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What is Concha Surgery?

Breathing through the nose is one of the most natural necessities of life. However, sometimes problems such as nasal congestion, shortness of breath or constant mouth breathing can make daily life difficult. Well, how much do we know about concha growth, which is one of the underlying causes of these problems? In this article, we will discuss in detail what the turbinates are located in the nose and provide healthy breathing, how they affect our body when they grow and the turbinate surgery that offers a solution to this situation. If you are ready, take a deep breath and let’s get started!

What is Concha Surgery?

The nose is not only an organ that allows us to breathe, but also the air filtering, moisturizing and heating center of our body. In the realization of these functions, the structures in the nose called turbinates play a major role. Conchae, simply put, are structures of bone and soft tissue in the nasal cavity that regulate the air we breathe.

Concha Enlargement and its Effects on Health

However, in some cases, these structures can grow and narrow the nasal cavity, making breathing difficult. Enlarged turbinates can be caused by many factors such as allergies, chronic sinusitis, nasal curvature (deviation), smoking or environmental factors. When turbinates enlarge, they can lead to the following health problems

Constant nasal congestion
Mouth breathing habit
Snoring and sleep apnea
Problems with smell
Headaches and chronic fatigue

In such cases, concha surgery comes into play. Concha surgery is a surgical intervention that aims to open the airway by reducing the size of the turbinates in the nose. This surgery, performed with modern techniques, offers both a fast recovery process and long-term comfort.

Thanks to concha surgery, patients can breathe more easily, improve their sleep quality and gain significant comfort in their daily lives. Now, let’s look at who this surgery is suitable for.

Who Is Suitable for Concha Surgery?

Concha surgery is an operation that stands out as a permanent solution to problems that reduce the quality of life of people such as nasal congestion. However, this surgery may not be suitable for everyone. In order for surgery to be necessary, certain conditions are expected to have occurred, which we will list below.

Conditions Requiring Concha Surgery

Chronic Nasal Congestion: Especially in cases where the turbinates enlarge and narrow the airway due to allergies, sinusitis or nasal curvature (deviation), surgery is considered when drug treatment is not effective.
Mouth Breathing Habit: Continuous mouth breathing is a sign that the airflow in the nose is not sufficient and this can lead to dental and jaw problems over time.
Snoring and Sleep Apnea: An enlarged turbinate can block the airway during sleep, causing snoring and even sleep apnea.
Olfactory Problems: Swelling of the turbinates can also negatively affect the sense of smell.
Headaches and Sinus Problems: Enlarged turbinates can cause chronic headaches and sinus congestion by preventing the sinuses from functioning properly.

If one or more of the above complaints apply to you, turbinate surgery may offer a permanent solution for you.

What Tests Are Performed Before Deciding on Surgery?

Before deciding on turbinate surgery, your doctor will want to perform a detailed examination and some tests to understand your condition:

Physical Examination: Examining the inside of the nose with a camera or endoscope helps to understand the size of the turbinates and the obstruction in the airway.
Allergy Tests: If you have a chronic allergic condition, allergy tests may be performed to determine whether the growth of the turbinate is caused by allergies.
Radiologic Imaging: If necessary, imaging methods such as tomography or MRI can be used to see the structure of the sinuses and turbinates in detail.
Respiratory Function Tests: These tests, performed with special devices that evaluate nasal airflow, are useful to measure the effect of the turbinates on the airway.

As a result of these tests, patients who do not respond to drug treatment and whose quality of life is severely affected are evaluated as suitable candidates for turbinate surgery and the surgery phase is started. Now, let’s look at how this important operation is performed.

How is Concha Surgery Performed?

Concha surgery consists of different techniques applied to reduce or reshape the turbinates that block the airway in the nose. Which method is preferred may vary depending on the patient’s needs, nasal anatomy and the doctor’s recommendations. The most common techniques used for turbinate treatment can be listed as follows:

Laser Concha Reduction

Laser turbinate reduction is a minimally invasive procedure and is usually performed under local anesthesia. The laser beam shrinks the tissues inside the enlarged turbinates and opens the airway.

Advantages: The risk of bleeding is low, the procedure is quick and discharge is usually possible the same day.
Area of Use: It is an effective method in mild and moderate concha growths.

Radiofrequency Method

The radiofrequency method uses heat energy to shrink the tissue of the turbinates. In this procedure, which is performed under local anesthesia, radiofrequency waves are sent through a probe inserted into the nose.

Advantages: Recovery time after the procedure is short, pain and discomfort are minimal.
Area of Use: It is generally preferred in concha growths caused by allergies or mild swelling.

Concha Surgery with Surgical Intervention

In cases where the turbinates are severely enlarged or other methods are not sufficient, surgical intervention is applied. In this method, part of the turbinates are surgically removed or reshaped.

Advantages It is a permanent and effective solution, with a high success rate in severe cases.
Area of Use: It is applied in cases such as severe concha enlargement or accompanying nasal curvature (deviation).
How is it performed? During the procedure performed under general anesthesia, the problematic parts of the turbinates are carefully removed and the airway is opened.

The advantages and application area of each method are different. Therefore, the most appropriate technique is selected according to the patient’s condition. Now that we have discussed the surgical methods and how the procedure is performed, we can now move on to what awaits the patient during the operation process.

Concha Surgery Process

Concha surgery requires careful preparation and planning. For the surgery to be successful, it is important that both the patient and the doctor manage this process well. We can note what should be known about the process of turbinate surgery as follows:

Preoperative Preparation

In preparation for turbinate surgery, the doctor evaluates the patient’s general health status and performs some tests:

Review of Medical History: It includes detailed questioning of the patient’s history of nasal congestion, allergy status and chronic diseases, if any.

Detailed Examination: It involves examining the inside of the nose with a camera or endoscope to determine the size of the turbinates and the degree of congestion.
Examinations and Tests: If necessary, allergy tests, blood tests and pulmonary function tests that evaluate nasal airflow.
Medication Use: If the patient is taking medication regularly, the doctor should be informed about this before surgery. Blood thinners are usually stopped a few days in advance.
Smoking and Alcohol Consumption: Smoking and alcohol can negatively affect the healing process. It is therefore recommended to stop a few weeks before surgery.

Types of Anesthesia Available

The type of anesthesia used in turbinate surgery depends on the method chosen and the general health status of the patient:

Local Anesthesia: It is preferred for mild interventions (such as laser or radiofrequency). The patient is awake during the procedure but does not feel pain.
General Anesthesia: Preferred for more extensive surgical procedures. The patient is completely anesthetized and does not feel any discomfort during the procedure.

Duration of Surgery and Procedure Details

The duration of turbinate surgery varies according to the method used:

Minimally Invasive Methods: Procedures performed with laser or radiofrequency method usually take 15-30 minutes.
Surgical Intervention: Since surgical methods are more extensive, the procedure can usually take up to 1 hour.
During surgery, the doctor opens the airway by reducing the size of the turbinates and ensures the continuation of normal functions in the nose. During the procedure, minimal damage to the nose is minimized, which speeds up the healing process.

If this process is managed correctly, it ensures that the patient is physically and psychologically prepared for the surgery, communicates effectively with the doctor and develops the right expectations.

Now that we have explained the surgical process, we can continue with the postoperative healing process.

Recovery Process After Concha Surgery

The process after turbinate surgery is of great importance for the patient’s comfort and full recovery. For a successful outcome of the surgery, it is necessary to follow your doctor’s recommendations and closely follow the healing process. Here are the most prominent issues that you should definitely pay attention to in this process:

Things to Consider After Surgery

Nose Care: You should regularly use nasal sprays or saline solutions recommended by your doctor to moisturize the inside of the nose and speed healing.
Physical Activity: It is important to rest for the first few days. You should avoid heavy lifting, intense exercise and activities that can increase the pressure inside the nose.
Smoking and Alcohol: Smoking and alcohol can slow down the healing of the delicate tissues in the nose. Therefore, they should be avoided during the healing process.
Lying Position: To reduce swelling and congestion after surgery, it is beneficial to lie with the head up.

How Long Does the Healing Process Take?

The recovery time in turbinate surgery depends on the method chosen and the general health status of the patient:

With minimally invasive methods (laser or radiofrequency), patients can usually return to their daily activities within a few days.
With surgical interventions, full recovery can take up to several weeks. However, most patients feel significant relief within 1-2 weeks after the procedure.

Does Nasal Congestion Go Away Immediately?

Swelling may naturally occur in the nose after surgery and this may cause a short-term congestion. However, this usually resolves within a few days to a week.

In such cases, nasal sprays and solutions recommended by your doctor will help to reduce swelling and open the airway.
Usually after the first week, patients notice that they begin to breathe more easily. A feeling of complete relief is achieved as the nasal tissues heal completely (usually within a few weeks).

It is important to go to the doctor regularly in the postoperative period to monitor the healing process and prevent possible complications.

Benefits and Risks of Concha Surgery

Concha surgery is an effective surgical procedure that aims to improve the quality of life of patients. However, as with any surgical intervention, this surgery has some potential risks as well as significant benefits. Here are the details

Benefits of Concha Surgery

More Comfortable Breathing: After surgery, the nasal airway opens and patients can breathe more easily. This significantly improves the quality of daily life.
Improved Sleep Quality: Problems such as snoring and sleep apnea are reduced and thus a more restful sleep is possible.
Restoration of the sense of smell: Reduction of the turbinates can eliminate obstacles that negatively affect the sense of smell.
Reduced Sinus Problems: By facilitating sinus drainage, the effect of chronic problems such as sinusitis can be reduced.
Improved General Health and Energy: Thanks to better breathing, problems such as headaches, fatigue and lack of concentration are reduced.

Risks of Concha Surgery

Temporary Nasal Congestion: Nasal congestion may occur for a few days due to postoperative swelling.
Bleeding: Although very rare, mild bleeding from the nose may occur. These bleeding usually stop spontaneously without the need for additional treatment.
Infection: As with any surgical procedure, there is a risk of infection. However, this risk is minimized with the use of antibiotics and regular care.
Nasal Dryness: Dryness may be experienced after surgery due to the sensitivity of the tissues in the nose. Moisturizing sprays recommended by the doctor alleviate this condition.
Rarely Permanent Problems: In a very low probability, permanent damage to the nasal structure or unexpected complications may occur. This is usually seen in advanced surgical interventions.

Concha surgery is generally a very safe procedure and the risks are considerably reduced thanks to modern techniques. However, it is critical to follow the doctor’s instructions before and after the surgery in order to complete the process smoothly.

Concha surgery offers an effective solution for conditions that reduce quality of life such as breathing problems and nasal congestion. In this article, we have discussed the process, benefits and possible risks of the surgery. If you are struggling with nasal congestion or similar complaints, you can contact Aktif International Hospital to create a solution plan that suits your needs. We wish you healthy breaths!