Nasal And Sinus Surgery Specialist

When are nasal and sinus surgery performed?

The primary reason for nasal and sinus surgery is to help restore the normal function of the nose and sinuses by treating issues that interfere with breathing or sense of smell, that cause painful symptoms like chronic sinus headaches or that prevent the sinuses from draining properly. Today, there are several surgical approaches used to treat an array of conditions, including:

• deviated septums

• over-large turbinates, bony structures inside the nose

• chronic infections

• large polyps

• tumors

• leakage of cerebrospinal fluid

• loss of sense of smell

• large cysts

• obstructed tear ducts

• chronic sinus headaches

• narrowed nasal passages

Surgery is usually only used when more conservative treatment options have been tried and have not been successful.

What happens during sinus surgery?

Most sinus surgeries use minimally-invasive techniques that rely on special instruments designed to work through the nostrils, or nares, to avoid large external incisions. Sedation and local anesthetics or general anesthesia may be used, depending on the type of surgery being performed. In most cases, surgical procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis, which means you'll go home the same day as your surgery is performed, and recovery is much faster and is associated with far less discomfort.

What is balloon sinuplasty?

Balloon sinuplasty is a minimally-invasive procedure that is used to treat people with chronic sinusitis. The procedure uses a special flexible scope called an endoscope to deploy a tiny balloon inside the sinuses and nasal passages. When the balloon is inflated, it presses against the sides of the sinuses and nasal passages, gently widening them so sinus drainage is improved. Unlike more traditional types of surgery, balloon sinuplasty doesn't require the removal of bone, so recovery is much faster.