FAQs About Sinus Surgery

FAQs About Sinus Surgery

Learn more about getting sinus surgery in San Antonio and who’s a good candidate for this procedure.

Balloon Sinuplasty Nose SurgeryAre you living with chronic sinus infections in San Antonio, TX? If so, our otolaryngologist Dr. Christine Gilliam offers several treatment options to help you get your symptoms under control. Of course, if your symptoms don’t seem to change despite trying a variety of different nonsurgical treatments then it may be time to consider whether you could benefit from surgery. Learn more about sinus surgery and what it entails.

What is involved in sinus surgery?

In this day and age of advanced medical technology, our San Antonio ENT doctor is able to offer a minimally invasive endoscopic sinus surgery option to treat patients dealing with severe and chronic sinus infections. Endoscopic sinus surgery is less invasive, doesn’t require any cutting or removal of tissue and bone, and boasts a faster recovery time than traditional sinus surgery.

During endoscopic sinus surgery a thin flexible tube (an endoscope) sometimes with a deflated balloon at the end is guided through the nasal cavity. Once it is fully inserted, we will slowly inflate the balloon, which will open up the blocked nasal cavity and allow it to fully drain. Once the cavity is unblocked we can wash out the sinuses to remove the bacteria responsible for your infections before removing the endoscope.

How long is the recovery period?

The length of your recovery will depend on several factors including your overall health and which type of sinus surgery you are getting. After all, some patients may need to undergo traditional sinus surgery instead of endoscopic surgery, which will have a longer recovery process. You should allow yourself a few days to recover before returning to work and normal activities. Patients who’ve undergone endoscopic sinus surgery can often return to work within 48-72 hours.

Are there any side effects of sinus surgery?

It is common for there to be some bleeding for a couple of days after endoscopic surgery. Since endoscopic surgery is only minimally invasive any swelling, discomfort or bleeding you experience will be very minor and will often go away with 2-3 days. We will provide you with thorough self-care instructions.

Will surgery relieve my symptoms permanently?

Endoscopic sinus surgery is extremely effective and research has even found that as many as 97 percent who underwent sinuplasty experienced a long-term improvement in their sinus symptoms. It is important to keep in mind that this surgery is not a cure-all. It is still possible for some patients to get sinus infections even after surgery, but the frequency and severity of your symptoms should be greatly reduced.

 

Are you living with severe or persistent sinus issues? If your sinus problems are affecting your quality of life then it’s time to turn to Everyone’s ENT & Sinus Center in San Antonio, TX, to find out if endoscopic sinus surgery is right for you.