What are Nasal Polyps?

Nasal Polyps vs Normal | What are Nasal Polyps?

Our new patients often say, "my nose feels swollen," "mucus is stuck between my nose and throat," "I have constant nasal stuffiness," and "I can only breath through one nostril."

Nasal polyps are soft, painless, and noncancerous (benign) growths in your nose or sinuses often caused by chronic inflammation. They hang down like teardrops or grapes. 

While small polyps may not cause issues, larger ones or clusters can block your nasal passages, leading to significant breathing problems, facial pain, pressure, stubborn cough, and loss of smell.

What do Nasal Polyps Feel Like?

People who have small nasal polyps might not know they have them. But having more than one polyp or having a large polyp can block the nose.¹ 

Nasal Polyps | Surprising Statistics  

• Approximately 25–30% of all chronic sinusitis patients have nasal polyps.¹ ,³ 
• 70-90% of chronic sinusitis patients experience post nasal drip.
• Nasal polyps most often appear between the ages of 30 & 60.²    

What do Nasal Polyps Actually Look Like?

Photo: Huge nasal polyp (3" in length) removed by Dr. Tannas - just 1/10th of the total polyp volume cleared from this nasal cavity. Nasal polyp surgery performed in Walnut Hill ENT's best-in-class surgical suite.  
 Smaller nasal polyp removed from the same patient. In-office Total IV anesthesia (TIVA) administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist.   

Nasal Polyp Removal | Patient Review | Dallas

"My wife really does appreciate me having the nasal polyp surgery, because now she can sleep peacefully at night. I can breathe way better, I sleep way better...I feel more alert."

Nasal Polyps | Conservative Treatments First

Natural Approaches

• Saline Nasal Irrigation: A neti pot or NeilMed squeeze bottle to flush out mucus and allergens.
• Humidity: Using a humidifier, especially during dry seasons.
• Hydration: Drinking plenty of fluids to keep mucus thin.
• Avoiding Irritants: Steering clear of tobacco smoke and environmental pollutants.

Medical Management

• Nasal Corticosteroids: Sprays like Flonase or Nasonex to reduce inflammation.
• Oral or Injected Corticosteroids: For more severe cases to shrink polyps quickly.
• Antibiotics or Antifungals: If an infection is present.
• Leukotriene Modifiers: To reduce inflammation, particularly useful if asthma is also present.

Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

is a viable option if natural approaches & medical management fail.

• Nasal Polyp Surgery (Nasal Polypectomy): Nasal polyp removal using micro-instruments or lasers, often done endoscopically in our ENT clinic under Total IV anesthesia (TIVA)  
• In-office Balloon Sinuplasty: Minimally invasive procedure where a small balloon is inserted into the sinus passages and inflated to widen them, similar to how a balloon angioplasty opens blocked coronary arteries. 

In complex nasal polyp surgeries, balloon sinuplasty can be used to open sinus passages to access deeper nasal polyps.  Walnut Hill ENT exclusively uses Fiagon VenSure Nav Balloon Sinus Dilation. 

Large nasal polyp (3" in length) removed by Dr. Tannas in our ENT surgical suite.   

After Nasal Polyp Surgery | Top 3 Questions 

Just after in-office nasal polyp surgery, our sinus patients (& their spouses ) invariably ask, 

• “Dr. Tannas, can I see what you just removed from my nose?”  (A: Sure, but only if you promise not to pass out.)
• "OMG, that's huge! How did it fit inside my nose? (A: It's squishy & malleable.)"
• Will I breathe and sleep better?" (A: Yes!)

Before/After CT Scans: Nasal Polyp Removal | Dallas

See Before & After CT Scans!

Long-Term Management

• Regular Follow-Up: Monitoring for regrowth or recurrence.
• Allergy Management: Treating underlying allergies to prevent polyp formation. Dr. Tannas may refer you to a local allergist in Dallas for allergy testing.
• Lifestyle Adjustments: Humidity control, avoiding irritants, and maintaining good sinus health practices.

Nasal Polyps | FAQs

• Do nasal polyps grow back after surgery? Yes, they can, which is why ongoing management & follow-up are crucial.
• Can nasal polyps lead to other health issues? Yes, they can complicate asthma, cause sinus infections, or even contribute to sleep apnea.

Next Steps

If nasal polyps, post nasal drip, chronic sinusitis, or sinus pressure is impacting your life, book a sinus consult with Dr. Henri Tannas a board-certified ENT surgeon & Boston-trained sinus specialist. Call us at (214) 647-1836  or book your Sinus Consult online. 

Walnut Hill ENT is an independent ENT clinic located on the campus of Presby Dallas Hospital. We offer next-day appointments. D Magazine’s Best Doctors | Otolaryngology.

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