Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

If you frequently suffer from the symptoms of sinusitis and the usual treatments don’t have much effect, you may have chronic sinusitis. Chronic sinusitis infections can be treated through a safe surgical procedure called endoscopic sinus surgery. Find out more about this surgery, which is performed at the experienced hands of Dr. Zandifar in one of his offices in Beverly Hills or Santa Monica, California.

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Hootan Zandifar, MD, FACS, Board Certified Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon

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What is a Chronic Sinusitis Infection?

Acute sinusitis is a temporary sinus infection that quite often develops alongside a cold. Chronic sinusitis is when you have the symptoms of sinusitis for 12 or more weeks. Signs and symptoms of a chronic sinusitis infection include:

Inflamed nasal passages
Runny nose
Postnasal drainage
Congested nose
Tenderness and swelling around the eyes, nose, cheeks, and forehead
Decreased sense of smell and taste

You may also experience upper jaw and toothaches, headaches, ear pain, sore throat, bad breath, coughing, or fatigue.If you have had sinusitis before and your symptoms do not respond to treatment, sinus surgery may be necessary.

What Causes a Chronic Sinusitis Infection?

Chronic sinusitis could be caused by:

Tissues called nasal polyps blocking your nasal passages or sinuses.
The wall between your nostrils is crooked and is blocking your sinus passages.
Inflammation from allergies blocking your sinuses.
An infection in your respiratory tract has created inflammation in your sinus membranes and is blocking mucus drainage.
A different medical condition that has affected your immune system can also cause nasal blockage.

What Happens During Endoscopic Sinus Surgery?

Endoscopic sinus surgery is an operation performed under general or local anesthesia. You should feel reasonably comfortable during the entire procedure.

An endoscope is inserted inside your nose to view the nasal cavity and the sinuses. Using small surgical instruments inserted into the nose next to the endoscope, Dr. Zandifar removes pieces of bone or tissue blocking the sinuses. He will remove any nasal polyps that have grown in the passages. It may be necessary to repair the nasal septum or wall between the nostrils. The procedure generally takes 1 to 3 hours depending on the number of sinuses that need to be treated.

Can It Be Treated Without Surgery?

Yes, there are several non-surgical treatments for chronic sinusitis, including:

Nasal sprays to prevent and treat inflammation.
Oral or injected corticosteroids, which can relieve symptoms of severe sinusitis.
Allergy medications or immunotherapy drops or shots.
Medications to reduce the size of nasal polyps.
Antibiotics to clear away infection.

If the sinusitis resists the above treatments, endoscopic sinus surgery may be recommended by your doctor.

Who is a Good Candidate for Sinus Surgery?

You may be a good candidate for endoscopic sinus surgery if your doctor has prescribed other treatments for your chronic sinusitis, and they fail to improve your symptoms.

What is Recovery Like After Sinus Surgery?

It is normal to expect a bloody postnasal discharge for a week or two after the surgery. You will be instructed not to blow your nose for at least four days. Our staff will provide other post-operative care instructions. You will need some follow-up visits to clean away the crust in your nose until it is healed.

Most patients enjoy significant improvement of their sinus condition after they have fully healed from sinus surgery.

What is the Cost of Endoscopic Sinus Surgery?

Contact our office for specific price estimates of the procedure. Many insurance companies will cover the cost if it is medically necessary.

Schedule Your Consultation

Dr. Zandifar is a double board-certified Ear, Nose, and Throat and Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon. If you are suffering from chronic sinusitis and nothing seems to make it better, give us a call to schedule a consultation with Dr. Zandifar. Learn how endoscopic sinus surgery can improve your ability to breathe and get rid of the cause of your sinus problems.