When chronic sinus infections resist less-invasive interventions or result from nasal obstructions, sinus surgery may be the best route for improving on-going symptoms. After determining the cause of your obstruction, your ENT will recommend a specific sinus surgery, such as endoscopic nasal surgery or a balloon sinuplasty. For more detailed information on surgical options, check out our sinus surgery page and keep reading below. Endoscopic Nasal Surgery Endoscopic nasal surgeries physically remove or reduce nasal obstructions. The surgery is performed under general or local anesthesia. During the procedure, your ENT inserts an endoscope into your nose through your nostrils. An endoscope consists of a thin, flexible tube equipped with a small camera. The camera provides a non-invasive way to view your sinus passages. Next, your ENT surgically removes the nasal obstruction. Common obstructions include nasal polyps, excess tissue, bone growths, or scar tissue. Your ENT may also straighten the septum (septoplasty) and/or reduce the turbinates’ size. Turbinates are nasal structures made of bone and soft tissue known as mucosa. They are located along the sides of the nasal cavities and regulate airflow and humidity. With endoscopic nasal surgery, there is no cutting through the skin to access the nasal cavities. Patients may go home the same day of surgery. Balloon Sinuplasty During a balloon sinuplasty, your ENT inserts an endoscope equipped with a balloon into the nasal cavity via the nostrils. Once locating the blockage, your ENT slowly inflates the balloon to widen the passage(s) to the sinus(es). With the balloon fully inflated, your ENT easily flushes out the debris causing the nasal congestion using a saline solution. Similar to endoscopic nasal surgery, there is no cutting of skin with a balloon sinuplasty. Patients may go home the same day of surgery. Below is a brief animation of placement of a Propel stent, which is a steroid eluting stent that may be placed during your sinus surgery or procedure.