Turbinoplasty or turbinectomy operation | turbinates

Summary of surgery

TIME

ANESTHESIA

Local or sedation

HOSPITALIZATION

Ambulatory

RECOVERY

2 days

Video subtitled in English

Turbinoplasty is also known by other names such as turbinectomy, carnotomy or turbinate surgery. Turbinoplasty is a surgery whose objective is to reduce the size of the turbinates of the nose. It is done to improve breathing in people who for various reasons can not breathe well. These turbinates are 3 bones that are located inside the nose, on each side of the nostril. Sometimes, due to the shape they have, either by birth, allergy or accident, they prevent proper breathing and must be reduced in size.

Some factors such as temperature changes, allergies, pollution, or certain alterations cause a permanent increase in the size of the turbinates, this is known as hypertrophy or hyperplasia. When this happens, symptoms such as stuffy nose, headache (especially in the morning when waking up) and poor rest during sleep may appear.

It can usually be confused with septoplasty, whose purpose is similar but the operation is different and touches another bone. It also helps to improve breathing but it is not the same, since in this case what is touched is not the turbinates of the nose but the septum, the bone that separates each nostril. Sometimes septoplasty can be combined in the same operation, to correct the deviated nasal septum that prevents us from breathing properly, with turbinoplasty, which corrects the turbinates that also prevent us from breathing well. The sum of both surgeries can greatly improve the patient’s breathing.

Book a visit

You can do it in 3 ways:

– Free on-site visit: Call +34 932066540 from Monday to Thursday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm and Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

– Free on-site visit with IMMEDIATE booking: For booking outside office hours. We charge 60 € on your card to avoid false bookings. It is refunded on the day you come to the consultation.

– ONLINE Visit: Video conference using whatsapp or Zoom. Cost of 60 € non-refundable. When booking indicate in the comments that you want videoconferencing and not on-site.

Book a visit

You can do it in 3 ways:

– Free on-site visit: Call +34 932066540 from Monday to Thursday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm and Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

– Free on-site visit with IMMEDIATE booking: For booking outside office hours. We charge 60 € on your card to avoid false bookings. It is refunded on the day you come to the consultation.

– ONLINE Visit: Video conference using whatsapp or Zoom. Cost of 60 € non-refundable. When booking indicate in the comments that you want videoconferencing and not on-site.

WHERE DO WE OPERATE?

At Clínica Sanza we rely on the Sagrat Cor Hospital, part of the Quirónsalud group, to perform our surgical procedures.
Its prestige, facilities, medical and healthcare staff, as well as its technology are a guarantee.

BARCELONA: A HEALTH HUB

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PATIENT PROFILE

People who have difficulty breathing, either due to allergic rhinitis, traumatisms, tobacco, etc. And they wish to improve their quality of life. It is often associated with a deviated nasal septum.

SURGERY PROCEDURE

The procedure is performed under local anesthesia and sedation, without the need for incisions, as it is performed through the nostrils. It is performed with radiofrequency through electrodes that increase the temperature in the tissues, without damaging the adjacent structures, to reduce the size of the turbinates. The reduction of the turbinate is immediate, although after the operation it is normal for the turbinates to remain swollen for approximately 5 to 10 days, depending on the patient.

DURATION OF THE OPERATION

45 minutes to 1 hour of operation

PROTOCOL

Preoperative

Assessment of the degree of turbinate hypertrophy by rhinoscope and nasal ventilatory function
Follow specific guidelines determined by the doctor
CAT scans, blood tests, cardiac and respiratory status tests

Anesthesia

Local and sedation, or general

Hospitalization

Ambulatory

Postoperative

After a turbinoplasty the patient needs to wear nose plugs temporarily for 24 to 48 hours.
Rest for 24 hours
Antibiotic and anti-inflammatory treatment
Weekly check-ups for 1 month

Convalescence

Normal life, but without excessive physical activity because of the earplugs that have to be put in.
Watch not to receive shocks in the treated area for one or two months.

RESULTS

- Improved nasal ventilation
- Improves the patient’s psychological profile and self-esteem
- It can eliminate snoring, depending on the case.

DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY

Simple operation

LEVEL OF RISK

- Low risk surgery

Possible complications

Postoperative bleeding
Infection
Formation of synechiae or adhesion between the turbinate and the septum.
Crust formation
Recurrence of hypertrophy
Empty nose syndrome or atrophic rhinitis (especially if complete turbinate resection is performed).

Frequently asked questions about nose surgery

When will I see a definitive result after a Rhinoplasty?

There are many factors that influence, the type of surgery, the patient’s own characteristics, previous interventions, etc. In general, approximate results can be seen in 15 to 21 days, but usually it is not until the third month that the result is more or less definitive. However, the nose may undergo minor changes for up to a year.

At what age can I have a Rhinoplasty?

It is not advisable to operate on any patient until the natural growth process is complete. In girls this usually occurs at 14 or 15 years of age, in boys it is usually up to 18 years of age, so in general terms we do not advise this type of intervention until after adolescence.

Can nose deviation and shortness of breath be corrected in the same surgery?

Yes. It is very common to see patients who breathe poorly because they have some degree of septal deviation that affects the correct flow of air into the nose. By correcting this deviation or obstruction we improve the appearance and restore respiratory function. That is to say, we correct the esthetic and functional part.

What type of anesthesia is used in Rhinoplasty?

It depends on the type of repair we have to perform. If only the tip (cartilage) needs to be corrected, it can be performed under local anesthesia and a little sedation. In cases in which we have to perform setum corrections or osteotomies it is indispensable to perform it under general anesthesia.

Should I stay in the hospital after a Rhinoplasty?

The intervention itself does not require hospitalization, but we must differentiate whether we do a simple rhinoplasty (cartilage) or complete (bone + cartilage). In the first case it is ambulatory and in the second case it may be necessary to spend 24 hours of hospitalization, more for the residual effects of anesthesia than for the Rhinoplasty as a procedure.

Do I have to wear a cast or splint after rhinoplasty?

Not all nose operations require the use of plaster or splint, only in cases of osteotomies they must be used for an average of one week, in other cases it is possible to use or not a support splint for one to 5 days, depending on the inflammation.

What tests do I need before performing a Rhinoplasty?

In case of a simple procedure under local anesthesia only a complete blood test is required, in case of more complex procedures under sedation or general anesthesia we will add a chest x-ray and an electrocardiogram.

How long does the procedure take and what is it like?

The operation takes approximately 2 to 3 hours. Aesthetic rhinoplasty consists of modifying the shape of the nose through small incisions or openings made inside the nose, or at the base of it in such a way that there is no external scar or it is practically imperceptible.

When will I be able to return to work?

It depends on the surgery and the type of activity you perform. In cases that do not involve major physical exercise, the patient can return to normal work after 3 days, but it should be noted that by this time there may still be swelling and some bruising in the area of the nose and eyelids. Usually after 7-10 days there are no stigmata of the intervention and after a month you can do intense physical exercise and sports.