Do I Need Chronic Sinusitis Surgery?

If you have chronic sinus issues and have been unable to find sinus relief through non-surgical treatments, it may be time to consider chronic sinusitis surgery as a long-term solution.

People are often hesitant to commit to surgery, even when their sinus infections reoccur and resist medications. It can be hard to sign up for the ordeal that surgery could potentially be, particularly when a handful of short-term treatment options exist. 

But, you should know that sinus surgery is growing increasingly safe and efficient, and chronic sinusitis is a condition for which a lot of people decide that surgery is their best option. It might even surprise you just how easily sinus surgery can clear out your sinuses with the development of new, less invasive, methods, like balloon sinuplasty — and the right doctor.

If you find yourself constantly wondering about how to relieve sinus pressure, you may have chronic sinusitis and might want to consider talking to your ENT about long-term solutions like balloon sinuplasty or sinusitis surgery. 

Symptoms and causes of chronic sinusitis

Chronic sinusitis is the name for a condition in which a person’s sinuses are swollen and inflamed for longer than 12 weeks, which often happens when the inflammation is not responding to traditional medication or treatment. Some common symptoms of sinusitis are:

• Nasal congestion
• Facial pain under eyes, nose, and temples
• Coughing, particularly with postnasal drip
• Inner ear pain
• Loss of smell and taste
• Sore throat

Sinusitis can be caused by any number of things, but the more common causes are:

• Nasal polyps: growths that can block sinuses and nasal passages.
• Respiratory infections: infection causes sinuses to become inflamed and swollen.
• Allergies: something as common as seasonal allergies can cause lasting inflammation and sinus blockages. Nasal surgery for allergies is more common than you might think. 

Surgery is often the best option for those with a chronic condition, as opposed to those just wondering how to get rid of sinus headaches. Can chronic sinusitis be cured with surgery? You don’t have to live with painful and inflamed sinuses. If traditional means of treatment aren’t working, then surgery is most likely your best chance at relief, and you should know about the options available. 

Types of sinus surgery

There is a multitude of surgical options available to those looking to treat their chronic sinusitis, including outpatient and inpatient options. The least invasive of these options is endoscopic sinus surgery and balloon sinuplasty. 

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery

Endoscopic sinus surgery (or ESS) is the more traditional surgical procedure for clearing blockages in sinuses. In this surgery, an endoscope is used to view the insides of the sinuses before blockages, such as nasal polyps and scar tissue, are removed. It is also possible to straighten a patient’s septum and reduce the size of their turbinates during endoscopic surgery. Kaplan Sinus Relief also offers image-guided surgery, further improving on an already safe and minimally invasive procedure. 

Balloon sinuplasty

Balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive, in-office procedure that takes about 20 minutes. It can offer lasting sinus relief without a lot of the normal concerns that come with traditional surgery. In fact, most patients are back at work in 24-48 hours. Like endoscopic sinus surgery, it is performed through the nostrils (without cutting the skin), but instead of scraping away inflamed soft tissue, a small balloon is used to gently enlarge the sinus cavity to improve drainage and airflow. 

Continue reading: What to expect before and after balloon sinuplasty

Side effects of sinus surgery

The most common side effects and risks of sinus surgery involve not addressing the sinus issues themselves or recurrence of the original problems, along with loss of taste or smell, pain, and discomfort. 

If your doctor has given you any nasal packing in response to excessive nose bleeding, do not alter or replace it yourself. If your doctor has dictated that you should return for follow-up care, which usually involves removal of nasal packing and nasal irrigation, it is essential that you do so. 

You should alert your doctor immediately if you experience a significant fever, excessive bleeding, facial swelling, or other sinus infection complications. If you are concerned about the side effects of sinus surgery, know that less invasive procedures, like balloon sinuplasty, generally have fewer.

Can’t kick sinusitis? Call Kaplan Sinus Relief to discuss surgery options and get lasting relief

If you have been fighting a losing battle with chronic sinusitis you might find a new ally in chronic sinusitis surgery from Kaplan Sinus Relief. We understand both the difficulties of dealing with chronic sinusitis and the apprehension towards deciding to have surgery, and we’re here to help you do something about it. 

Dr. Michal Kaplan is a trailblazer in the world of sinus surgeries and has stayed at the forefront of both technique and technology in the service of giving people a more comfortable and safe experience. 

To learn more, check out this video where Dr. Kaplan answers some questions about the different types of sinus surgery, and why he often recommends balloon sinuplasty.

Ready to do something about your chronic sinusitis? Call our office at 713-766-1818 or schedule an appointment online.

More Helpful Articles by Kaplan Sinus Relief:

• Balloon Sinuplasty for Allergies 
• 5 Most Common Allergies in America
• Best Ways to Stop Snoring
• Cold vs Sinus Infection: How to Tell the Difference
• What Causes Winter Sinus Problems?