Sinus Corrective Surgery NJ

Often patients who initially present to Dr. Undavia for rhinoplasty evaluation also have frequent headaches and sinus pressure, and recurrent sinus infections. Patients commonly ask if the sinuses can be addressed at the same time as rhinoplasty. As a dually board certified Ear Nose and Throat Surgeon and Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Dr. Undavia is uniquely qualified to help with both the outside and inside of the nose. Taking care of the sinuses with sinus surgery at the same time as rhinoplasty or other cosmetic procedures is a very common practice and for good reason. You are already under anesthesia and adding sinus surgery will not change your recovery time significantly. Repairing your sinuses will not in any way affect your outcome from rhinoplasty. In fact, healthy sinuses can help prevent a postoperative infection following rhinoplasty. At the time of your consultation, please inform Dr. Undavia of any sinus related issues or headaches that you might be having.

sinus surgery before sinus surgery after

What is a Sinus Infection or Sinusitis?

A sinus infection, also known as sinusitis, is an inflammation of the sinuses. The sinuses are a series of hollow spaces in the bones around the nose. They are lined with mucous membranes, which produce mucus to moisten and protect the inside of the nose.

Symptoms of Sinusitis

The most common symptom of a sinus infection is a blocked or runny nose. Other symptoms may include facial pain, headaches, a sore throat and fever. 

If you have a sinus infection, you may also experience pain in your teeth or jaw, and your lymph nodes may be swollen. Sinus infections can make it difficult to breathe through your nose and may cause you to snore at night. If the infection spreads to your eyes, you may experience redness, pain, and vision problems.

Treatment for Sinus Infections

Most sinus infections will clear up on their own within a week or two without the need for antibiotics. 

If you have a sinus infection, there are several things you can do at home to relieve your symptoms. These include drinking plenty of fluids, taking over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain relief and fever control, and sinus rinses. Decongestants such as oxymetazoline and Sudafed can also be helpful if medically authorized.  You should also rest as much as possible to allow your body to heal.
 
In some patients the symptoms fail to resolve on their own. In these cases antibiotics, decongestants, sinus rinses and sometimes steroids are necessary to resolve the issue. If these medication’s do not resolve the issue typically your physician may try a different antibiotic, nasal sprays or order imaging to help understand the problem better. If the symptoms continue despite this maximal medical treatment, sinus surgery may be warranted to correct this issue. 

Sinus Surgery Procedure

Sinus surgery is a procedure to remove blockages within the sinuses. During sinus surgery Dr. Undavia widens the opening to the sinuses and removes any blockages. Sinus surgery is usually done as an outpatient procedure which means you can go home the same day. Dr. Undavia does not use any packing. Sinus surgery alone does not cause any swelling or bruising on the nose or the face and eyes. However it is commonly combined with cosmetic procedures of the nose and face and in those instances patients can expect some amount of bruising and swelling. Other postoperative symptoms include cold like symptoms for one to two weeks and a stuffy nose. The pain is minimal but there is discomfort from the cold like symptoms. Most patients get back to work or school within one week.  While they are not fully recovered by this time, they are able to recur return to most activities. Vigorous exercise typically takes 3 to 4 weeks to initiate again.  

Sinus Surgery FAQ’s

During sinus surgery Dr. Undavia widens the opening to the sinuses and removes any blockages.  Infections, polyps and structural obstructions are removed or repaired. 

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