How is septoplasty or turbinate reduction different from sinus surgery?
The nasal septum separates the nasal passages from one another. Most nasal airflow passes between the septum and the inferior turbinate, a sausage-shaped structure on the inside of each nasal passage, that swells in response to changes in blood flow, allergy inflammation, infection, humidity and temperature change, etc. Septoplasty is a procedure in which a deviated (crooked) nasal septum is straightened, while turbinate reduction involves decreasing the bulk of the inferior turbinate on each side. These procedures improve airflow through the nostrils, reducing “nasal blockage” or “stuffy nose”. These procedures are often combined with FESS.
