Turbinate Reduction
Nasal turbinates are long, curly bone structures which extend into the breathing passageways of the nostrils. In each nostril, the turbinates create four air passages in the nasal airway and occur on the nostrils’ lateral walls.
The turbinates are mostly covered by the mucosal tissue in the nose. When air is inhaled through the nose, the largest turbinates are responsible for filtering, heating and humidifying the air.
The mucosal lining the turbinates is also responsible for trapping and filtering airborne particles. This typically means that the turbinates are an essential part of the immune system that fights disease.
Nasal blockage is treated with a surgery called septoplasty. A surgeon can also perform a septoplasty to treat long-term sinusitis, remove nasal polyps and treat other conditions that block the airway. Sometimes surgeons may recommend a septoplasty to stop recurrent nosebleeds.
However, a septoplasty is only recommended by doctors after ruling out other treatments for nasal blockages.