When it comes to chronic sinus issues, it seems like nothing helps, and it can have a negative effect on a person’s quality of life. When non-surgical treatments and medications don’t work, sinus surgery might be an option. Sinus surgery is meant for severe cases that don’t respond to treatment and can help a patient find relief by operating on the nose and sinus cavities to help improve airflow. There are different types of sinus surgery available, and the type that a person receives will be dependent on the chronic sinus issues they are experiencing. Nasal polyps, chronic sinusitis, and a deviated septum are conditions that warrant the use of sinus surgery to help alleviate a person’s symptoms.
Depending on your condition and symptoms, an ENT will perform one of these types of sinus surgery to help give you the relief you need.
1. Septoplasty: Having a deviated septum can cause a blockage in one side of the nose and disturb the airflow, negatively affecting a person’s breathing. When a person has a deviated nasal septum or a cleft defect that affects the nasal cavity and obstructs the airflow, a septoplasty can be performed to straighten the septum and open up the airways.
2. Turbinate Reduction: Turbinates are located inside the nose, helping to cleanse and humidify the air that passes through the nostrils and regulate airflow. However, when turbinates become inflamed and swollen, they can lead to excess mucus production and nasal obstruction. Turbinate reduction uses radiofrequency and can help reduce size and swelling, making it easier for a person to breathe.
3. Rhinoplasty: A rhinoplasty procedure in Naperville, IL can help restructure the bones and cartilage of the nose to help remove abnormalities that can affect a person’s ability to breathe. During a rhinoplasty, surgeons like the ones at Southwest Michigan Plastic and Hand Surgery are able to re-sculpt cartilage and bone to improve airflow. In addition, a rhinoplasty can also increase or reduce the size of the nose, alter the tip or bridge of the nose, change the span of the nostrils, as well as the angle between the nose and upper lip.
4. Balloon Sinuplasty: This type of surgery is considered the least invasive so that it can be performed in the ENT’s office. This type of surgery can be done using local anesthesia, enabling a patient to drive themselves home afterward, and doesn’t have a long recovery time. Using a small balloon attached to an endoscope, microfractures are created in the sinus bones to reshape and make them wider, allowing for proper drainage. Even as the bones heal, the new shape is retained.
5. Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS): Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is an endoscopic procedure that magnifies the sinuses so affected bone or tissue can be removed, reopening the connection between the nose and the sinuses. FESS can be performed in conjunction with other sinus surgery options to help improve drainage and reduce blockage, allowing for the nose to operate normally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sinus surgery is generally recommended for severe chronic sinus issues such as nasal polyps, chronic sinusitis, and a deviated septum that do not respond well to non-surgical treatments and medications. These conditions cause significant blockage and breathing difficulties, warranting surgical intervention to improve airflow and drainage.
Septoplasty is a surgical procedure performed to correct a deviated nasal septum or cleft defect that obstructs nasal airflow. By straightening the septum, this surgery opens up the nasal passages, improving breathing and reducing nasal blockage.
Turbinate reduction targets swollen or inflamed turbinates inside the nose, which can cause nasal obstruction and excess mucus. By using radiofrequency to reduce their size and swelling, this procedure helps improve airflow through the nasal passages and alleviates breathing difficulties.
Balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive sinus surgery performed in the ENT office using local anesthesia. It involves inserting a small balloon to create microfractures in the sinus bones, reshaping them to widen drainage pathways. The procedure has a short recovery time, allows patients to drive themselves home, and effectively restores proper sinus drainage.
Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) uses an endoscope to magnify the sinuses, allowing surgeons to remove affected bone or tissue that block nasal-sinus connections. This reopening improves sinus drainage and reduces blockages. FESS can be combined with other sinus surgeries for better outcomes.
Yes, rhinoplasty can be performed not only for cosmetic reasons but also to improve nasal airflow. By restructuring the bones and cartilage, rhinoplasty corrects abnormalities that affect breathing, adjusts the size or shape of the nose, and helps facilitate better airflow through the nasal passages.
The recommended sinus surgery depends on the patient's specific chronic sinus condition and symptoms. An ENT specialist evaluates the cause of blockage or dysfunction—such as deviated septum, turbinates swelling, or sinus drainage issues—and chooses a procedure like septoplasty, turbinate reduction, balloon sinuplasty, or FESS accordingly to provide relief.