Does Turbinate Reduction Change the Shape Of the Nose?

Nose turbinates are the natural air purifiers in the nose that let the air in, warm it, purify it, and then send it right into the body. When they become enlarged or swollen, they make it hard for you to breathe through your nose. This is when turbinate reduction is done. However, one question that people ask is: Does turbinate reduction change the shape of the nose?

No, it doesn’t change the external shape of your nose. It’s an internal procedure where, through your nostrils, the size of the turbinates is reduced and the swelling is decreased. 

It has no effect on your external shape, as it doesn’t involve working with the cartilage or the nose structure. However, it could have an indirect effect on the nasal shape in certain situations that we’ll discuss in this guide. 

Does Turbinate Reduction Change the Shape of the Nose?

The simple answer is no, nasal turbinate reduction doesn’t change the shape of your nose. Turbinate structures are the internal parts of your nose that filter, warm, and humidify the air before it goes into your body. 

When they become enlarged or swollen, they make it difficult to breathe and you have to breathe through your mouth. To shrink the turbinates, the turbinate reduction surgery is done.

It’s done internally through your nostrils, by removing the extra tissue from the turbinates, shrinking them to improve the airflow. Since the cartilage of your nose and its structure are intact and not manipulated, the external shape stays unchanged.

Does Turbinate Reduction Make Your Nose Smaller Or Larger?

Enlarged turbinates surgery doesn’t make your nose smaller or larger. It works only on the inferior turbinates of your nose, removing their swelling and shrinking them to unblock the airflow. 

It doesn’t involve reshaping your nose or making any significant incisions that could result in a change of the shape. The nose outside remains unchanged after the procedure.

Situations Where Turbinate Reduction Can Change The Shape

Septoplasty, excessive tissue removal, and scar tissue formation are situations when the turbinate reduction can have an indirect effect on the shape of your nose.

Septoplasty

When you’re struggling with a deviated septum as well as enlarged turbinates, septoplasty may be done combined with turbinate reduction. Septoplasty is a procedure to fix the deviated septum to improve the airflow and make it easier for you to breathe.

The turbinate reduction doesn’t change the shape, but septoplasty can as it involves incisions and the manipulation of the cartilage.

Excessive Tissue Removal

When surgeons excessively remove tissue from the nose, it can cause the nasal bridge to collapse and also other changes to its shape. 

It usually happens with older patients due to having a weak nasal bone. Also, it happens due to outdated surgical techniques being used. It’s uncommon with modern surgical techniques.

Scar Tissue Formation

During the healing process, the body produces scar tissue to heal the wound from the surgery. When it’s excessive, it affects the nasal airflow or the internal structure, but has no effect on the external shape.

How To Prevent Nasal Shape Change In Turbinate Reduction?

The turbinate reduction doesn’t change the shape of your nose in any way, but surgical errors of inexperienced surgeons can. Sometimes, the surgeons are not experienced enough, and they accidentally remove extra cartilage from your nose that may result in the nasal bridge collapsing, changing the shape.

So, to prevent the shape change in turbinate reduction, you need to choose a board-certified surgeon who can offer you tailored turbinate reduction surgery with precision to avoid any other changes. You can get such highly experienced, double-board-certified plastic surgeons at Asli Tarcan Clinic.

They know all the modern surgical techniques and have the equipment to precisely shrink your turbinates without causing any changes to the nasal shape. Contact Asli Tarcan today to fix enlarged inferior turbinates.

Asli Tarcan: Subtle Changes, Big Impact

Does turbinate reduction change the shape of the nose? No, it doesn’t change the nasal shape in any way, as it’s an internal process with no external incisions or cartilage or structure manipulation. 

It, through your nostrils, internally shrinks the size of the enlarged inferior turbinates by removing the extra tissue without reshaping or changes in the external nasal shape. Though when the enlarged turbinates are shrunk, they can make your nose look a little smaller, but it won’t shrink your nose.

If you want to get customized turbinate reduction that causes no changes to the nose’s shape, you can contact Asli Tarcan Clinic. We’ll help you get better airflow, air filtration, and warming again with your turbinates without changing the structure of your nose. Call now!

Does turbinate reduction affect nose shape?

No, the procedure itself doesn’t change your outer nose shape unless there’s a surgical mistake or overcorrection.

Can I pick my nose after turbinate reduction?

Not right away. You should avoid it during healing to prevent bleeding or irritation, usually for a few weeks.

Can sinuses change nose shape?

Not usually, but in rare cases, chronic infections or surgery around the sinuses might subtly affect structure over time.

Does your nose look different after septoplasty and turbinate reduction?

Most people look the same, but slight changes can happen if bone or cartilage is involved.