Sinus Surgery in Turkey

Sinus surgery, most commonly functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), opens blocked sinus drainage pathways to treat chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps and recurrent infections that have not improved with medication. In Turkey it is carried out by accredited ENT (otolaryngology) surgeons using minimally invasive endoscopes passed through the nostrils, with no external cuts, usually as a day case or with a single overnight stay. As an independent health-tourism facilitator, Unal Cakar coordinates your CT assessment, surgery and structured aftercare at vetted hospitals, while you pay the clinic directly. This page sets out honestly who the surgery suits, how it is done and what recovery really involves.

Sinus surgery is a procedure that restores normal drainage and ventilation to the paranasal sinuses, the air-filled cavities around the nose and eyes. The most widely used technique is functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), where a thin telescope and fine instruments are inserted through the nostrils to remove diseased tissue, polyps or blockages and to widen the natural openings of the sinuses. There are no facial incisions and no change to the external shape of the nose.

It is typically recommended for chronic rhinosinusitis (sinus inflammation lasting more than twelve weeks), recurrent acute sinusitis, nasal polyps, fungal sinus disease or anatomical blockages that have not responded to sprays, rinses and antibiotics. Sinus surgery is often combined with related procedures such as septoplasty (straightening a deviated septum) or turbinate reduction when these are contributing to the obstruction.

Before surgery you will have a nasal endoscopy and a CT scan of the sinuses, which the surgeon uses as a precise map of your anatomy. The operation is usually performed under general anaesthetic and takes roughly one to two hours depending on how many sinuses are involved. Working entirely through the nostrils with an endoscope, the surgeon opens the blocked sinus passages, removes polyps or inflamed tissue and clears any obstruction, sometimes using image-guided navigation for added precision near the eye socket and skull base.

In selected, milder cases, balloon sinuplasty may be used instead of or alongside tissue removal: a small balloon is inflated to gently widen the sinus opening. Depending on the findings, the surgeon may place dissolvable dressings or light nasal packing to control oozing and support healing. Most patients go home the same day or after one night, and the nose is reviewed by the team before you travel.

• Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) through the nostrils, with no external incisions
• Suited to chronic or recurrent sinusitis and nasal polyps not controlled by medication
• Often combined with septoplasty or turbinate reduction for blocked breathing
• Usually a day case or one overnight stay; CT scan and endoscopy guide the plan
• Accredited ENT surgeons, vetted hospitals and coordinated aftercare via an independent facilitator

1. 01

   Remote assessment

   You share your symptoms, history, current medication and any previous CT scans or ENT reports. Unal arranges review by a vetted ENT surgeon to confirm whether surgery is appropriate or whether medical treatment should continue first.

2. 02

   Imaging and planning

   A sinus CT scan and nasal endoscopy are arranged, in your home country beforehand or on arrival, to map your anatomy and define exactly which sinuses need to be addressed.

3. 03

   Pre-operative consultation

   On arrival you meet the surgeon and anaesthetist for an in-person examination, fitness checks and a clear discussion of the plan, expected benefit and risks before consent.

4. 04

   Endoscopic surgery

   The procedure is performed through the nostrils under general anaesthetic, usually lasting one to two hours, with no external incisions.

5. 05

   Recovery and discharge

   You are monitored after surgery and discharged the same day or after one night, with medication, saline rinses and written aftercare instructions.

6. 06

   Review and follow-up

   The team reviews your nose before you fly home and Unal coordinates remote follow-up and any nasal cleaning or check-ups in the weeks afterwards.

Good candidates are adults with chronic or recurrent sinusitis, nasal polyps, fungal sinus disease or structural blockage whose symptoms persist despite a proper trial of medical treatment such as steroid sprays, saline rinses and antibiotics, confirmed by a CT scan. Surgery may also be appropriate when sinus disease causes complications or affects the eye or surrounding structures. It is less suitable, or should be deferred, for people whose symptoms are mainly allergic and controllable with medication, those with untreated bleeding disorders, poorly controlled diabetes or significant heart or lung disease, and anyone unable to manage the saline rinses and follow-up that aftercare requires. A reputable surgeon will sometimes advise against surgery and recommend optimising medical therapy first, and an honest assessment is part of the process.

• Targets the cause of chronic sinusitis by restoring natural sinus drainage and ventilation
• Minimally invasive endoscopic technique with no facial incisions or external scarring
• Can be combined with septoplasty or turbinate reduction to address nasal blockage in one operation
• Often relieves facial pressure, congestion, post-nasal drip and recurrent infections
• Usually a day case or single overnight stay with a relatively quick return to light activity
• Performed by accredited ENT surgeons in vetted hospitals, with structured aftercare coordinated for you

Expect a blocked, congested nose for the first one to two weeks as the lining heals, along with some crusting, light bloody discharge and a reduced sense of smell. Most people manage discomfort with simple painkillers rather than strong medication. Saline rinses are central to recovery and are usually started within a day or two to keep the passages clean and prevent crusts and adhesions; you will be shown exactly how to do them. You should avoid blowing your nose forcefully, heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for about two weeks, and sleep with your head slightly raised in the first nights.

Many patients feel well enough to return to desk-based work within a week, though full internal healing of the sinus lining takes several weeks to a few months. Flying is generally acceptable after a short period once any packing is removed and bleeding has settled, but you should follow your surgeon's specific advice on timing. Follow-up nasal cleaning or endoscopic review may be recommended, and Unal coordinates this remotely or before you travel home.

Most patients with well-selected sinus disease notice clearer breathing, less facial pressure and fewer infections once the lining has settled, with the sense of smell often improving gradually over weeks to months. Surgery widens drainage pathways and removes disease, but it does not cure the underlying tendency to inflammation, so ongoing maintenance such as steroid sprays and saline rinses is frequently needed, especially with nasal polyps, which can recur over time. Results vary with the type and extent of disease, and no honest surgeon can guarantee a complete or permanent cure; realistic improvement in symptoms and quality of life is the goal.

Turkey offers experienced, high-volume ENT surgeons and modern, accredited hospitals at a fraction of typical UK or US private prices, often a saving of well over half, with short waiting times. Unal Cakar works as an independent facilitator and patient advocate rather than a clinic: he is sponsored by vetted partner hospitals, so you only ever pay the clinic directly and never a markup to him. His role is to verify accreditation and surgeon credentials, arrange your imaging, consultation and surgery, support you in your own language and coordinate structured aftercare, so the cost advantage never comes at the expense of safety or honest advice.