If surgery is indicated, speak to your doctor about procedures that spare the cilia. Here only the bone is removed and the turbinate shrinks and goes to the side so it doesn't block airflow. Radiofrequency treatment . Here, a probe which emits radio waves is used to congeal the tissue under the mucosa. One such procedure is called a Somnoplasty Limited turbinate removal.
Most doctors have the necessary skill to remove small portions of the turbinate without doing harm.
Procedures that may result in Empty Nose Syndrome when done improperly include wide chemical or electric cautery, laser cautery, and of course, surgical removal. Fortunately treatment is available for this condition. For example, Dr Steven Houser of Cleveland is developing a technique of implanting tissue that has helped these patients. DR Terrance Davidson of San Diego is the originator of adding antibiotics to pulsatile irrigation solution for clearing infection. The pulsation mimics the cilia action, and can act as a partial replacement of this action.