Sinus surgery is a procedure to remove the bone that separates your sinuses and nasal passages. The procedure is done to remove a blockage, reduce inflammation, or both.
The surgery may be done through the nose or through your mouth. In some cases, both nostrils are opened at the same time.
If you have chronic sinusitis (inflammation of your sinuses), you might need surgery to improve breathing and reduce infections. Surgery may also be used if you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which causes shortness of breath.
Surgery helps relieve pressure on the optic nerve, which can cause vision problems in some people with chronic sinusitis.
It may also be done to repair damage caused by previous nasal trauma or infections, due to cancerous growths inside the nose (nasal carcinoma), or if there’s an obstruction in your skull base (e.g., a tumour).
Common types of sinus surgery
There are two types of sinus surgery:
- Sinus grafting surgery
This is the most common type of sinus surgery. It’s done to remove a blockage in your nasal passages and sinuses that’s causing chronic sinus infection or drainage problems.
- Nasal endoscopy surgery
This is a minimally invasive procedure that allows an ENT specialist to see inside your nose and sinuses to diagnose and treat medical issues such as chronic infections, polyps, foreign objects and other problems.
The type of surgery you have will depend on the cause of your symptoms and whether you have any underlying medical conditions that may affect your ability to tolerate anesthesia or have general anesthesia (sleep).
What is the fastest way to get rid of sinus surgery?
It can be done under local or general anesthesia, but is usually done under general anesthesia because it requires more time and resources and the risk of complications is higher.
You’ll need to stay in the hospital for at least one night after your surgery, but most people go home the next day or two days later.
The recovery time depends on the type of surgery you undergo and how well you responded to treatment before the surgery. Some people experience a longer recovery time than others do because some types of sinus surgeries require more intensive care after surgery than others do.
Will sinus infection go away by itself?
The answer is no.
Sinus infections typically do not go away by themselves. You may want to consider surgery if you have had sinusitis for more than 12 weeks, if your symptoms are not improving after using medical treatment or if you have a lot of pain in any area of your face or head.
You may also need surgery if you have had repeated sinus infections that are resistant to medical treatment and keep coming back, or if you have chronic sinusitis that is causing severe headaches and facial pain.
In most cases, surgery is recommended for patients who have serious problems with their sinuses, such as:
- Chronic nasal obstruction (difficulty breathing through the nose)
- Obstructive sleep apnea (severe snoring)
- Severe facial pain from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis
Call Amandela ENT Head & Neck Center your reliable sinusitis specialist clinic
Guided by the above information, interested patients can decide on whether to go for surgery. In case you do, contact our specialists and inquire for more details, before making such an important decision!
