, impact the nose, and delay healing.
- Don’t pinch or rub your nose.
- For the first two to three weeks after the turbinate reduction surgery in India, focus on hydration and rest.
Like any other procedure, turbinate reduction has its pros and cons. Ensure you discuss the procedure, recovery time, and cost with the ENT surgeon in detail.
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