I am going in for a rhinoplasty, surgeon stated takes 5 seconds to crush them. if no issue, take them out or keep?

Dr. Dean Kane Q & A.

Q. I am going in for a rhinoplasty, surgeon stated takes 5 seconds to crush them. If no issue, take them out or keep?

A. The turbinates are a very functional feature of the nose. Typically there are 4 turbinates along the outer side of the inner nose and they provide:

1. 1. hydration to the air we breath
2. 2. mucous to catch dust and any particles traveling toward the lungs
3. 3. heat the air
4. 4. provide a first defense in capturing bacteria and viruses.
5. 
   

They don’t seem so useful when they are congested or enlarged obstructing the ability to breath. At times when swollen they obstruct the sinuses causing pain and infection.

 Unless you have very severe symptoms from turbinate hypertrophy, I recommend injecting the turbinates with a steroid and fracturing it outwardly. This will increase the space available to breath by shrinking the turbinate size and angle the turbinate outward while keeping it available for its useful functions.

Removal of the turbinate should be used in only extreme cases due to the risk of complications including:

1. 1. bleeding,
2. 2. crusting,
3. 3. malodorous smells,
4. 4. dryness of air and others.
5. 
   

Please seek a well experienced and Board Certified Plastic Surgeon or ENT surgeon for evaluation and recommendations.

All the best!

Dean Kane, MD, FACS