Double Board Certified · ABOto Otolaryngology
Sinus Surgery NYC — Restoring Natural Drainage and Easier Breathing
Sinus surgery in NYC — including endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) and balloon sinuplasty — treats chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps, and recurrent sinus infections by restoring the sinuses' natural drainage. For Manhattan patients who have spent years cycling through antibiotics and nasal sprays, Dr. Mourad evaluates your symptoms, CT imaging, and anatomy carefully before any operation is considered.
ABFPRS
Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
ABOto
Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery
AAFPRS
Fellowship Director
In Consultation
"Surgery is the last step, not the first."
A Note from Dr. Mourad
"Most of my sinus patients arrive tired — years of antibiotics, sprays, and infections that never fully clear, and an understandable worry that surgery will be aggressive or will not last. It is not the first answer, and it is not right for everyone. When it is the right answer, the goal is simple: reopen the sinuses' natural drainage, preserve healthy tissue, and let you breathe and sleep again."
— Dr. Moustafa Mourad, MD
Medically reviewed by Moustafa Mourad, MD, FACS — dual board-certified in Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery; Clinical Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology at New York Medical College; AAFPRS Fellowship Director. The medical review identifies the anatomy, evidence, limits, and questions patients should understand before choosing a procedure.
Last reviewed: June 2026
Key takeaways
- Sinus surgery reopens the natural drainage pathways of the sinuses rather than removing the sinuses.
- Most modern sinus surgery is done endoscopically through the nostrils, with no external incisions or facial bruising.
- It is considered only after a fair trial of medical therapy and findings documented on exam and CT imaging.
- The choice between endoscopic surgery (FESS) and gentler balloon dilation depends on your CT scan and disease pattern.
- Allergy, asthma, and inflammation are managed alongside surgery to protect the long-term result.
Overview
What is sinus surgery?
This page owns the broad sinus-surgery decision: whether an operation is appropriate and how the available tools fit together. For the endoscopic operation itself, see endoscopic sinus surgery and FESS in NYC.
Sinus surgery is a category of procedures rather than one fixed operation. The decision begins with a supported diagnosis, symptoms that plausibly match objective findings, and an understanding of what appropriate prior care has or has not achieved.
Balloon dilation widens selected sinus openings without removing tissue. Endoscopic sinus surgery provides direct access when pathways must be opened, polyps or debris removed, scar revised, or tissue obtained. Some operations combine both, and structural nasal procedures are planned separately when a supported airway problem also exists.
The operative extent should match the documented disease and expected benefit rather than a routine checklist of sinuses. Surgery can improve ventilation, drainage, and access for topical care, but it does not guarantee that every pressure, headache, drainage symptom, or inflammatory tendency will resolve.
When is sinus surgery considered?
Sinus surgery is generally considered when chronic sinus disease persists despite medical therapy — ongoing congestion, facial pressure, or recurring infections confirmed on examination and imaging. The goal is to reopen the natural drainage pathways.
When surgery is the right step it is most often performed endoscopically, through the nostrils, with no external incisions — and structural causes such as a deviated septum can be addressed within the same plan.
What does endoscopic sinus surgery open?
Endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) enlarges the natural drainage openings of the affected sinuses and removes obstructing tissue such as polyps. The sinuses themselves are preserved; the goal is restored drainage and ventilation.
Which sinuses are opened depends on the pattern of disease seen on CT imaging. The dedicated FESS page explains each step — maxillary antrostomy, ethmoidectomy, frontal sinusotomy, sphenoidotomy, image-guided navigation, and revision surgery — in detail.
Endoscopic sinus surgery and FESS in NYCWhat is the difference between sinus surgery and balloon sinuplasty?
Balloon sinuplasty dilates a narrowed sinus opening without removing tissue, which suits focal narrowing in selected patients. Endoscopic sinus surgery removes obstructing tissue and can treat extensive disease, polyps, and anatomic variation that a balloon cannot address.
The choice depends on the pattern of disease on examination and imaging — some patients are well served by dilation alone, while others need formal surgery for a durable result.
Balloon sinuplasty in NYCMeet Dr. Mourad
A sinus surgeon in NYC who treats the nose and sinuses as one connected airway system.
Dr. Moustafa Mourad is a dual board-certified surgeon in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. For sinus surgery patients in NYC, that dual background is important because sinus disease rarely exists in isolation. Chronic sinusitis, recurrent infections, nasal polyps, septal deviation, turbinate enlargement, nasal valve collapse, allergies, and prior nasal surgery can all affect how a patient breathes and drains.
His sinus consultations are diagnosis-first. He reviews symptoms, nasal endoscopy, CT findings, prior medications, allergies, anatomic narrowing, and whether the pattern is chronic sinusitis, recurrent acute sinusitis, nasal polyps, odontogenic sinusitis, fungal disease, or another cause of facial pressure and drainage. Surgery is not recommended simply because a patient has symptoms; the symptoms must match objective findings and the operation must have a clear purpose.
His philosophy is conservative but not passive. When medical therapy, topical treatment, allergy management, or observation is appropriate, he explains that clearly. When endoscopic sinus surgery, balloon sinuplasty, nasal polyps surgery, or combined airway surgery is indicated, the goal is to restore natural drainage while preserving normal anatomy whenever possible. Patients should leave consultation understanding what is blocked, why it matters, what surgery would change, and what long-term maintenance may still be needed.
- Dual board-certified facial plastic surgeon and otolaryngologist
- Diagnosis-first sinus surgery philosophy using symptoms, endoscopy, and CT findings
- Integrated evaluation of sinus drainage, septum, turbinates, valves, and nasal airway
- Practice focused on sinus, nasal airway, facial, and reconstructive surgery
Recognizing the Problem
Symptoms of Chronic Sinusitis and Recurrent Sinus Infections
Sinusitis is inflammation of the sinus lining, and its symptoms overlap with colds and allergies — part of why chronic sinus disease so often goes under-treated. The signs below are the most common reasons patients seek evaluation, particularly when they persist beyond ten days, keep returning, or last more than twelve weeks despite treatment.
Facial Pain & Pressure
A heavy, aching pressure across the cheeks, around the eyes, the forehead, or the bridge of the nose — often worse when bending forward.
Nasal Congestion & Obstruction
A persistently blocked or stuffy nose that makes breathing through the nose difficult and can disrupt sleep.
Discharge & Post-Nasal Drip
Thick nasal discharge, or mucus draining down the back of the throat that triggers throat clearing and a lingering cough.
Reduced Smell or Taste
A dulled or absent sense of smell — and, with it, taste — common when inflammation or polyps block the airflow that carries scent.
Headache & Dental Pressure
Headaches and a pressure sensation in the upper teeth, both of which can stem from inflamed sinuses behind the face.
Fatigue, Cough & Ear Fullness
Ongoing tiredness, a lingering cough, ear fullness, and bad breath that can accompany prolonged sinus inflammation.
Acute sinusitis usually settles within a few weeks. Symptoms that last beyond twelve weeks, or that keep returning, point to chronic or recurrent sinusitis and are worth a formal evaluation with nasal endoscopy and, when indicated, CT imaging.
An Established Academic Authority
Double board certification. Fellowship director. Published author. A surgeon's surgeon.
ABFPRS
Board Certified
American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
ABOto
Board Certified
American Board of Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery
NYMC
Clinical Assistant Professor
Otolaryngology · Clinician Scholar Pathway
AAFPRS
Fellowship Director
American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Textbook
Published Author
Contributions to the academic literature of facial plastic surgery
Dual board certification in both Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery.
01 · Why Dr. Mourad
Why patients choose Dr. Mourad for sinus surgery.
Dr. Mourad is double board-certified in Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery and in Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, and serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology at New York Medical College. That clinical and academic perspective supports a coordinated evaluation of sinus disease, nasal breathing, and the structural anatomy of the nose.
His practice is built around a careful, anatomy-first evaluation. Every plan begins with nasal endoscopy and a review of your CT imaging to understand exactly where drainage is obstructed, so the operation opens precise pathways and preserves healthy tissue rather than removing it broadly.
Complex and revision sinus cases — patients who have had surgery elsewhere that did not fully resolve their symptoms, or who were told their anatomy was difficult — are a routine part of the practice. Patients are referred from across Manhattan and the tri-state area for exactly these situations. Every recommendation is made conservatively, and surgery is offered only when imaging and symptoms genuinely point to it.
02 · Patient Selection
Who is a candidate for sinus surgery?
Candidacy is individualized. The diagnosis must be established, symptoms and objective findings must plausibly match, appropriate treatment for the disease subtype and its response must be reviewed, and the proposed operation must have a clear target and realistic goal.
I
Chronic Sinusitis
Facial pressure, congestion, post-nasal drip, and recurrent infections that have persisted for months despite antibiotics, nasal sprays, and saline rinses, with CT findings that match the symptoms.
II
Structural Obstruction & Polyps
A deviated septum, enlarged turbinates, or nasal polyps that physically block the natural sinus openings — often the mechanical reason medication alone has not worked.
III
Recurrent Acute Disease
Frequent, repeated sinus infections through the year that clear with antibiotics but keep returning, disrupting work, sleep, and daily life.
Illustrated Anatomy
How sinus surgery opens the drainage pathway.
Sinus procedures are not documented with before-and-after photographs — the relevant anatomy sits behind the face, not on its surface. The illustration shows the natural drainage pathway that endoscopic sinus surgery is designed to restore.
Illustrative anatomy · Not a patient photograph
If this describes you, the next step is a quiet, unhurried conversation — not a sales call.
An Honest Note
When sinus surgery may not be right for you.
If appropriate medical therapy has not yet been given a fair trial, that comes first — for many patients, controlling allergy and inflammation resolves symptoms without an operation.
When CT imaging and endoscopy do not show findings that explain the symptoms, surgery is unlikely to help, and the cause is investigated further before any procedure is considered.
Uncontrolled medical conditions, certain bleeding risks, or medications that must remain uninterrupted may make surgery inadvisable until they are addressed and optimized.
Sinus surgery treats sinus and nasal disease; it is not a stand-alone cure for headaches or sleep apnea, which are separate diagnoses evaluated on their own terms.
03 · Approaches
Sinus surgery techniques in NYC.
Modern sinus care is a toolkit. The right approach for a given patient is built from one or several of these techniques, guided by CT imaging and the actual disease pattern.
1 of 6 · Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
04 · Technique
Endoscopic FESS vs balloon sinuplasty.
Two of the most common questions patients ask are whether they need full endoscopic surgery or the gentler balloon procedure, and how the two differ. The honest answer is that it depends on your CT scan and the actual pattern of disease — the two techniques are sometimes even combined in a single operation, using the right tool for each sinus.
FESS
Endoscopic visualization & precise correction
Functional endoscopic sinus surgery uses small rigid endoscopes passed through the nostril to see the sinus openings directly, remove obstructive tissue or polyps, and restore natural drainage — all without external incisions.
It is the right tool when disease is extensive, when polyps are present, when fungal disease is involved, or when the ethmoid cells need structural correction. It is also the workhorse of revision surgery, where prior scarring and altered anatomy demand direct visualization.
Balloon
Gentle dilation, no tissue removal
Balloon sinuplasty uses a soft inflatable catheter to gently widen narrowed sinus openings without removing tissue. Recovery is typically brief, and selected procedures can be performed in the office under local anesthesia.
It is well suited to patients with focal narrowing and limited mucosal disease. It is not a substitute for full endoscopic surgery when polyps, fungal disease, or extensive inflammation are present — choosing it in the wrong patient simply postpones the right operation.
Illustrative diagrams. CT-guided decision-making determines the right combination of techniques for each patient.
Decision Framework
Sinus Surgery Decision Framework
There is no single sinus operation that fits every patient. The right step depends on what is driving the disease, what the CT scan and nasal endoscopy actually show, and what medical therapy has already been tried. The framework below outlines how Dr. Mourad approaches the most common scenarios — and, just as importantly, when surgery is unlikely to be the answer.
| Evaluation | Likely option | When surgery may not help | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic sinusitis, no polyps | Nasal endoscopy and CT after a documented trial of medical therapy — saline rinses, topical nasal steroids, and treating any underlying allergy. | Endoscopic (functional) sinus surgery to reopen the natural drainage pathways when disease persists on imaging. | When the CT is near-normal, or when symptoms are driven mainly by allergy, migraine, or a non-sinus cause. |
| Chronic sinusitis with polyps | Endoscopy and CT to map polyp extent; assessment for asthma and aspirin sensitivity (AERD). | Endoscopic sinus surgery to remove polyps and open the sinuses, paired with ongoing topical — and sometimes biologic — medical therapy. | As a stand-alone fix — polyps commonly recur without continued medical control after surgery. |
| Recurrent acute sinusitis | Confirm distinct episodes that fully clear between infections; endoscopy and CT to look for a correctable drainage or structural cause. | Balloon sinuplasty or focused endoscopic surgery when a correctable narrowing is found; otherwise medical optimization first. | When endoscopy and between-episode imaging are normal and episodes are infrequent. |
| Fungal sinusitis | CT — and MRI when indicated — with endoscopy to distinguish a fungus ball, allergic fungal sinusitis, and invasive disease. | Endoscopic surgery to remove fungal material and re-establish drainage; invasive disease needs urgent combined medical care. | Surgery alone does not address the allergic or inflammatory component, which still requires ongoing treatment. |
| Odontogenic sinusitis | CT showing maxillary sinus disease with a dental source, alongside a coordinated dental or oral-surgery evaluation. | Treat the dental source first; endoscopic sinus surgery if the sinus does not clear once the tooth is addressed. | Sinus surgery alone, when the underlying tooth or oroantral problem is left untreated. |
| Structural obstruction | Endoscopy and exam to define a deviated septum or enlarged turbinates; CT if sinus disease is also suspected. | Septoplasty and/or turbinate reduction, combined with sinus surgery only when sinus disease coexists. | When congestion stems from reversible inflammation or allergy rather than fixed anatomy. |
| Prior failed balloon or surgery | Detailed review of prior operative notes and imaging; repeat endoscopy and CT to find residual cells, scarring, or missed disease. | Revision endoscopic sinus surgery — often more extensive — addressing scar, retained partitions, or untreated sinuses. | When symptoms come from inflammatory or non-sinus causes rather than a residual anatomic problem. |
This framework is general educational information, not a substitute for an in-person evaluation. Every recommendation follows a personal examination, nasal endoscopy, and appropriate imaging.
Begin the conversation
Discuss your symptoms with Dr. Mourad — a consultation is a clinical evaluation, not a sales conversation.
Cost, Financing & Insurance
How much does sinus surgery cost in NYC?
Sinus surgery cost depends on the diagnosis, imaging findings, extent of sinus disease, and whether treatment involves endoscopic sinus surgery, balloon sinuplasty, turbinate reduction, nasal polyps, image guidance, septoplasty, or combined nasal airway surgery.
Because sinus surgery is a functional, medically documented procedure rather than a cosmetic one, it may be submitted for insurance review when medically necessary and when the patient's plan includes applicable out-of-network benefits. The portion a patient ultimately owes depends on their deductible, coinsurance, allowed amounts, and plan benefits.
MouradNYC is an out-of-network practice. Eligible medically necessary functional components of sinus surgery may be submitted to insurance when the patient's plan includes applicable out-of-network benefits and plan requirements are met. Coverage, authorization, deductibles, coinsurance, allowed amounts, and patient responsibility vary by plan and are not guaranteed. Verification and authorization do not guarantee payment. Our office can help review benefits and guide patients through the preauthorization process when appropriate.
What May Affect Cost
- Diagnosis and severity of sinus disease
- CT imaging findings
- Prior medical treatment
- Type of sinus procedure
- Whether septoplasty or turbinate reduction is included
- Insurance plan requirements
This information is educational and is not a guarantee of pricing, insurance coverage, reimbursement, financing approval, or surgical candidacy. A personalized estimate is provided after consultation. Insurance coverage depends on the patient’s plan, medical necessity, documentation, and carrier requirements. Financing terms are determined by third-party financing providers.
Clinical Sinus Atlas
Understand the anatomy, drainage pathways, and surgical goals of sinus surgery
Sinus symptoms often come from narrow drainage corridors, inflammation, and obstructed ventilation rather than one isolated cavity. This atlas shows how the paranasal sinuses drain, why obstruction can cause pressure and recurrent symptoms, and how endoscopic sinus surgery is planned to improve access, ventilation, and drainage while preserving healthy anatomy whenever possible.
Stylized educational schematic · not a patient image · not to scale.
Stylized educational schematic · not a patient image · not to scale.
Paranasal sinuses — frontal overview
This view introduces the frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid, and maxillary sinuses in relation to the nasal cavity. It shows that sinus symptoms often arise not from one isolated cavity, but from the way each sinus drains through narrow passageways. The goal of sinus care is to restore ventilation and drainage while preserving healthy anatomy whenever possible.
What this view shows
- Frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid, and maxillary sinus relationships
- Nasal septum, middle turbinate, and inferior turbinate orientation
- Major drainage pathways into the nasal cavity
- Why blocked drainage can contribute to pressure, congestion, and recurrent symptoms
Stylized educational schematic · not a patient image · not to scale.
The ostiomeatal complex — the key drainage hub
The ostiomeatal complex is the central drainage corridor for the frontal, anterior ethmoid, and maxillary sinuses. Small areas such as the frontal recess, uncinate process, ethmoid bulla, infundibulum, maxillary ostium, and middle meatus can have a large effect on symptoms when inflamed or narrowed. This view helps patients understand why endoscopic sinus surgery focuses on precise drainage pathways rather than simply “removing sinus tissue.”
What this view shows
- Frontal recess and middle meatus drainage
- Uncinate process, ethmoid bulla, and infundibulum landmarks
- Maxillary ostium and maxillary sinus outflow
- Why narrow drainage pathways can cause recurrent symptoms
Stylized educational schematic · not a patient image · not to scale.
How the sinuses drain from front to back
This side-view plate shows that different sinuses drain through different channels. The frontal sinus drains through the frontal recess, the anterior ethmoid and maxillary sinuses drain toward the middle meatus, and the sphenoid sinus drains posteriorly through the sphenoethmoidal recess. Because each sinus has distinct anatomy, treatment must be individualized rather than reduced to one generic sinus operation.
What this view shows
- Frontal sinus drainage through the frontal recess
- Anterior ethmoid and maxillary drainage toward the middle meatus
- Sphenoid drainage toward the sphenoethmoidal recess
- Why symptom location does not always identify the exact sinus involved
Stylized educational schematic · not a patient image · not to scale.
The landmarks that guide safe sinus surgery
Endoscopic sinus surgery is performed in a narrow space beside the orbit and beneath the skull base. Important landmarks include the lamina papyracea, skull base and cribriform region, ethmoid air cells, turbinates, septum, maxillary sinuses, and orbits. Understanding these relationships allows the surgeon to maintain orientation, open obstructed drainage pathways, and avoid unnecessary trauma to healthy structures.
What this view shows
- Orbit and lamina papyracea relationships
- Skull base and cribriform region boundaries
- Ethmoid cells, middle turbinate, inferior turbinate, and septum
- Why careful anatomic orientation matters during FESS
Stylized educational schematic · not a patient image · not to scale.
What happens when drainage becomes blocked
Inflammation can thicken the mucosa and block the natural sinus openings, called ostia. When drainage pathways narrow, mucus can become trapped, pressure can build, and infection or chronic inflammation may persist. This plate compares healthy drainage with obstruction patterns to show why medical therapy is usually tried first and why persistent mechanical blockage may lead to a discussion about sinus surgery.
What this view shows
- Healthy drainage versus impaired drainage
- Thickened mucosa and blocked ostia
- Retained mucus and inflammatory or polypoid tissue
- Why medical therapy and surgery address different parts of the problem
Stylized educational schematic · not a patient image · not to scale.
How endoscopic sinus surgery restores access and drainage
This educational comparison shows the broad goal of endoscopic sinus surgery: improving access, ventilation, and drainage. Surgery may open key drainage pathways such as the maxillary antrostomy and ethmoid pathway while preserving healthy structures whenever possible. The goal is symptom relief and healthier sinus function, but individual anatomy, healing, and results vary.
What this view shows
- Narrowed drainage pathway and inflamed mucosa before surgery
- Retained secretions within obstructed sinuses
- Opened maxillary and ethmoid pathways after surgery
- Improved ventilation and drainage as the surgical goal
05 · In Dr. Mourad's Words
Sinus & airway videos.
Short educational films and patient perspectives from the Manhattan practice.
Dr. Mourad in Practice
An overview of the practice — sinus, airway, and facial plastic surgery in Manhattan.
Patient Perspective
A patient discusses life before, during, and after sinus surgery.
Inside the Consultation
How Dr. Mourad evaluates symptoms, imaging, and surgical candidacy.
06 · Recovery
Recovery from sinus surgery.
Stage 01
First 24 Hours
Sinus surgery is almost always an outpatient procedure, so most patients go home the same day with a driver. Light oozing from the nose is expected and is managed with a small gauze drip pad; mild congestion and fatigue are normal. Rest with the head elevated, avoid blowing the nose, and keep activity gentle. Most patients are comfortable with acetaminophen or the medication Dr. Mourad prescribes.
Stage 02
Week 1
The first week is the most noticeable phase of recovery. Congestion, mild pressure, and a stuffy head-cold sensation are common as the lining begins to heal. Saline rinses, started as directed, are the single most important part of aftercare — they keep the newly opened drainage pathways clear of crusting. Many patients return to desk or remote work within a few days, while strenuous exercise and heavy lifting are deferred.
Stage 03
Weeks 2 – 4
Crusting gradually clears and breathing steadily improves. A follow-up endoscopy and gentle in-office debridement help the sinuses heal open rather than scar closed — a routine, well-tolerated part of the process. Most patients resume normal exercise within two to four weeks, once Dr. Mourad confirms healing is on track.
Stage 04
Months 1 – 6
The sinus lining continues to mature over several months. Facial pressure, post-nasal drip, and recurrent infections typically continue to settle as the tissue normalizes. For patients with polyps, allergy, or asthma, ongoing medical therapy — saline rinses, topical steroids, and allergy management — helps protect the result and reduce the chance of recurrence.
Have a specific question?
Send a brief note describing your anatomy or concerns — the office will route it directly to Dr. Mourad for review.
Long-Term Results
Fewer infections, easier breathing, better sleep.
When the natural drainage pathways are restored, many patients experience steady, lasting relief — fewer infections, less facial pressure, clearer breathing through the nose, and for some a gradual return of the sense of smell.
Easier nasal breathing often improves sleep as well: less nighttime congestion and mouth-breathing, and for some patients better tolerance of CPAP therapy. Sinus surgery is not a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea itself, which is evaluated separately, but the airway and the way you sleep are genuinely connected. Individual results vary with the underlying diagnosis.
Insurance & Out-of-Pocket Planning
Insurance and out-of-pocket planning.
Sinus surgery may be submitted for insurance review when medically necessary and when the patient's plan includes applicable out-of-network benefits. Chronic disease and structural obstruction should be documented; CT imaging and an in-office endoscopy guide the conversation.
Out-of-pocket portions vary by plan. The practice handles pre-authorization in advance so that financial expectations are clear before scheduling.
Before You Arrive
Your consultation, prepared.
Bring any prior CT scans of the sinuses on disc or via portal access.
List your symptom history — when congestion started, what makes it worse.
Bring a complete list of prior medications, antibiotics, and nasal sprays.
Note any allergies, asthma, or aspirin sensitivity.
Allow 60 minutes; expect an in-office nasal endoscopy.
No decisions are made at the first visit — that is by design.
Patient Perspectives
From patients of the practice.
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.
After balloon sinuplasty my recovery was quicker than I expected — I was back at work within a few days, and the saline rinses made a real difference in healing.
I travel in from Westchester and it was worth it. The CT review was thorough, and I am no longer cycling through antibiotics every season.
Individual experiences. Results and recovery vary by patient. Testimonials shared with written consent.
Patient Reviews
Sinus Surgery Patient Experiences
Selected public patient reviews. Individual experiences vary.
“I can now say I can breathe better than I ever have”
Real patient experiences
Selected public reviews from patients of the practice.
Your privacy matters
We never share personal health information.
Board-certified expertise
Dual board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon.
Individual results vary. Reviews reflect individual experiences and are not a guarantee of outcome.
At a Glance
Sinus surgery options fact snapshot.
- Treats
- Chronic sinusitis that persists despite medical therapy, recurrent acute sinusitis, nasal polyps, and blocked sinus drainage pathways.
- Does not treat
- Allergic rhinitis or congestion without sinus disease, migraine mistaken for sinus headache, or obstruction caused purely by the septum or nasal valve — though those can be addressed in the same operation.
- Evaluation
- Nasal endoscopy and CT imaging after an adequate trial of medical therapy, so surgery is mapped to documented disease rather than symptoms alone.
- Related conditions
- Chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps, deviated septum, fungal sinusitis, odontogenic sinusitis.
- Possible combined procedures
- Septoplasty, turbinate reduction, balloon dilation of selected sinuses, polyp removal.
- Recovery summary
- Most patients return to desk work within about a week; saline rinses and debridement visits support healing over the following weeks.
- Insurance / functional distinction
- Sinus surgery is a functional, medically indicated procedure and may be submitted for insurance review — coverage is never guaranteed. This out-of-network practice provides documentation for reimbursement.
- When to seek evaluation
- When sinus symptoms persist beyond twelve weeks despite treatment, or infections keep returning several times a year.
Why patients trust this practice
Care led by a double board-certified specialist
Double board certified
American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and American Board of Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery.
AAFPRS Fellowship Director
Trains fellows through the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Published author
Contributions to the academic literature of facial plastic surgery.
Face, nose & sinus focus
A practice concentrated above the clavicles, including complex revision evaluations.
Questions & Answers
Sinus surgery NYC FAQs
The diagnosis must be established, symptoms and objective findings must plausibly match, appropriate prior care and its response must be reviewed, and the proposed operation must have a clear target and realistic goal.
No. Balloon dilation, FESS, polyp surgery, fungal-debris removal, revision surgery, and combined airway procedures address different problems. The extent is tailored to the documented disease.
Balloon dilation widens a selected opening without removing tissue. FESS provides direct access when tissue, polyps, debris, scar, or more extensive disease must be addressed.
No. Headache or facial pressure without objective sinus disease is not a stand-alone reason for sinus surgery.
Not always. Chronic inflammatory disease may still require topical therapy, endoscopic follow-up, allergy or asthma care, or other management.
No. The appropriate operation is the least burdensome procedure that adequately treats the supported problem.
Clinical references
This page draws on published clinical practice guidelines and public-health references. These sources inform general patient education and do not replace an individual evaluation with Dr. Mourad.
- 01Payne SC, McKenna M, Buckley J, et al. Clinical Practice Guideline: Adult Sinusitis Update. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 2025;173(suppl 1):S1–S56. AAO-HNSF guideline (2025 update)
- 02Shin JJ, Wilson M, McKenna M, et al. Clinical Practice Guideline: Surgical Management of Chronic Rhinosinusitis. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 2025. AAO-HNSF guideline (surgical management, 2025)
- 03U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus). Sinusitis. MedlinePlus
- 04Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sinus Infection (Sinusitis). CDC
Explore the Sinus Center
Related sinus care & resources
Sinus surgery is one part of a wider program of sinus and airway care. These pages explain the specific techniques, the conditions they treat, and what recovery and cost look like.
Endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS)
The definitive endoscopic operation for chronic rhinosinusitis and obstructive sinus disease.
Read moreBalloon sinuplasty
A tissue-sparing dilation of the sinus outflow tracts for selected patients with focal disease.
Read moreChronic sinusitis treatment
Medical and surgical options for sinus inflammation lasting beyond twelve weeks.
Read moreNasal polyps treatment
How polyps are removed and managed long-term to keep the airway and drainage open.
Read moreRecurrent sinus infections
Why infections keep returning, and when surgery becomes the more durable answer.
Read moreSinus surgery recovery timeline
What healing actually looks like, week by week, after sinus surgery.
Read moreSinus surgery cost & insurance
How sinus surgery may be submitted for insurance review through out-of-network benefits and what affects out-of-pocket cost.
Read moreThe Most Important Step
Your expert consultation.
A sinus consultation with Dr. Mourad begins with a detailed history of your symptoms, prior treatments, and what daily life actually looks like for you — the missed work, the disrupted sleep, the seasons spent on antibiotics. He then performs an in-office nasal endoscopy and reviews your CT imaging with you, pointing out exactly where drainage is obstructed. From that, you will leave understanding your diagnosis, the realistic options — including the option not to operate — and what each would involve. No decisions are made under pressure, and patients from across the tri-state area are welcome.