In Office Procedures

In office turbinoplasty

The nasal turbinates are bony structures covered with mucosa and vascular tissue which are located on the inside of the nose on each side. When these are large or swollen, from colds or allergies, they can obstruct airflow and make breathing difficult through the nose.


Right Inferior Turbinate

turb hypertrophy

Turbinate Hypertrophy

Turbinoplasty involves using heat to shrink this tissue, so that air can more easily pass. A special type of device is ofen used called a coblator, a long slender needle which heats the tissues to a specific temperature to allow shrinkage but not damage to surrounding tissue. In the office setting, this can be done after the nasal cavities are anesthetized with local anesthesia, so that the patient does not feel any pain during the procedure. The procedure lasts around 15 minutes, and following this the patient can resume normal activities. Often postop visits are needed to remove crusting as the turbinates heal.

Balloon sinuplasty:

A growing number of patients with sinusitis can be treated in the office using a small catheter and balloon to dilate the natural openings ( Osteum ) of the sinuses and promote drainage. The patients nose is first decongested and injected with local anesthesia, and using an endoscope and catheter, each individual sinus opening is identified using a tiny guidewire which slides into the sinus. A light is seen which confirms placement, and then the balloon which is 5-6 mm is inflated with saline. This widens the natural osteum atraumatically. The patient is able to go home the same day and there is no downtime.

sinus balloon pic