Post-laser sequelae of turbinate hypertrophy

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on February 14, 2025
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Using laser treatment for hypertrophic turbinates can potentially lead to complications, the more common ones being nasal dryness and mucosal erosion. It may also cause recurring nasal bleeding. Additionally, some patients might experience a burning sensation or the feeling of a foreign body in the nasal cavity. More serious cases could lead to a nasal septum perforation. Hence, the specific complications vary from individual to individual. After surgery, it is necessary to have regular check-ups at the otolaryngology department, where procedures like nasal endoscopy and routine blood tests can help in assessing the condition. In the event of complications, timely and targeted treatment should be administered to mitigate the severity of these complications and improve the patient's quality of life.

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
1min 5sec home-news-image

Can you drink alcohol with enlarged turbinates?

It is best not to drink alcohol if you have enlarged turbinates, as alcohol can stimulate the dilation of blood vessels, leading to congestion and swelling of the turbinates, which in turn exacerbates nasal congestion symptoms. Enlarged turbinates are just a clinical presentation, not a disease. The most common cause of enlarged turbinates in clinical settings is chronic rhinitis. Chronic rhinitis results from repeated acute inflammatory stimuli, causing congestion, swelling, and hyperplasia of the turbinate mucosa. Patients may experience bilateral nasal congestion that progressively worsens and may also have abnormal secretions in the nasal cavity. During an examination with an electronic rhinoscope, pronounced congestion and swelling in both middle and lower turbinates can be observed, sometimes showing mulberry-like changes on the surface. For treatment, patients may need to undergo a partial inferior turbinectomy, which requires hospitalization, and recovery is typically about one week before discharge.

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
1min 12sec home-news-image

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 Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Does turbinate hypertrophy require surgery?

In clinical practice, hypertrophy of the nasal turbinates must be differentiated by various causes. If the hypertrophy is simple, such as due to nasal mucosal vasoconstrictors like ephedrine nasal drops or phenylephrine nasal drops, which show good shrinkage response, it suggests a simple hypertrophy, often mainly treated with medication. If the surface of the hypertrophied turbinate is uneven and unresponsive to vasoconstrictors, and if there is severe nasal congestion, reduced sense of smell or even loss of it, then medication may not effectively alleviate the condition. Surgical treatment, such as partial resection of the inferior nasal turbinate, would be needed to restore normal nasal airways.

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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.

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
1min 13sec home-news-image

Can massage help with enlarged turbinates?

Local massage is not effective for hypertrophic turbinates, which are generally caused by prolonged chronic inflammation stimulation, as well as episodes of allergic rhinitis leading to bilateral turbinate diffuse congestion, edema, hyperplasia, and hypertrophy. After the enlargement of the turbinates, patients mainly experience persistent, gradual nasal congestion on both sides, accompanied by a foreign body sensation in the nasal cavity and swelling. Patients may also experience a decrease in sense of smell, memory decline, facial swelling, and headaches, and should visit a hospital for a detailed examination with an endoscope and sinus CT scan to confirm the diagnosis. In terms of treatment, if the condition is due to inflammation or infection, symptomatic anti-inflammatory treatment is required, and if it is due to a localized allergic reaction, symptomatic anti-allergy treatment should be administered. Regular physical exercise to restore the function of the nasal mucosa is recommended. If conservative treatment is ineffective, surgery to partially remove the inferior turbinates on both sides may be necessary.