About Sinus Surgery
Most of us experience cold-like symptoms at least a few times in our lives. However, when these symptoms last for more than a few weeks, there is a chance that you have developed sinusitis, which is the inflammation of the tissue that lines your sinuses. When these tissues swell, fluid buildup can occur and, within this fluid, germs can grow ultimately leading to an infection.
Acute cases of sinusitis may be alleviated with medications such as decongestants, antibiotics, antihistamines, or nasal steroid sprays. Flushing the nasal passage is another treatment method that may reduce or eliminate symptoms. There are occasions when ENT specialists find that their patients do not recover from sinusitis using these medications alone. When patients are non-responsive to medication and other forms of non-surgical treatments, sinus surgery may become an option.
Before your ENT surgeon decides that sinus surgery is the best option, they will perform a series of diagnostic tests to identify the cause of your sinusitis symptoms. This will allow your doctor to determine the most effective operative strategy or if other treatment options are still available.
These days, the sinus surgery procedure can be carried out with very small risk of complications, minimal discomfort, and a quick sinus surgery recovery time. In fact, today’s surgeons often use endoscopic sinus surgery, which allows them to perform the procedure through the nostrils, with no incision. This ensures that no external scars result, and also reduces the amount of discomfort and swelling post-surgery. Most individuals undergoing this procedure are able to leave the clinic on the same day as an outpatient.
For the quickest recovery possible, it is important to follow all of the instructions that your doctor provides you with. Be sure to visit your surgeon for a follow up appointment to ensure that the healing process is moving along as intended.