Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: What It Is and Who It’s For

Sinus pressure that makes your face feel heavy and a constant effort to breathe through chronic sinus congestion can wear you down day after day. Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (ESS), also called Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS), is a minimally invasive procedure with up to a 97.5% success rate that uses a thin camera and small instruments to open blocked sinus passages from the inside of the nose, allowing trapped mucus and air to drain more easily and resolving sinus drainage problems.

For people living with chronic sinusitis that doesn’t respond to medications, this treatment provides effective and lasting relief. Continue reading to learn if sinus surgery is right for you, what to expect, and where to find the best ENT in Santa Monica to help you take the next step toward easier breathing and a better quality of life.

What is Endoscopic Sinus Surgery?

Endoscopic sinus surgery is a minimally invasive procedure performed entirely through the nostrils, with no facial cuts or visible scars. During the procedure, the top ENT specialist in Santa Monica guides a thin endoscope with a tiny light and camera into the nasal passages, giving them a clear view of the narrow spaces that often stay swollen or blocked. The surgeon then uses small instruments to remove whatever is getting in the way of normal airflow, such as nasal polyps, inflamed tissue from chronic sinusitis, or built-up mucus that is unable to drain. For anyone who has lived with the constant heaviness of sinus pressure, ESS can offer a realistic chance to breathe comfortably again.

Benefits of Getting Endoscopic Sinus Surgery 

When the sinuses can finally drain the way they are meant to, the constant heaviness in your cheeks and forehead starts to fade, and the battle to breathe through sinus congestion becomes less of a daily fight. Most people also notice that the dripping or thick mucus that used to linger in the back of the throat clears, and sinus infections become less frequent. Many also notice that you’ll wake up after a full night of sleep without that stuffed, foggy feeling. Some will even find that their nighttime snoring and sleep apnea clear up. 

What to Know Before Getting Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

Even though endoscopic sinus surgery has an amazing success rate, there are still a few risks that you should be aware of: 

• Some people experience light bleeding or tenderness around the nose in the first few days.
• There is a small chance of infection or irritation to nearby areas, like the eyes or tear ducts.
• A tiny number of patients face more serious complications, such as a cerebrospinal fluid leak or temporary changes in vision, which is why the best ENT doctor in Santa Monica reviews imaging and medical history carefully before surgery.

What is Recovery from Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Like?

The weeks after surgery require patience because the nose needs time to heal. This includes avoiding certain activities that could damage the healing tissues inside your sinus cavity, like: 

• Blowing your nose
• Workouts that raise your heart rate
• Heavy lifting
• Bending over 

Recovery also involves adhering to a strict regimen of nasal irrigation with sterile saline. 

What to Expect During Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

Our patients often want to know, “What happens during sinus surgery?” For starters, most ear, nose, and throat specialists opt to use general anesthesia for ESS. This means you’ll be asleep the entire time and won’t feel or remember a thing. The procedure itself lasts about one to two hours, depending on how much blockage needs to be cleared. 

Right after surgery, your sinuses will feel stuffy or tender, almost like the pressure you get during a bad cold. You’ll have a small drip pad under your nostrils to catch any light bleeding or watery drainage. Most patients describe the first evening as strange but manageable, with a sense of fullness in the nose that fades over the next few days. 

As healing continues, nasal irrigation helps clear out dried mucus and reduce crusting. Most people return to work or light chores within a week. Follow-up visits are scheduled to ensure that recovery is going as expected. 

Where to Find the Best ENT in Santa Monica for Endoscopic Sinus Surgery 

Living with sinus problems can feel like carrying a weight you never set down, and that’s the kind of burden Dr. Daneshrad is dedicated to lifting. As the best ENT in Los Angeles, with state-of-the-art clinics in Santa Monica and Torrance, Dr. Daneshrad helps patients with symptoms that leave them drained or frustrated finally get relief. 

With modern sinus surgery, Dr. Daneshrad opens blocked passages, cures chronic infections, and removes polyps that disrupt sleep and focus, with precision and accuracy.