The Ins and Outs of Inferior Turbinectomies

Breathing freely is something many of us take for granted—until nasal obstruction makes it nearly impossible. For individuals struggling with chronic nasal congestion due to enlarged inferior turbinates, an inferior turbinectomy can be a life-changing solution.

You can rely on Dr. Philip T. Ho and our team at Silicon Valley ENT & Sinus Center in Los Gatos, California, to provide the best treatment for your condition. Sometimes, that’s an inferior turbinectomy to reduce the nasal congestion plaguing your days and nights.

But, what exactly is an inferior turbinectomy, and is it the right choice for you? Here are the basics about inferior turbinectomies and who makes a good candidate for this surgery.

Understanding the inferior turbinates

The inferior turbinates are structures located inside the nasal cavity. They help regulate airflow and humidify and filter the air we breathe.

However, when these turbinates become swollen or enlarged because of allergies, chronic inflammation, or structural abnormalities, they can block the nasal passage. This can severely impact breathing.

Improving breathing with an inferior turbinectomy

An inferior turbinectomy is designed to reduce the size of the inferior turbinates. The goal is to improve airflow without compromising the turbinates’ vital functions.

Dr. Ho may remove a portion of the turbinate tissue or reshape and shrink it using advanced techniques like radiofrequency ablation.

This procedure is typically considered for individuals who have not found relief through non-surgical treatments such as nasal sprays, antihistamines, or decongestants.

Conditions that may warrant an inferior turbinectomy include:

• Chronic nasal congestion not resolved with conservative therapies
• A deviated septum that’s contributing to turbinate hypertrophy
• Sleep-disordered breathing caused by nasal obstruction
• Treatment-resistant sinus infections

Notably, there are several types of turbinectomy procedures. Dr. Ho is familiar with them all and recommends the procedure best suited to your needs based on your evaluation, symptoms, and previous treatments.

Types of inferior turbinectomies

Inferior turbinectomy types include:

Traditional surgery

This involves the partial removal of turbinate tissue using surgical instruments. It is effective but may have a slightly longer recovery time than other procedures.

Submucosal resection

This technique removes only the inner tissue, leaving the outer mucosa intact to preserve functionality.

Radiofrequency (RF) ablation

This minimally invasive method uses heat energy to shrink the turbinate tissue. Dr. Ho uses the VivAer® platform, an advanced system that delivers carefully controlled RF energy specifically designed for nasal passageways.

Laser-assisted reduction

This is similar to radiofrequency ablation but uses laser technology for tissue reduction.

Ins and outs of nasal turbinectomy

Complications of inferior nasal turbinectomy are rare, especially when you choose an experienced surgeon.

However, surgical recovery involves some nasal discomfort, congestion, and mild bleeding, which usually resolves within a few weeks.

Other procedures, such as RF ablation with the VivAer platform, offer quicker recovery than traditional surgery. Dr. Ho performs this and other minimally invasive procedures in the office for your convenience.

The benefits of these procedures include improved nasal airflow and breathing, better quality of sleep, and reduced reliance on nasal sprays or medications.

For expertise you can rely on to provide the best treatment for your ENT concerns, schedule an evaluation with Dr. Ho at Silicon Valley ENT & Sinus Center today. Give us a call or request an appointment online.