When medicines stop working and blocked, painful sinuses keep coming back, sinus surgery in Gurgaon at Gurgaon ENT Clinic can offer lasting relief. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery, or FESS, is a minimally invasive operation performed entirely through the nostrils to reopen blocked drainage pathways. Led by Dr. Ravinder Gera, an experienced sinus surgeon in Gurgaon and Delhi NCR, our team focuses on treating the real cause of chronic sinusitis rather than chasing symptoms with another round of antibiotics.
This page is for people who have battled repeated sinus infections, nasal polyps, fungal sinusitis or a blocked nose that no longer responds to sprays and tablets. If sinus pressure returns every season and each course of medicine helps only briefly, it may be time for a surgical opinion.
When do you actually need sinus surgery?
Surgery is not the first step. Most sinus problems are managed with medicines first: nasal decongestant sprays for a few days, saline irrigation, nasal corticosteroids and antihistamines when allergy is the driver. FESS is considered when this medical management fails, or when the blockage is structural. Common signs that surgery deserves discussion include:
- Chronic sinusitis lasting 12 weeks or more despite proper treatment.
- Recurrent sinus infections that clear on antibiotics, then flare again.
- Nasal polyps blocking airflow and dulling smell and taste.
- Fungal sinusitis, including a fungal ball or allergic fungal rhinosinusitis.
- Persistent facial pain and pressure, thick discharge, post-nasal drip and headache that worsens on bending forward.
Our article on how FESS helps when medicines fail explains this turning point in more detail.
What is FESS and how does the endoscope work?
Functional endoscopic sinus surgery is not designed to remove sinuses or strip lining indiscriminately. It is designed to restore access. Using endoscopic visualisation, the surgeon identifies exactly where the natural drainage pathways have narrowed or closed, removes the obstructing tissue carefully, and preserves normal anatomy wherever possible. An endoscope is a thin instrument with a light and a camera that shows the sinus openings on a monitor, so the surgeon can work precisely through the nostrils with no external cuts and no facial scars.
What conditions does sinus surgery treat?
FESS treats a range of sinus disease. Chronic and recurrent sinusitis are the most common reasons. Nasal polyps, which regrow when inflammation is strong, are cleared to reopen the airway. Fungal sinusitis is a particular concern in the humid Delhi-NCR climate; surgery is the gold standard for clearing the fungal load and re-establishing drainage, done entirely through the nostrils while preserving healthy tissue. Sometimes the cause is dental, called odontogenic sinusitis, which our blog on odontogenic sinusitis explains. Where a deviated septum contributes to blockage, septoplasty may be combined with FESS in the same sitting.
How is the procedure day organised?
Diagnosis comes first: a detailed history, a diagnostic nasal endoscopy in the clinic, and a CT scan of the paranasal sinuses to map the disease. For complex or distorted anatomy, image-guided navigation acts like a GPS for the face to add precision. The surgery is usually performed under general anaesthesia. Because it is minimally invasive and endoscopic, many patients are treated as day-care and go home the same or next day rather than needing a long admission.
What is the recovery timeline?
Recovery is gradual, and following after-care instructions makes a real difference. Nasal congestion and light discharge are normal in the early days as the lining settles.
| Timeframe | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Day-care discharge for most; rest, mild congestion, prescribed care. |
| First week | Saline rinses as advised; avoid strenuous activity and nose blowing. |
| Following weeks | Breathing and smell improve as swelling settles; follow-up cleaning of the nose. |
You can read what patients experience before and after in this guide to sinus surgery in Gurgaon.
What does sinus surgery cost, and does insurance cover it?
Our published figure: Gurgaon ENT Clinic has not published a price for sinus surgery, and we would rather say so plainly than put up a number that turns out to be wrong for your case. An honest figure needs an assessment first, because the extent of disease on your CT scan and the surgical complexity decide the plan. FESS is a functional procedure to treat disease, so it is commonly eligible for health insurance cover, subject to your policy terms. Call +91-9810340495 or book a consultation, and you will be given a written estimate that itemises consultation, diagnostics, the procedure itself and follow-up care.
Why choose Dr. Ravinder Gera and Gurgaon ENT Clinic?
Dr. Ravinder Gera performs functional endoscopic sinus surgery among his core procedures and brings 27+ years of experience with more than 18,000 surgeries. He was awarded Gold Medalist for two consecutive years in M.B.B.S., is Principal Director and Head of the ENT Department at Max Hospital, Gurgaon, and is a member of the Association of Otolaryngologists of India. Our approach to sinus disease is methodical: find the true cause, treat it precisely, and preserve healthy tissue. That is why the clinic remains one of the most visited ENT clinics in Gurgaon. Many sinus procedures overlap with our wider endoscopic ENT surgery work, and blocked-nose problems that disturb sleep may also relate to snoring and sleep apnea.
Frequently asked questions
What does FESS cost in Gurgaon?
Gurgaon ENT Clinic has not published a price for sinus surgery. The amount depends on your medical condition and the room category you choose. The cost also reflects imaging, endoscopic equipment, hospital care and follow-up, so more extensive or complex disease costs more. Because every case differs, the clearest figure comes after an assessment, and our team will explain what is included before you decide.
Is sinus surgery covered by health insurance?
FESS is a functional procedure performed to treat sinus disease rather than for cosmetic reasons, so it is commonly eligible for health insurance cover. The exact benefit depends on your policy, waiting periods and the room category selected. It helps to confirm the details with your insurer in advance. Our team can guide you on the documentation usually required so the claim process is smoother.
Is FESS painful?
The surgery is performed under general anaesthesia, so you feel nothing during the procedure. Afterward, most patients report pressure and congestion rather than sharp pain, which is managed with prescribed medication. Because FESS is endoscopic and done through the nostrils, there are no external cuts or facial scars. Following your after-care instructions, especially saline rinses, keeps discomfort to a minimum.
How many days of rest are needed after sinus surgery?
Many patients are treated as day-care and go home the same or next day. Most people take it easy for roughly a week, avoiding strenuous activity, heavy lifting and forceful nose blowing while the lining settles. Breathing and smell keep improving over the following weeks. Your surgeon will give a timeline suited to your work and the extent of your surgery.
Can sinusitis come back after surgery?
Surgery reopens drainage and clears disease, but in some people the underlying inflammation is strong and polyps can regrow, which is not a sign the surgery failed. For fungal disease, meticulous endoscopic clearance keeps recurrence low. When inflammation is persistent, options such as targeted biologic injections can control it. Long-term follow-up and treating the root cause give the most durable relief.
Is FESS done under general anaesthesia?
Yes, functional endoscopic sinus surgery is usually performed under general anaesthesia so you are comfortable and still throughout. The whole operation is carried out through the nostrils using an endoscope, with no external incisions. For complex anatomy, image-guided navigation adds precision. Despite being a general-anaesthesia procedure, it is frequently done as day-care, so a long hospital admission is rarely needed.
What is the difference between sinus surgery and balloon sinuplasty?
FESS uses an endoscope to remove obstructing tissue and reopen blocked drainage pathways, which suits chronic disease, polyps and fungal sinusitis. Balloon procedures gently widen certain sinus openings without removing much tissue and suit selected milder cases. The right choice depends on your CT findings, the type and extent of disease, and your symptoms. An assessment determines which approach fits you best.
How do I know if my sinusitis is fungal?
Fungal sinusitis is common in the humid Delhi-NCR climate and does not always respond to standard antibiotics. Diagnosis is methodical: a high-resolution CT scan of the sinuses, a diagnostic nasal endoscopy, and laboratory testing of a mucin sample to identify the organism. Our blog on fungal sinus protocols explains why local conditions matter and how these cases are treated.