The impact of septorhinoplasty and anterior turbinoplasty on nasal conditioning.

[BACKGROUND] Septorhinoplasty and turbinoplasty is a frequently performed operation in facial plastic surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate nasal conditioning after septorhinoplasty and inferior turbinoplasty in patients with internal and external nasal deformities and hypertrophy of the inferior turbinates and to determine its relation to nasal patency.

[METHODS] Ten patients and 10 volunteers as controls were enrolled into this study. Measurement of nasal conditioning and active anterior rhinomanometry were performed before and 4-6 months after functional-esthetic septorhinoplasty and inferior turbinoplasty.

[RESULTS] Nasal airflow was significantly higher postoperatively than preoperatively. The preoperative nasal temperature (TEMP) and heat increase (HI) was lower in the patients compared with the controls. The postoperative TEMP, HI, total water content, and water gradient were significantly higher than the preoperative values.

[CONCLUSION] Based on this relatively small series, functional-esthetic septorhinoplasty in combination with inferior turbinoplasty may be associated with improved nasal conditioning.