Endoscopic sinus surgery, sometimes called functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is a minimally invasive procedure to treat problems in the sinuses.

What You Need to Know

Minor bleeding, pain, congestion, discharge and fatigue are common after the surgery, but should go away in one to three weeks. 

Endoscopic sinus surgery is an outpatient procedure performed while the patient is asleep under general anesthesia.

Endoscopic surgery may be used to remove nasal polyps and tumors, treat chronic sinus infections, and address other types of sinus problems.

The doctor uses a device called an endoscope, along with other tools, to access and treat the problem area through the nostrils.

What is endoscopic sinus surgery?

Endoscopic sinus surgery is a procedure to remove blockages and treat other problems in the sinuses using an endoscope — a thin, rigid tube with a camera and a light. This type of surgery does not include cutting the skin because it is performed entirely through the nostrils.