When Should Surgery Be Considered to Treat a Chronically Stuffy Nose?
The deviated septum can be corrected with a surgical procedure called a septoplasty. Cosmetic changes to the nose are often performed at the same time, in a combination procedure called a septorhinoplasty. Overgrowth of the turbinates is yet another cause of nasal stuffiness. (The turbinates are the “air conditioners” of the nose – they warm, filter & humidify the air we breathe.) Sometimes enlarged turbinates need treatment to make them smaller and expand the nasal passages. If medical therapy has failed, surgery to reduce their size may be performed. Allergies, too, can cause swelling of the intranasal membranes. Consequently, allergy evaluation and treatment may be necessary. [ top ] Can Surgery Correct a Stuffy, Aging Nose? Aging is a common cause of nasal obstruction. This occurs when cartilage in the nose and tip are weakened by age and droop because of gravity, causing the sides of the nose to collapse inward, obstructing air flow. Mouth breathing, snoring, or noisy and restrict
