Prof. Dr. Gediz Murat Serin | Teşvikiye ENT Group
Sinusitis, contrary to what most people think, is not a disease limited to nasal congestion alone. It manifests with many symptoms that directly affect daily life, such as postnasal drip lasting for months, pressure sensation in the head and face area, loss of smell, ear fullness, decreased breathing quality, and sleep disturbances. Especially in chronic sinusitis, the inflammation and edema trapped inside continue for a long time due to narrowing or complete closure of the sinus channels; patients frequently have to use antibiotics and their quality of life decreases significantly.
Today, the endoscopic sinus surgery we perform in modern ENT practice is a method that is both safe and offers a permanent solution for the right patient, with a very comfortable recovery process. In this blog post, I answer all the most frequently asked questions in a scientific and explanatory way, from surgery duration to hospital stay, from anesthesia to success rates.
How Long Does Sinusitis Surgery Take?
Sinusitis surgery is usually performed with a closed technique called Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (ESS / FESS). However, the duration of surgery differs in each patient; because the involvement of sinuses, accompanying diseases, and anatomical conditions vary.
Factors determining surgery duration:
- Which sinuses are blocked (maxillary, ethmoid, frontal, sphenoid)
- Presence of nasal polyps
- Previous sinus surgery
- Accompanying structural narrowing in the nose (septum deviation, turbinate hypertrophy)
- Anatomical variations between sinuses
- Need for navigation system
- Additional procedures to be performed in the same session (septoplasty, turbinate reduction, rhinoplasty)
Durations with practical examples:
- Opening only unilateral maxillary sinus: 15–20 minutes
- Bilateral and multiple sinus involvement / chronic sinusitis with polyps: At least 2 hours
- If deviation + turbinate + rhinoplasty are added in the same session, it can extend up to 4-6 hours
An important note:
It is not scientifically correct to give “exact time” in surgeries.
What really matters is:
- The surgeon working safely
- Preserving normal anatomy
- Opening sinus openings completely and correctly
Time can never take precedence over safety.
How Many Days Do You Stay in the Hospital for Sinusitis Surgery?
Thanks to the modern closed techniques we apply today, patients are usually discharged in a short time.
- Standard stay duration: 1 night
- In some patients, same-day discharge is even possible
How Is Packing Used?
- In most sinus surgeries, dissolvable packs are used and they are not removed; they dissolve spontaneously inside the nose.
- If septoplasty or rhinoplasty is added to the surgery, silicone packs may be used to protect the airways.
- Stay duration: 1–2 days
- Removal is not painful.
Is Sinusitis Surgery a Difficult Operation?
The answer to this question depends on difficult for whom.
For patients:
- Surgery is completely closed technique
- No scar on the face, no external stitches
- No pain is felt during surgery
- Post-operative pain is generally minimal
- Breathing and sense of smell improve day by day
- Recovery process is comfortable
Therefore, the vast majority of patients describe the surgery as “an easy process.”
From a surgical perspective:
Yes, sinus surgery is a procedure requiring detail, training, and experience. Because vital structures are located right around the sinuses:
- Eye
- Skull base
- Large vessels such as carotid artery
Therefore, the surgeon must:
- Know sinus anatomy very well
- Use navigation systems correctly
- Have high endoscopic experience
directly determines the safety of the surgery.
The complication rate in FESS surgeries performed by an experienced surgeon is extremely low in modern medicine.
Is Sinusitis Surgery Performed Under General Anesthesia?
Yes.
Sinus surgery is always performed under general anesthesia.
Why is general anesthesia preferred?
- The patient must be completely immobile
- The endoscopic field is very sensitive; even small movements impair visibility
- Airway control is safer
- The surgeon works much more detailed and controlled
- The patient feels nothing during the surgery
In short:
You will not feel any pain, pressure, or discomfort during the surgery.
Is Sinusitis Surgery a Definitive Solution?
This question is frequently asked and the answer varies according to the type of disease.
1. In sinusitis due to anatomical reasons:
When causes such as ostium narrowing, deviation, turbinate hypertrophy are corrected, results are usually permanent.
2. In sinusitis developing on an allergic basis:
If allergy is not controlled, edema may recur over time.
Surgery opens the sinuses, corrects breathing, but for the continuation of the process:
- Regular use of sprays
- Control of allergy treatment
is mandatory.
3. In chronic sinusitis with polyps:
In some patients, polyp predisposition may be genetic.
The success rate is high with correct technique + regular spray use + allergy control; even if polyps appear, they are usually managed with minor procedures.
3 Golden Rules That Determine Success
1. Correct surgical technique
Widening the ostia correctly without disrupting the natural anatomy of the sinuses is the most critical stage of surgery.
2. Experienced surgeon
High annual case volume and advanced endoscopic experience are the foundation of sinus surgery.
3. Regular post-operative care
- Nasal irrigation with saline
- Corticosteroid nasal sprays
- Allergy control
- Regular follow-ups
Are the most important factors that sustain success.
An Important Clarification About Balloon Sinuplasty
Balloon sinuplasty is not an alternative to sinus surgery.
It is a special tool used during FESS.
- It is particularly effective in the frontal sinus
- It is not suitable for every sinus
- It can also be used in maxillary and sphenoid sinuses, but it is not suitable for every patient
- It is not the correct method for sinusitis with polyps
It is an effective auxiliary method in the right patient, in the right sinus.
Conclusion
Modern endoscopic sinus surgery is:
- Performed with closed technique
- Navigation-assisted
- Safe
- Comfortable recovery process
- Controllable from start to finish
- High success rate
a treatment method.
When applied with the right technique to the right patient, it provides significant and long-lasting improvement in nasal congestion, postnasal drip, facial pressure sensation, loss of smell, and recurrent infections.
