Will sinus surgery help with the chronic inflammation and puffiness I have under eyes?

Question

Garrett H. Bennett, MD · Answer

There are several reasons for eye puffiness. These include maxillary sinus inflammation, allergies to the environment, congenital puffiness you may have noticed as eye puffiness from one of your parents, or fat that tends to become more prominent as we age. If you don't have sinus infections then it is one of the latter causes. Some patients will also have puffiness just from excess fluid in the pockets under the eyes. Your facial plastic surgeon is generally also board certified in otolaryngology and should be able to distinguish between the causes. If you think it may be fat, look in a mirror at your lower eyelid as you move your chin down. Fat will bulge outward giving you your answer. You may also have multiple of the above causes for eye puffiness.

Jason J. Durel, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. The short answer is that is depends. There are many potential causes for puffiness under the eyes and sinus issues are just one of them. You might also be experiencing skin laxity as a part of the aging process or another underlying condition that could be leading to these changes. I advise you to meet with a board-certified otolaryngologist first to determine the reason behind the puffiness and inflammation. From there, you can decide if treatment for your sinuses is the best approach or if cosmetic treatments or surgery might be a better solution. Good luck to you!

Frank Scaccia, MD, FACS · Answer

It all depends on the cause of your eyelid swelling.  If you have documented CT findings of chronic sinusitis and medications have not helped sinus surgery if done correctly can be a life changing event.

Lisa Liberatore, MD · Answer

Eye puffiness can be from multiple causes including thyroid disorders and age however a chronic problem with nasal congestion and sinus drainage can lead to difficulty with the lymphatic drainage around the eyes. This can lead to puffiness of the eyes. Medical treatment of any underlying allergies can help reduce puffiness. Sinus surgery and balloon sinuplasty can help reduce puffiness around the eyes if the cause of the puffiness is related to sinus inflammation.

Mark Loury, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

The lid swelling may improve particularly if there is chronic maxillary sinusitis. If you have allergy affecting your eyes then the surgery may not and emphasis on allergy management is paramount. If the lower lid swelling is from herniation of the lower lid fat pads then lower lid surgery is required. One way to tell is to look into a mirror while your eyes are looking upward. If the lid fullness worsens then the fat pads are a factor.

Will sinus surgery help with the chronic inflammation and puffiness I have under eyes?

Answers (5)

Answer: Sinusitis and puffy eyes

Answer: Sinusitis and puffy eyes

Answer: Eye puffiness and sinusitis

Answer: Eye puffiness and sinusitis

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Everything you need to know about Sinus Surgery

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Will sinus surgery help with the chronic inflammation and puffiness I have under eyes?

Answers (5)

Answer: Sinusitis and puffy eyes

Answer: Sinusitis and puffy eyes

Answer: Eye puffiness and sinusitis

Answer: Eye puffiness and sinusitis

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Sinus Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.