Turbinate Reduction

What Are Turbinates?

Turbinates are shelf-like bony structures inside your nasal cavity, lined with soft tissue. The inferior turbinates — the largest pair — play an important role in warming, humidifying, and filtering the air you breathe. When these structures become chronically swollen (a condition called turbinate hypertrophy), they can significantly block airflow and make it difficult to breathe through your nose.

Why Do Turbinates Swell?

Turbinate hypertrophy can be triggered by:

• Chronic allergies, especially in high-allergen areas like Austin
• Chronic rhinitis (ongoing nasal inflammation)
• A deviated septum, which can cause the opposite turbinate to compensate and enlarge
• Environmental irritants like smoke or pollution
• Hormonal changes

When nasal steroid sprays, antihistamines, and saline rinses fail to provide lasting relief, turbinate reduction may be recommended.

How the Procedure Works

Turbinate reduction is a minimally invasive procedure performed in our Austin office. The most common technique uses radiofrequency energy to carefully reduce the size of the turbinate tissue while preserving its ability to humidify and filter air. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia with minimal discomfort.

Recovery and Results

There is little to no downtime — most patients return to normal activities within one to two days. Nasal saline rinses are recommended to support healing, and full results are typically achieved within four to six weeks as the tissue gradually remodels. Turbinate reduction can also be combined with septoplasty or other nasal procedures for comprehensive improvement in a single session.

If chronic nasal congestion is affecting your breathing, sleep, or quality of life, our ENT specialists can evaluate whether turbinate reduction is right for you.