NOSE&SINUS

TURBINOPLASTY

Dr. John Chaplin – ENT and Head and Neck Surgeon

Auckland NZ

What is Turbinoplasty?

Turbinoplasty is a surgical procedure to reduce the size of the nasal turbinates — small, spongy structures inside your nose that help warm and humidify the air you breathe. When these turbinates become enlarged (from allergies, chronic inflammation, or other causes), they can block airflow and make breathing through the nose difficult.

Turbinoplasty reshapes or reduces the turbinates so air can flow freely, improving breathing and reducing congestion. Turbinoplasty is usually performed in concert with a septoplasty or septorhinoplasty.

Why do you need a turbinoplasty?

You may be offered turbinoplasty if you have:

Chronic nasal obstruction that doesn’t improve with sprays or medication
Persistent congestion due to enlarged turbinates
Allergic rhinitis with refractory symptoms
Snoring or sleep-disordered breathing related to nasal blockage
Poor response to other treatments (e.g. nasal steroid sprays, antihistamines)

This operation can be done on its own or together with other procedures such as septoplasty or sinus surgery if needed.

How is Turbinoplasty Performed? (Techniques)

Turbinoplasty is usually performed under anaesthesia (local with sedation or general anaesthetic). The goal is to reduce the volume of the turbinate while preserving its lining and function.

Common techniques include:

Infracture and resection- under endoscopic control the turbinate is elevated and then partially resected with scissors. Small bone fragments are
Microdebrider – A specialised instrument gently shaves and removes tissue from inside the turbinate while keeping the outer lining intact. This reduces size with minimal bleeding and swelling.
Suction diathermy- is used to cauterise the base and the lining edges to reduce the risk of bleeding. Dr. Chaplin uses a combination of these techniques based on your symptoms and anatomy.

Possible Complications

Turbinoplasty is generally very safe, but like any surgery there are some risks. These are uncommon, and your surgeon will discuss them with you before your procedure.

Possible complications include:

Bleeding — usually mild, rarely needs intervention
Infection — rare with proper care
Crusting or dry nose — common during early healing
Altered sensation in the nose — usually temporary
Over-resection (too much tissue removed) — rarely leads to a “too-open” nose or persistent dryness

Serious complications are very rare and most people recover without issues.