Strictly speaking, sinusitis is inflammation and infection of the membranes lining your sinus cavities. Unlike the temporary stuffiness and runny nose that often accompany a virus or cold, chronic sinusitis can cause daily congestion, cough, sneezing, and difficulty breathing.
These symptoms are often due to structural or tissue abnormalities within your nasal passages that prevent your sinuses from draining properly. With the resulting buildup of fluid, you may experience moderate to severe pain, frequent or persistent sinus infections, difficulty sleeping, decreased productivity, and a mental “fog” that often makes it hard to concentrate.
Thankfully, there are minimally invasive surgical procedures available that can correct your sinus abnormalities and help resolve your chronic sinusitis. Dr. Cecil Yeung and the team at Houston Sinus Surgery are experts at diagnosing what’s causing your sinus issues and providing surgical relief from your symptoms.
They offer a few tips regarding what you should consider before choosing a surgeon to perform your procedure.
Do you know what’s causing your sinus symptoms?
A wide variety of issues can lead to chronic sinusitis, and it’s important that we determine the cause of your symptoms before recommending an effective treatment strategy.
Underlying issues that can lead to chronic sinusitis include:
- Nasal polyps
- Enlarged nasal turbinates
- Allergies
- Structural abnormalities, such as deviated nasal septum
- An untreated or undertreated infection
Have you tried conservative treatment?
Although surgery is our specialty at here at Houston Sinus Surgery, we recommend you undergo adequate conservative therapies before proceeding with surgery. This may include:
- Nasal sprays to reduce inflammation and relieve congestion
- Oral medications, such as antibiotics to treat a bacterial sinus infection
- Corticosteroids to shrink nasal polyps
- Treatment for allergies
To ensure that you’ve undergone adequate conservative treatment in the past, we include a thorough review of your previous medical records as part of your initial exam. We also ask that you bring along copies of any CT scans or other imaging studies done of your sinuses in the past. Note that we typically require a sinus CT scan before you undergo surgery to help determine the extent of your sinus issue, which we provide here at Houston Sinus Surgery for your convenience.
Does your surgeon offer minimally invasive options for sinus surgery?
Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is considered the gold standard for effectively treating chronic sinusitis and the conditions that can lead to this frustrating condition. The goal is to successfully remove tissue that’s preventing the normal drainage of your sinuses.
Because it’s a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure, the benefits of FESS include:
- Reduced blood loss and risk of infection
- Decreased postsurgical swelling and discomfort
- Faster healing and quicker return to normal activities
- Greater precision for removing damaged or abnormal tissue
Dr. Yeung introduced FESS to the Houston area and is well-known for his skill and high success rate with this innovative surgery. Other than chronic sinusitis, underlying conditions for which he may recommend FESS include:
- Nasal polyps
- Deviated septum
- Enlarged nasal turbinates
Does surgical skill and experience matter?
Your surgeon’s skill and experience matter greatly for any procedure, but that’s especially true with sinus surgery. Sinus surgery is complex and requires meticulous attention to detail. According to national averages, about 30% of people who undergo sinus surgery require a redo. Dr. Yeung has performed more than 4,000 sinus surgeries. His average redo rate, at 0-1%, is well below the national average.
Do you feel comfortable about your surgery?
At Houston Sinus Surgery, we work hard to ensure our patients feel welcome, relaxed, and well-informed about their upcoming surgery. For your convenience, surgeries are performed here at our state-of-the-art surgical center, and we follow you closely with return visits as necessary until your sinuses have healed and your symptoms have resolved.
If you’re struggling with sinus symptoms and want effective relief from your discomfort that may or may not include surgery, schedule a visit at Houston Sinus Surgery. Call the office, or book your visit online.
