Sinus Surgery — New York City
For chronic sinus pressure and recurring infections that medication has not resolved. Request a consultation with Dr. Moustafa Mourad.
Private and confidential. No obligation.
Dual board-certified facial plastic surgeon, focused on the face, nose, and sinuses — not a general cosmetic practice.
Consultations on the Upper East Side, in person or virtually — wherever you are.
After you submit, our office reaches out to schedule a private consultation. No obligation, no pressure to decide.
Recurring infections, constant facial pressure, congestion that never fully clears, post-nasal drainage, and a dulled sense of smell can wear down daily life. Many patients have cycled through antibiotics and sprays for years.
Surgery is not the first answer. The goal of a consultation is to understand why the sinuses are not draining — and to confirm that medical options have genuinely been exhausted before considering a procedure.
Endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) opens the natural drainage pathways of the sinuses using small instruments and a camera, without external incisions. Balloon sinuplasty is a less invasive option that widens select sinus openings for appropriate candidates.
Which approach fits — if any — depends on a CT scan and an in-office endoscopic exam, not symptoms alone.
Surgery is considered selectively. Patients who benefit typically have:
About the surgeon
Dr. Mourad is dual board-certified in facial plastic surgery and in otolaryngology (ENT), so the sinuses are evaluated by a surgeon trained specifically in nasal and sinus disease.
Patients value the conservative approach: medical management first, imaging and endoscopy to confirm the diagnosis, and surgery recommended only when it is genuinely the right step.
Sinus relief is about restoring drainage, not a cosmetic change — so the meaningful 'before and after' is how you feel. Here is what the procedure addresses.
Inflammation or anatomy blocks the natural openings, so mucus cannot drain and the sinuses stay infected and pressurized.
It reopens those drainage pathways — endoscopically or with a balloon — so the sinuses can ventilate and clear normally.
Many report less facial pressure, fewer infections, and easier breathing. Recovery and results vary by person and by the extent of disease.
Individual results vary. This is general education, not medical advice or a guarantee of outcome.
Share a few details about what you would like to address. A patient coordinator follows up to find a time that works, in person or virtually.
A focused evaluation of your anatomy, goals, and history. You will hear an honest assessment of what is appropriate for you — and what is not.
If you are a candidate, you receive a clear plan with realistic expectations for recovery and results. There is no pressure to decide on the day.
In Their Words
Shared with written consent; names abbreviated. Individual experiences vary.
I had chronic sinus pressure for years and had tried every antibiotic. After surgery I can finally breathe through my nose and the headaches are gone. I wish I had done it sooner.
Dr. Mourad explained the CT scan to me carefully and only recommended surgery after we had exhausted medical options. The recovery was easier than I expected.
I came in skeptical because two prior consultations had pushed me toward surgery immediately. Here we tried a course of treatment first, and when that failed, the surgical plan was clearly the right step.
Individual experiences. Results and recovery vary by patient. Testimonials shared with written consent.
Frequently Asked
Candidates for surgery are patients with recurrent or chronic sinus symptoms despite appropriate medical therapy, typically including at least 4–12 weeks of topical steroids and a trial of antibiotics when indicated. Surgery is considered when objective findings on nasal endoscopy and CT correlate with persistent symptoms. Medical optimisation—control of allergy, reflux, and smoking cessation—remains an important parallel step. Final candidacy is established after in‑person evaluation and imaging review.
An anatomy‑first assessment prioritizes nasal endoscopy and sinus CT to map drainage pathways, ostia, and zones of obstruction. The review identifies whether disease is driven by structural narrowing (ostial stenosis, concha bullosa, septal deviation) or diffuse mucosal inflammation such as polyposis. Planning focuses on opening precise drainage routes and preserving healthy mucosa to restore normal physiology. This targeted approach guides the choice between dilation, limited tissue removal, or more extensive ethmoid work.
FESS uses endoscopic instruments to remove obstructing tissue and enlarge natural ostia; it is selected when there is diseased mucosa, polyps, or anatomic obstruction requiring tissue removal. Balloon sinuplasty dilates the natural ostia without resecting mucosa and is appropriate for isolated ostial narrowing, especially in the frontal, maxillary, or sphenoid sinuses. Recovery is typically shorter with balloon sinuplasty—often 3–7 days—whereas more extensive FESS usually requires 7–14 days for initial recovery. Choice depends on CT anatomy, mucosal disease burden, and patient goals.
Many patients report reduced frequency of acute infections and less facial pressure within 6–12 weeks as mucosal healing and improved drainage occur. Visualisation at nasal endoscopy and early debridement in the first 1–3 postoperative visits help speed recovery. Some symptom improvement can appear within days to weeks, but maximal functional gains are often evident by 3 months. Ongoing medical therapy for inflammation may still be necessary.
Surgical improvement in smell depends on the underlying cause; patients with obstruction or polyp disease often experience measurable gains after mucosal disease is addressed. When smell loss is due to chronic inflammation without mechanical obstruction, recovery is less predictable and may require continued medical therapy. Early improvement may appear within weeks, but olfactory recovery can continue for 3–12 months. A candid discussion during consultation sets realistic expectations for each case.
Common short‑term issues include bleeding, crusting, and transient nasal congestion; most are managed with routine postoperative care. Less common complications include infection requiring antibiotics, prolonged adhesions, or the need for limited in‑office debridement. Rare but serious risks—such as orbital injury or cerebrospinal fluid leak—are infrequent and mitigated by careful preoperative planning and intraoperative navigation when indicated. All risks are reviewed during the informed consent discussion.
Request a consultation with Dr. Mourad for a clear diagnosis and an honest discussion of whether surgery is the right step.