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Get Back to Comfortable Breathing With Turbinate Reduction in Houston

If you’re having trouble breathing through your nose and experiencing symptoms like sleep apnea, postnasal drip, snoring, headaches, and frequent congestion, you could be dealing with enlarged turbinates. The turbinates are the tissue and bones in your nose that are responsible for filtering and moisturizing oxygen as you breathe it in. However, when this tissue becomes enlarged, it can impair your ability to breathe through your nose and cause some or all of the symptoms listed above. If enlarged turbinates have become a chronic issue for you, you may want to consider turbinate reduction surgery in Houston performed by Dr. Angela Sturm.

What Is Turbinate Reduction?

Turbinate reduction in Houston is a surgical procedure performed to correct chronically enlarged turbinates and improve breathing ability through the nose. Typically, turbinate reduction surgery is only necessary if the patient’s turbinates are enlarged due to structural issues with the nose or more symptomatic because of a deviated septum. If the turbinates are enlarged for other reasons, such as allergies or airborne irritants, the condition can usually be treated with medication or other non-surgical treatments.

During turbinate reduction surgery, Dr. Sturm typically starts by inserting a tiny endoscope into the nose, which will allow her to get a clear view of the underlying nasal structure. She will then make a small incision in the lining of the enlarged turbinate(s) and carefully remove a little piece of the bone and enlarged tissue. This opens up the nasal airway and allows for more comfortable breathing. Finally, Dr. Sturm seals the incision and places a dissolvable hemostatic agent in the nose to help recovery.

It’s very common for patients to experience enlarged turbinates and a deviated septum simultaneously. In these cases, Dr. Sturm can combine turbinate reduction surgery with septoplasty to correct both problems.

Dr. Sturm is an expert in all types of nasal surgeries, and she’s able to perform these procedures with absolute precision to provide patients with massive breathing improvements.

What Are the Causes of Enlarged Turbinates?

Your turbinates can become enlarged for quite a few reasons, including the following:

  • Allergies
  • Environmental irritants
  • Infection
  • Pregnancy
  • Hormonal changes
  • Sinus inflammation
  • Congenital variations
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Benefits of Turbinate Reduction

For individuals dealing with chronically enlarged turbinates, turbinate reduction surgery can offer all of the following benefits:

  • Improved ability to breathe through the nose
  • More comfortable breathing
  • Reduced snoring, postnasal drip, congestion, and other symptoms of enlarged turbinates
  • Improved sleep
  • Improved sense of smell
  • Reduced chance of sinus infections

Who Is a Good Candidate for Turbinate Reduction in Houston?

If you’re experiencing symptoms of chronically enlarged turbinates, you might be a good candidate for turbinate reduction surgery. Ideal candidates for the surgery will typically have tried medications and/or other treatments to reduce the size of their turbinates without success. Many people who choose to undergo the procedure are suffering from multiple symptoms as a result of their enlarged turbinates, such as snoring, sleep apnea, facial pain, and postnasal drip. Candidates should also be generally healthy and not currently pregnant or breastfeeding.

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What Is the Recovery Like After Turbinate Reduction?

You can expect to experience some swelling inside the nose that results in nasal congestion after your turbinate reduction procedure.  Dr. Sturm can prescribe you pain medication if needed, but most patients have minimal discomfort. You can also reduce the swelling by sleeping with your head elevated and being careful not to irritate the inside of your nose. 

You should be able to go back to work and resume your routine approximately five days or less after surgery, but you’ll want to wait at least two weeks to engage in strenuous physical activity. You’ll also need to wait 10 days to blow your nose.

Why Choose Dr. Angela Sturm for Turbinate Reduction in Houston?

To ensure the best possible results, you need to make sure that your turbinate reduction surgery is performed by a skilled and experienced surgeon. Dr. Angela Sturm is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon who specializes in nasal procedures. She has not only helped numerous patients improve their breathing with turbinate reduction and septoplasty procedures, but she is also one of the most respected female facial plastic surgeons in all of Houston. Throughout her career, she has been highly awarded for excellence in her field, including her recognition as a “Top Doc” and “Super Doctor” by multiple reputable publications. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Sturm, just reach out to our office or fill out an online contact form.

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FAQ Turbinate Reduction

How long does turbinate reduction take?

How soon will I notice results after turbinate reduction?

What kind of anesthesia will be used for turbinate reduction?

How long does turbinate reduction take?

Usually, turbinate reduction surgery is a relatively quick procedure that only takes around 15 to 45 minutes to complete. However, it may take longer depending on the specific needs of the patient.

How soon will I notice results after turbinate reduction?

You should start to notice major improvements in your nasal breathing approximately two to three weeks after your procedure. After that, you should also start noticing gradual reduction of other symptoms like snoring, sleep apnea, and headaches.

What kind of anesthesia will be used for turbinate reduction?

Dr. Sturm prefers to perform turbinate reduction under general anesthesia for patient comfort.

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