What is surgery of the sinus? Chronic sinus issues are severe enough to disrupt your quality of life. Swollen sinuses can make it difficult for you to breathe and lead to other complications such as sleep apnea or excessive snoring.
A professional ENT specialist will first treat the symptoms by prescribing antibiotics or treating allergies. However, severe cases may not respond to medications and usually require a surgical procedure called sinus surgery. This surgical procedure allows doctors to operate on the sinus cavities and the nose for realigning the structure.
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What is Surgery Of The Sinus?
The purpose of the surgery is to clear blockages and open the pathways of the sinuses. The option is best for individuals who suffer from chronic sinus infections or abnormal growth in the sinus. Sinus surgery is a brief procedure that provides significant results with fewer risks or complications.
Many conditions require sinus surgery to alleviate symptoms, the most common of which is sinusitis. Sinusitis refers to the swelling of the sinuses and passages that lead to pressure in the eyes, nose, and forehead, a stuffy nose, nasal drainage, cough, and more.
In some cases, sinusitis leads to a nasal polyp. Enlarged polyps are swelling of the nasal lining inside our nose. When they expand, we experience symptoms like nasal blockages and a reduced sense of taste. These symptoms may infect the sinuses.
Deviated septums reduce airflow as they block one side of the nose, causing a reduction in air. An ENT specialist offers treatments for reducing the swelling of the nasal tissue that contributes to the deviation. However, if the patient doesn’t respond to medical treatments, the doctor will suggest sinus surgery for restoring the balance to improve airflow.
What is the Goal of the Surgery?
The purpose of the sinus surgery is to remove any blockage in the drainage pathways of the sinuses. An ENT specialist may remove:
- nasal polyps
- mucous membranes
- growths or tumors blocking the sinus or nasal passage
- damaged or swollen tissues
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Apart from abnormal growths, recurrent blockages, and other infections leading to inflammation in the sinuses and nasal passages, the most common triggers include nasal polyps and sinusitis.
Types of Sinus Surgery
If your ENT specialist recommends a sinus surgery, he may choose any one of the following surgical procedures.
FESS: Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
The procedure is one of the most common options for sinus surgery. The FESS procedure utilizes a magnifying endoscope to view the sinuses and remove any affected bone or tissue. As the surgery opens the connection between the nose and sinuses, the resulting outcome includes reduced blockages, better drainage, and healthy tissues inside the nose. The process involves making small incisions inside the nose for allowing a small tube with a light and camera to inspect the nasal cavity. Generally, a doctor performs FESS along with other sinus surgery options such as Septoplasty.
Balloon Sinuplasty
Balloon sinuplasty offers a treatment solution for severe sinus blockage or inflammation in the nose and severe rhinosinusitis. When the ENT specialist doesn’t have to remove anything from the sinuses, he will usually choose Balloon sinuplasty to treat chronic sinus issues. In this procedure, the doctor puts a thin tube (with a small balloon attached at one end) into the nose. The doctor guides the balloon to the blocked area inside the nose for inflating it, which clears the pathway to help sinuses drain better.
Septoplasty
When an individual suffers from chronic sinusitis and the compounding issue of deviated septum and congestion, the doctor usually recommends Septoplasty. This process opens the air passages and redirects the alignment by restructuring the bone and cartilage.
Functional Rhinoplasty
Another standard procedure is functional rhinoplasty, which allows an ENT surgeon to remove abnormalities that lead to breathing issues and inflammation.
Are There any Risks of Surgery Of The Sinus?
Luckily, the surgery has fewer risks than other surgical procedures. In some cases, patients may report signs of an infection or a tissue injury. More problems that are serious but rare can include eye or brain injury.
If your ENT specialist recommends sinus surgery for treatment, discuss all possible risks and benefits to have a clear picture.
Post-Surgery Care
Your doctor may prescribe medications, antibiotics, and saline rinses after surgery to help you recover quickly. Here are a few things to remember after your surgery:
- Avoid blowing your nose for at least a week
- Use an extra pillow to sleep with a raised head
- Keep your mouth open when you sneeze
Final Thoughts
While surgery of the sinus may not be the definitive cure for sinusitis, it can immensely relieve the pressure off your nasal cavities and ease your life. An ENT specialist can inspect and treat your sinus-related problems.
To know more about sinus surgery treatment options, get in touch with Michael Burnett, MD. He is a top NYC specialist in problems of the ear, nose, throat, and sinuses.
Call Today: 212-867-4813
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