Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to treat serious sinus conditions. It involves using nasal endoscopes, which are thin tubes with lights and lenses, to ease sinus symptoms without making incisions in or around the nose. The goal of FESS is to remove blockages and treat other problems in the sinuses using an endoscope, a thin, rigid tube with a camera and a light. The procedure is performed while the patient is asleep under general anesthesia and is usually an outpatient procedure.

FESS is most successful in patients who have recurrent acute or chronic infective sinusitis, and those in whom the predominant symptoms are facial pain and nasal blockage usually respond well. Studies show that between 80% and 90% of people who have FESS for chronic sinusitis feel the surgery "cured" their problem. However, everyones experience is different, and FESS may not "solve" a patients sinus condition because its a chronic condition, but it can significantly ease symptoms and limit how often the chronic sinus flares.

FESS is a standard surgery for chronic sinus conditions and has relatively few complications. However, all surgeries come with potential complications and risks, and some complications of FESS may include changes in nasal breathing or sense of smell, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, and discomfort during recovery. It can take a few months before a patient feels back to normal, but most people go back to school or work in a week or so and resume their normal routine within two weeks.

In summary, FESS is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to treat serious sinus conditions. It involves using nasal endoscopes to ease sinus symptoms without making incisions in or around the nose. FESS is most successful in patients who have recurrent acute or chronic infective sinusitis, and studies show that between 80% and 90% of people who have FESS for chronic sinusitis feel the surgery "cured" their problem. However, FESS may not "solve" a patients sinus condition because its a chronic condition, but it can significantly ease symptoms and limit how often the chronic sinus flares.