When you’re dealing with chronic sinus infections (lasting longer than 12 weeks), there are a lot of treatment or management options to choose from, including but not limited to allergy or cold medication, Balloon Sinuplasty or Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS).

Let’s examine FESS and whether it’s right for you.

How Does FESS Work?

FESS allows a sinus specialist to see inside and operate on your nose and sinuses without making cuts around the nose. During FESS, your sinus specialist will guide a thin tube with a light and camera, called an endoscope, into the nasal passages and use small surgical tools to remove bone or cartilage affecting airflow and mucus drainage.

Your specialist will put you to sleep using general anesthesia, put a decongestant in your nose to clear your sinuses and inject a numbing agent into your nose before starting the procedure.

What Does the Recovery Look Like?

Following the procedure, you’ll need to stay at the office while your anesthesia wears off. Symptoms like light bleeding, discomfort or congestion are typical for the first few days. Although it can take a few months to feel fully healed from FESS, most people return to work or school in about a week and resume their extracurricular activities in about two weeks.

During recovery, you’ll need to follow specific instructions, including but not limited to:

• Don’t blow your nose for at least a week
• Irrigate your sinuses with saline
• Sneeze with your mouth open. You should still sneeze into a tissue to prevent germ spread
• Take prescription or over-the-counter medications as directed
• Avoid strenuous activities like running, working construction or lifting weights at Clarity Fitness until you’re told it’s okay to do so

Why Would I Need FESS?

Your sinus specialist may recommend FESS if you have one or more of the following:

• Long-lasting or frequently recurring sinus infections
• Nasal polyps
• Abnormal cells or tumors in the sinuses

How Do I Know if FESS is Right For Me?

The best way to know if FESS is right for you is to contact ENT of Georgia North and make an appointment with one of our sinus specialists. We can review your symptoms and find a solution that fits your lifestyle.