Nasal and Sinus Surgery

Ear, nose and throat specialists in the Sutter Health network provide surgery to help open airways in people who have chronic sinusitis, deviated septums, nasal polyps and other problems. Here are surgeries for common nasal and sinus problems.

Nasal Surgery

• Deviated Septum Repair — A deviated septum is when the septum, or the part of the inside of the nose that separates it into two, veers to one side or another. People with deviated septums often breathe through their mouths because the septum is blocking their airway. They’re also more vulnerable to nasal and sinus infections. Your doctor may recommend repairing your septum if you have trouble breathing or reoccurring nose bleeds. Surgery usually takes less than two hours and some people can go home the same day.
• Nasal Polyp Removal — A nasal polyp is a soft growth that can develop in the lining of the nose or sinuses. It’s not known for sure what causes nasal polyps, but people who have asthma, chronic sinus infections, hay fever and aspirin sensitivity are more likely to get them.
  
  If you develop a polyp, you might not have any trouble with it at all, or it can grow and block your airway and cause other cold-like symptoms. If your doctor determines that you have a nasal polyp, they may prescribe you medications to shrink it or suggest surgery to remove the polyp through the nose. The surgery is brief, and patients can usually go home the same day.
• Rhinoplasty — This surgery, done to change the shape of the nose, can be performed to correct a deformity or as an elective procedure. It usually takes around two hours, and patients often go home the same day. Recovery can last several weeks, and it may take up to a year for you to see the final shape of your nose.
• Turbinate Surgery — Your doctor may suggest this surgery if you have trouble breathing through your nose because of swelling and other treatments to reduce the swelling haven’t worked. Your turbinates are a set of tissue that cover small bones inside your nose. During surgery, your doctor may either remove or adjust your turbinates to improve your airflow. People usually go home the same day of surgery, and full recovery takes approximately two months.

Sinus Surgery

• Sinus Surgery — Sinus surgery is done primarily to relieve sinusitis, which produces cold and allergy-like symptoms. Your doctor will likely try other avenues to relieve your symptoms before recommending surgery. But if symptoms don’t improve and are severe enough, surgery may be needed. The surgery can be done on an outpatient basis and usually takes under two hours.

Using a small scope and tiny incisions, surgeons can perform minimally invasive surgery to correct sinus pain and blockages known as sinusitis. Endoscopic surgery requires shorter recovery times and results in less scarring than traditional surgical methods.