Revision Sinus Surgery to Address Scar Tissue: Is It Risky?

With severe sinusitis, polyps, or other conditions affecting your sinuses, you may need surgery to breathe easily again. However, sinus surgery has some risks, and one of the most common is scar tissue forming after you’ve healed. 

In some cases, this scar tissue defeats the purpose of your surgery. It can obstruct your nasal passage, making it difficult for you to breathe. In such a case, your only solution might be revision sinus surgery to remove the scar tissue. But does this procedure come with more risk?

While no surgery is without risk, revision sinus surgery isn’t any riskier than your initial sinus surgery. If you’ve noticed scar tissue forming after your sinus surgery, Dr. Mani Zadeh, an experienced board-certified ear, nose, and throat specialist, has extensive experience carrying out revision sinus surgeries to rectify this at his practice in Los Angeles, California,

It’s not uncommon for scar tissue to form after sinus surgery. Here, Dr. Zadeh talks you through how it can affect your health, how revision sinus surgery can help, and what risks the procedure may pose.

Why does scar tissue form after sinus surgery?

When you have a cut or an open wound, your body forms scar tissue over the injury to help it heal. After a sinus surgery, your body naturally forms scar tissue over incisions. 

However, in some cases, this scar tissue builds up in excess, sometimes blocking your nasal passages and causing your sinus problems to return.

If you have excess scar tissue over the site of your sinus surgery, you might notice symptoms like nasal congestion, difficulty breathing, partial loss of smell, and recurring sinus infections.

How can revision sinus surgery help?

It may seem ironic, but revision sinus surgery remains the most effective way to resolve any problems with previous sinus surgeries. The procedure focuses on correcting any issues that may have occurred.

If you continue to experience sinus issues after surgery, Dr. Zadeh may initially recommend nonsurgical treatments like medication and nasal sprays to resolve them. If you continue to experience symptoms, he then recommends revision surgery.

Don’t give up hope if your initial sinus surgery doesn’t immediately improve your symptoms. With revision sinus surgery, you can breathe better and prevent the likelihood of recurring sinus infections.

Is it risky?

Revision sinus surgery isn’t any more risky than your initial sinus surgery. In some cases, it’s possible for new scar tissue to reform after the procedure. In rare cases, excessive bleeding and infections could also occur.

To reduce risk, Dr. Zadeh may suggest a different type of sinus surgery depending on why excess scar tissue formed in the initial surgery. For instance, if traditional endoscopic sinus surgery led to excessive scarring, Dr. Zadeh might recommend balloon sinuplasty, a less invasive procedure.

We understand how frustrating it must be to go through surgery to resolve sinus issues only to be left with new problems as a result of scar tissue forming.

However, revision sinus surgery to eliminate the scarring will help you breathe better and improve your quality of life. If you’re struggling with the aftermath of an unsuccessful sinus surgery, schedule an appointment with Dr. Zadeg online or call 310-286-0123 today.