The sinuses are air-filled spaces in the bones of your face and head. They open into your nose and produce a thick liquid called mucus to protect the inside of the nose. If your sinuses become blocked, swollen (inflamed) or infected, this is called sinusitis. You may have: pain, swelling and tenderness around your cheeks, eyes or forehead, a blocked or runny nose, a reduced sense of smell, mucus problems, a headache.
Sinusitis is usually caused by a virus. Other conditions such as allergies, nasal polyps (soft growths inside your nose) and tooth infections can also contribute to sinus pain. If antibiotics, nose drops, sprays or tablets do not help, you may need an operation.
Surgery to treat chronic sinus problems is called functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). You are given a general anaesthetic, which means that you are asleep and do not feel any pain. The minimally invasive surgery is all done inside your nose. You do not have any cuts or stitches on your face. The surgeon puts a tube called an endoscope with a light and camera at one end into your nostrils. They guide this tube to your sinuses and widen them by either: removing some of the blocked tissue, inflating a tiny balloon in the blocked sinuses and then removing it.
The operation is tailored to your individual needs. Your surgeon removes any polyps, small amounts of bone and swollen lining that are blocking the sinuses. Once your sinuses are unblocked, your symptoms should start to get better.
Here at Highgate Private Hospital, we have an expert team of ear, nose and throat consultants. They are skilled in diagnosing, treating and managing a wide range of problems, both non-surgically and surgically.
We offer an all-inclusive self-pay package for surgery to treat chronic sinus problems. Prices for functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) start from £3,920 (terms and conditions apply). For more information, please call our self-pay advisers on 020 3918 9463.
