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Functional endoscopic sinus surgery
FESS
Functional endoscopic sinus surgery is the name given to operations used to treat severe sinus problems
What is Functional endoscopic sinus surgery for?
FESS is used to treat severe sinus problems. The procedure can be performed without the need for incisions in the face and mouth.
The surgery will only be considered once medicinal treatments of drops, tablets and sprays have proved unsuccessful.
Need to know
The procedure is usually performed under general anaesthetic, meaning you'll be asleep for the duration. Your consultant will use a special instrument to unblock your sinuses via your nose.
Small amounts of bone and the swollen lining blocking your sinuses will be removed. Once your sinuses are unblocked, the inflammation usually settles and your symptoms should start to improve.
There should be no need for incisions unless the operation is a complicated one in which case your consultant will have discussed this with you before the operation.
Endoscopic sinus surgery is as safe, and possibly safer, than other methods of operating on the sinuses as it does not involve incisions into your face and mouth. Your consultant will let you know how best to prepare for this procedure.
You will be sent to the recovery room until the anaesthetic has worn off. Immediately after the procedure you may feel your nose is blocked. This may be because of a dressing inside your nose or surgical plastic sheets (splints). These are not always used but your consultant will explain if they have been necessary in your case.
Dressings, if used, will usually be removed from your nose within 24 hours but plastic splints may have to stay longer. It is common to have a blocked up nose even after removing the dressing or splints. This should gradually improve over time.
Our Functional endoscopic sinus surgery consultants
Professor Paul O'Flynn
Ear Nose & Throat Surgery (ENT/Otolaryngology)
Mr Jean-Pierre Jeannon
Ear Nose & Throat Surgery (ENT/Otolaryngology)
Mr Hassan Elhassan
Ear Nose & Throat Surgery (ENT/Otolaryngology)
Mr Raghav Dwivedi
Ear Nose & Throat Surgery (ENT/Otolaryngology)
Our Functional endoscopic sinus surgery locations
The Wellington Hospital
8A Wellington Place NW8 9LE London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London
The Shard Outpatients
The Shard, 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David’s gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist, former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.