Our patients with allergic rhinitis generally think that nasal surgery will not be beneficial for the treatment of their diseases. Yes, surgery does not cure the allergy, but it helps to reduce the allergy disease, although not directly. Allergy, as we all know, is a disease characterized by the overreaction of the tissues in our nose and upper respiratory tract to elements such as dust and pollen in the external environment.
When the allergic element comes to the tissue lined with respiratory epithelium, such as the nose, a severe counter-response develops against it. The tissue swells and produces too much excretion, responding too much to remove the substance and disproportionate to the incoming element measure. This causes complaints such as nasal congestion, discharge, sneezing, redness around the eyes and popular tearing, which we call nasal allergy. If the patient also has nasal division curvature, these complaints double. If it is not treated on time, it causes the epithelium filling the nose and sinuses to grow excessively, regional obstructions and even the formation of polyp tissues such as grape bunches in the nose.
So, where is the benefit of nose surgery?
Surgery does not cure allergies. In patients with mild or severe allergic rhinitis, surgery is required if there is nasal division curvature and sinusitis. Since the surgery is not aimed at allergies, the nasal airway passage is opened and breathing is relieved, the sinus holes are widened and the contacts with the nose are increased, providing advanced relief for the patients.
In addition, an even more beneficial result is obtained if the nasal concha, which is the surface where allergies are most common, is reduced. Well, as we asked before, what is the benefit of this for allergies? The counter is actually easy and functional. In the epithelium lining the upper respiratory tract, such as the inside of the nose, the surface that encounters the allergen has decreased. This physical benefit causes less allergen retention and less complaints thanks to a healthy functioning epithelium. Patients use less allergy medication after surgery and patients’ complaints about the disease come to a level that does not cause much discomfort.
It should also be noted that if the allergy is stopped in the upper respiratory tract, the disease will not occur in the lungs and lower airways.