How long does it take to recover normally after turbinate hypertrophy surgery?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on March 09, 2025
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Turbinate hypertrophy is a relatively common ENT disorder. Most patients can consider conservative medication treatment, usually including oral medications and nasal sprays. Additionally, rinsing the nasal cavity with saline solution can be utilized. If standardized medication does not lead to satisfactory results, surgical intervention might be necessary. Currently, the main procedures are partial turbinectomy under nasal endoscopy or plasma ablation surgery. Generally, these are minimally invasive surgeries with quite favorable outcomes. The recovery period varies among individuals, typically ranging from two weeks to about a month. Regular follow-ups are required during treatment. After surgery, nasal cleaning is necessary due to the presence of bloody secretions or crust in the nasal cavity, which is generally advised to be cleaned once every week or three days. (Please take medicines under the guidance of a professional physician.)

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
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Can nasal turbinates hypertrophy be seen with the naked eye?

Turbinate hypertrophy is visible to the naked eye as the turbinates are located on the lateral wall of the nasal cavity. When the turbinates are excessively enlarged, a dark red protrusion will appear inside the nasal cavity. Turbinate hypertrophy primarily leads to persistent progressive nasal congestion for the patient, along with feelings of nasal swelling, a foreign body sensation, and mucous nasal discharge. Turbinate hypertrophy is generally caused by acute and chronic rhinitis, allergic rhinitis, deviated nasal septum, and nasal polyps. It is necessary to visit a hospital for a detailed examination, where procedures like nasal endoscopy, sinus CT, complete blood count, and skin prick tests can confirm the diagnosis. In terms of treatment, during the acute phase, nebulized inhalation therapy using corticosteroids can be the first approach. This helps to reduce turbinate size and alleviate nasal congestion. Additionally, regular physical exercise and treatment of the primary disease are recommended. If conservative treatment is ineffective, partial resection of the bilateral lower turbinates may be needed.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Symptoms of turbinate hypertrophy

Turbinate hypertrophy is a relatively common disease, with significant individual differences in symptoms. Some patients simply have hypertrophy without obvious clinical manifestations, and it is only discovered during physical examinations or nasopharyngoscopy; Some patients may develop corresponding clinical symptoms, the most common being nasal congestion, runny nose, reduced sense of smell, snoring during sleep, and a foreign body sensation in the nasal cavity. In such cases, it is necessary to perform a sinus CT and nasopharyngoscopy to assess the severity of the condition. Generally, treatment options include oral medications and nasal sprays. Additionally, rinsing the nasal cavity with saline and regular follow-up observations to assess effectiveness are recommended.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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What should be noted for turbinate hypertrophy?

Patients with enlarged turbinates should pay attention to the following aspects: First, they need to visit an otolaryngologist regularly to observe changes in their condition. If accompanied by related clinical symptoms, medication should be considered. Second, in daily life, nasal irrigation with saline can be used to reduce the retention of nasal secretions, improve clinical symptoms, and alleviate the severity of enlarged turbinates. Third, it is important to avoid exposure to external irritants in daily life as much as possible and to avoid catching colds, as these factors can exacerbate the existing condition. Overall, enlarged turbinates are a common condition, and with timely treatment, the condition will gradually improve.

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
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Is hypertrophic turbinates easy to treat?

Enlarged turbinates are very treatable. Generally, turbinate enlargement is due to chronic rhinitis or allergic rhinitis inflammation. Patients may experience bilateral nasal congestion, alternating changes, turbinate congestion, edema, hyperplasia, and the presence of mucous or yellow secretions in the nasal cavity. In treatment, conservative treatments like microwave or laser therapy can be initially used with good effects. However, if a patient repeatedly suffers from colds and inflammation, this can lead to persistent turbinate growth, at which point localized surgical removal may be necessary. Surgery requires general anesthesia and involves partial removal of turbinates on both sides, but the lower third of the inferior turbinate should not be removed to avoid the risk of empty nose syndrome. Postoperative use of antibiotics is necessary to prevent local infections, and improvement can generally be expected within about a week. (Medication usage should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Can Chinese medicine cure hypertrophic turbinates?

Turbinate hypertrophy includes hypertrophy of the inferior and middle turbinates. Turbinate hypertrophy is mainly caused by chronic inflammation, which is rhinitis. The general treatment mainly involves medication, particularly local medications such as nasal corticosteroids and nasal vasoconstrictors that constrict blood vessels in the nasal mucosa. Traditional Chinese medicine can be somewhat effective, primarily involving aromatic herbs or proprietary Chinese medicines to provide some therapeutic effect; however, these are mostly used as supplementary treatments and should not be the primary medication. Moreover, their use should be under the guidance of a doctor. Additionally, a CT scan is needed for turbinate hypertrophy to assess if there is any bony enlargement of the turbinates; if there is, surgical treatment may need to be considered.