4 Common Myths About Sinus Surgery

Sinus infections are no fun. They cause pressure, edema, and congestion, which can be uncomfortable and even incapacitating. Fortunately, Dr. Cecil Yeung Houston offers sinus surgery to treat severe sinus infections.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of misconceptions about sinus surgery that lead potential patients to discount the possibility of undergoing treatment. Here are myths about sinus surgery;

1. Sinus surgery involves external surgical incisions or scraping

During minimally invasive sinus surgery, obstructed nasal passages and sinus cells are opened or removed. In other circumstances, sinus surgery could be performed with even less surgical tissue removal (which is precisely why balloon sinuplasty was developed).

Furthermore, the doctor never “scrapes” your sinuses during surgery. The thin mucosa lining the bone structures inside the nose would be removed by scraping. More crusting and bleeding would result from this, impeding the healing process. So don’t worry if that sounds very unpleasant. You wouldn’t ever have to go through that.

2. Sinuses resolve naturally over time

In some cases, sinuses may drain naturally with time. However, there is a chance that your sinuses are not draining properly if you are considering sinus surgery. And even when they do drain, it doesn’t heal completely or for very long.

The truth is that anybody may develop sinusitis, and several factors, such as the common cold, allergies, and nasal polyps, can contribute to this condition (which many individuals may not even know they have). In situations of acute sinusitis, frequent symptoms that can last up to 4 weeks include discomfort in the cheeks and forehead and a runny, stuffy nose. Chronic and recurrent sinusitis can continue longer than three months and permanently without treatment, whereas subacute sinusitis can last up to 12 weeks.

3. Nose packing is uncomfortable

Almost seldom do doctors pack the nose during any kind of nasal surgery. Older patients who had sinus surgery 10 to 20 years ago may have told you tales about packing their noses to stop bleeding following operations. Although rarely necessary with contemporary surgical procedures, nose packing was extremely unpleasant. However, it is seldom required with current surgical techniques. Hemostatic foams available now can be used solely when necessary to stop bleeding after surgery. Inquire about your surgeon’s method because some still pack the nose.

4. Recovering from sinus surgery takes a long time

When you hear the word “surgical procedure,” your first assumption is probably that a prolonged recovery period is involved. But with sinus surgery, this is usually not the case.

Recovery times for surgical patients are influenced by their general health, the operation being performed, and other factors. Compared to other types of surgeries, sinus procedures tend to take less time to recover; typically, recovery time ranges from a few days for less invasive operations to two weeks for more involved procedures.

This length of time is minimal compared to, for example, recovering from a torn ACL, from which a full recovery might take anywhere between six and nine months. Most sinus procedures take less time than expected, and patients often recover completely within a week or two.

As you can see, none of these myths are valid justifications for not discussing sinus surgery with your doctor. If you frequently feel congested or have trouble breathing, call Houston Heart Center to book your appointment for sinus surgery.