What Happens When You Have Sinus Surgery?

If you’re suffering from a sinus infection and have tried everything under the sun to alleviate your inflamed nasal passages, tender cheeks and severe pain behind your eyes, then sinus surgery may be your next option. Sometimes antibiotics, oral decongestants and prescribed medications just don’t do the trick. Sinus surgery, like endoscopic sinus surgery, can be effective and non evasive.

Still, when considering any type of surgery, like sinus surgery, it is important to consult a doctor first, preferably a nose, ear and throat specialist. Before the sinus surgery, an anesthesiologist will review the patient’s medical history. You should not take aspirin about 10 days prior to the sinus surgery and consult your doctor about other medications. Abstain from eating or drinking anything roughly six hours before the procedure and smokers are advised to stop smoking.

These are considered possible risks and complications that can occur due to sinus surgery:

Bleeding
Not curing the sinus infection or having it return
Excessive nasal drainage or excessive dryness
Permanent numbness of the upper teeth or face
Nasal passage obstruction due to not controlling the infection

The procedure itself can involve inserting a thin fiberoptic tube into the nose to get a clear view of the sinuses. Then the obstructive tissues are removed with instruments. Another sinus surgery would consist of draining the maxillary sinus by entering it through the upper jaw, and creating a connection from the sinus to the nose.

Once the procedure is over, patients may experience mild bleeding and swelling of the nose, upper lip, cheeks and eye area. This may last for several days after the sinus surgery. Ice will help reduce the swelling. It is recommended you don’t strain. After sinus surgery is it also highly recommended that you perform nasal irrigation, which consists of using salt water to rinse out your nasal passages. This will prevent mucus crusts from collecting in your nose. Another way to prevent mucus crusts from forming is by lubricating the nostrils with petroleum jelly using a cotton swab.