About Sinus Surgery

If medication isn’t working for you, surgery can help your nose and sinuses function normally. Thanks to innovative surgical products and techniques from Medtronic, many people with chronic sinus infections can find relief with less risky, less invasive procedures.

Sinus surgery is usually done after medical treatment has failed to treat your chronic sinus infections (sinusitis). The goal of sinus surgery is to flush out infected material, open up blocked sinus passages, and keep enough healthy tissue so that your nose and sinuses can function normally.

What Is Sinus Surgery?

Today, functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is the most common surgical method to treat chronic sinus infections. It’s performed through your nostrils with a magnifying endoscope (thin tube with a lighted end). This is less risky and helps you recover faster than traditional sinus surgery, which cuts through the face or mouth. 

Surgical treatment of chronic sinus infections usually involves one of three common FESS procedures: ethmoidectomy, maxillary antrostomy, or powered septoplasty with turbinoplasty. There are many other types of sinus surgery that doctors perform. Your ENT specialist (otolaryngologist) will recommend the sinus surgery that is best for your condition.

More: Ethmoidectomy

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More: Powered septoplasty with turbinoplasty

Benefits and Risks

FESS is a generally safe procedure that can help ease your chronic sinus infections, but like all surgery, there are some risks involved.

More: Ethmoidectomy

More: Maxillary antrostomy

More: Powered septoplasty with turbinoplasty

Questions and Answers – Sinus Surgery

You probably have some questions and which procedure might be right for you. Be sure to ask your doctor any questions that aren’t answered here.

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Next: What is an Ethmoidectomy?