Functional Nasal Surgery For Airway Obstruction

One of the most common and troubling complaints that patients have when they visit their Otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist) is nasal airway obstruction—the stuffy nose. There are many causes of nasal stuffiness, including: deviated nasal septum, sinusitis, turbinate hypertrophy, nasal valve collapse, allergies, and nasal polyps.

Functional nasal surgery is an operation done to improve a patient’s ability to breathe through the nose. A crooked or deviated septum often needs to be repaired, along with reduction in the size of the turbinates. In addition, nasal valve collapse may require stabilisation.

A nasal examination with a fiberoptic camera will often be performed in the office to fully evaluate the nasal airway and anatomy. Your Otolaryngologist will determine the full extent of the surgery based on your diagnosis and existing nasal anatomy.

Functional nasal surgery can be combined with rhinoplasty if a change in appearance is desired, or kept as a purely functional procedure.