Nasal Procedures
A permanently blocked nose affects sleep, exercise, taste and concentration far more than most people admit. Several different problems cause it, and endoscopic examination distinguishes them, which matters because the treatments are quite different.
- Endoscopic assessment first
- Day-care in most cases
- No external scars
- Cause identified rather than assumed
Stay
Day care or one night
Duration
30 to 60 minutes
Anaesthesia
Local or general
About Nasal Procedures
Nasal obstruction comes from a deviated septum, enlarged turbinates, polyps, allergy or a combination. Surgery addresses the structural causes: reducing turbinates, removing polyps, straightening the septum. Allergy still needs medical treatment afterwards, and expecting surgery to cure an allergy is the commonest reason patients are disappointed.
- Several different causes need different treatments
- Surgery does not cure the underlying allergy
- Polyps recur without ongoing medical treatment
- All done through the nostrils with no external scars
Before you read on
Everything here is general information about nasal procedures. Whether it suits you, and how it would be done in your case, is a decision for your doctor after examining you.
Your consultant's instructions always take precedence over anything written on this page.
When is it recommended?
Situations in which a doctor may suggest nasal procedures.
- Persistent nasal blockage not responding to sprays
- Enlarged turbinates causing obstruction
- Nasal polyps
- Recurrent nosebleeds needing cautery
- Blockage worse on one side
- Loss of smell with nasal obstruction
Procedure details
The usual sequence, from first consultation through to follow-up.
Endoscopic assessment
A thin endoscope examines the inside of the nose, showing exactly what is causing the blockage rather than inferring it.
Medical treatment first
Nasal steroids and allergy treatment are tried properly, as they resolve a good proportion of cases without surgery.
Surgery
Turbinate reduction, polyp removal or cautery, done through the nostrils with no external incisions.
Aftercare
Saline rinses and continued nasal steroids, which are as important as the surgery in maintaining the result.
How to prepare
What to sort out before you come in.
- Bring any CT scan of the sinuses if you have had one
- Continue nasal sprays until told otherwise, as they reduce inflammation before surgery
- Stop blood thinners only on instruction, as nasal surgery bleeds
- Arrange a few quiet days afterwards
- Buy saline rinse before surgery, as it is needed from the first days
Recovery
What to expect afterwards, and roughly when.
- The nose feels more blocked for the first week due to swelling, which is expected
- Saline rinsing several times daily is essential for a good result
- Light bleeding for a few days is normal; heavy bleeding is not
- Avoid nose blowing, straining and hot showers for the first week
- The full benefit is usually apparent at four to six weeks
Why choose Humayun for nasal surgery
Nasal surgery disappoints when the cause was allergy and the expectation was a cure.
- Endoscopic assessment first, so the cause is seen rather than assumed
- Medical treatment tried properly before surgery is offered
- Honest explanation that surgery does not cure allergy, which prevents disappointment
- Saline rinsing and ongoing sprays explained, since they maintain the result
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