There are several causes of chronic nasal obstruction. Whatever the cause, this problem prevents normal breathing, and can affect eating and drinking, as well as speech. Nasal obstruction may also contribute to snoring, sleep disorders, and headaches.

Your doctor has recommended a procedure to address the swollen tissues in your nose. The treatment is called Somnoplasty, and involves the delivery of low-level radio frequency energy to the lining of the inferior turbinate, a small scroll of bone on each side of your nose. The delivery of this energy creates an area of coagulation, which will subsequently heal over a three to four week period with resultant resorption of the tissue causing the obstruction.

The procedure takes less than thirty minutes, and most patients do not require any pain medication. Patients as young as 12 years of age have tolerated this office procedure very well. There will be some swelling and mild discomfort for a few days following the procedure. Printed instructions regarding care of your nose are provided the day of the procedure.