Sinus Surgery Cost

Now that you have decided to have sinus surgery, you’re probably wondering about the cost. Thankfully, modern sinus surgery usually costs less than traditional sinus surgery because it is less invasive and requires little to no hospital stay. Below we discuss some other things you should know about sinus surgery and its associated costs.

Factors that Affect the Cost

The cost of sinus surgery can vary substantially based on a number of factors, including the type of surgery performed, the complexity of the surgery and the location of the surgeon performing the procedure. In general, sinus surgery costs more in urban areas, especially those located in California and the Northeast.

Sinus surgery is a complex procedure and therefore is fairly expensive. However, in most cases it is covered at least in part by the patient’s insurance carrier. In many cases the determining factor is whether or not the patient is symptomatic. Contact your insurance carrier to see if your surgery will be covered. If not, the good news is that there are most likely a number of financing options available to you.

What Is the Average Cost of Sinus Surgery?

Due to the fact that the cost of sinus surgery varies depending on a variety of factors, there are no available statistics showing the average cost. To find out how much you should expect the procedure to cost, contact several otolaryngologists in your area to set up an appointment where you can ask about the cost and other factors.

Financing Options

In truth, cost should not be your primary factor when looking into sinus surgery and locating a surgeon to perform your procedure. Your priority should be to ensure that you get optimal results. As such, do your best to locate a qualified otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist) who specializes in sinus surgery and related procedures. An experienced specialist will be able to conduct a thorough exam to determine if you are a good candidate for sinus surgery, or if another treatment would be more beneficial. If it turns out that sinus surgery is in fact the best option, but you feel you can’t afford it, ask about financing options.

When Surgery Is Recommended

Potential reasons to have sinus surgery include the following:

• Signs and symptoms of chronic sinusitis persist even after other treatments have been attempted
• A sinus condition stemming from a fungal infection
• Sinus or nasal polyps
• Structural irregularities of the sinuses or nose
• Sinus infection that has made its way to bone
• Sinus cancer
• Chronic sinusitis combined with HIV

The Procedure

When other sinus treatments including allergy shots, topical treatment and medication have not successfully eliminated your sinus symptoms, your doctor may suggest that you have surgery. A state-of-the-art form of sinus surgery called functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is very effective at improving breathing problems and other symptoms related to sinusitis. While this procedure is not as invasive as traditional surgery, it is still a complex procedure that should be taken seriously. The surgery can usually be performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia, and may be done with or without sedation depending on the needs of the patient. For some patients general anesthesia is necessary.

During the procedure, the surgeon uses a small scope with a camera, known as a laparoscope, which will project an image onto a screen in the operating room so that the surgeon can see the openings to the sinuses and determine if they are narrowed or obstructed. If so, the surgeon will use special techniques to widen the openings and clear the obstruction. In some cases it may be necessary to address septal deviation, use a spreader graft to address narrowing of the internal valve, address an external valve collapse, or perform turbinate reduction if the turbinates are causing issues with breathing.

Recovery

It is important that you educate yourself on the recovery process so that you are adequately prepared. Following surgery there will be some nasal congestion and swelling. There will also be some bloody discharge, which is normal and will get better each day. If you experience discomfort your surgeon can prescribe pain medication as necessary. You may feel fatigued in the days and weeks after your surgery. During recovery it is essential that you rest to ensure that you heal properly.