Nasal polyps are soft and painless non-cancerous growths on the lining of your nasal passages or sinuses which result from chronic inflammation.
Nasal polyps are soft growths that hang down like teardrops or grapes inside your nose. They result from chronic inflammation of the mucous membrane. Unlike other lumps that might be painful or hard these are usually painless and benign.
Small polyps may not cause any issues. Larger growths or groups of polyps can block your nasal passages and lead to breathing problems or a lost sense of smell and frequent infections. They are common in adults and are often associated with conditions like asthma or allergies.
Symptoms of nasal polyps build up gradually. Many patients attribute their symptoms to a "cold that won't go away" before seeking specialist help.
Doctors do not yet fully understand why some people get long-term inflammation that triggers polyps while others do not. We do know that certain triggers often play a role.
Dr Crawford uses specific tools to confirm the presence of polyps and assess their extent.
The goal of treatment is to reduce the size of the polyps to improve breathing and sinus drainage. Total elimination of polyps is the ideal outcome but not always possible without surgery.
If medical treatment does not shrink the polyps sufficiently or if they cause severe symptoms surgery may be necessary.
Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) Dr Crawford performs this surgery entirely through the nostrils using an endoscope. There are no external cuts.
It is important to understand that nasal polyps can return. Treatment is often about "control" rather than a permanent "cure". Even after successful surgery you will likely need to continue using nasal sprays or rinses to keep the inflammation down and prevent regrowth.
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Nasal polyp surgery requires precision to clear the disease while preserving healthy tissue.
Dr Crawford consults at three convenient locations across Sydney.
While your specialist consultations take place at the clinics listed above, the surgical process involves a separate set of mandatory hospital-based appointments. These take place at the facility where your procedure is scheduled, such as St Vincent’s Private Hospital or St George Private Hospital. These appointments are a critical part of the safety protocol for Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS).
If you are struggling with a blocked nose or loss of smell professional assessment provides the answers you need.
Dr Julia Crawford consults in Darlinghurst and Kogarah.
Our team can assist with appointment enquiries and help arrange a consultation with Dr Julia Crawford at one of her three Sydney consulting locations:
Dr Julia Crawford consults for head and neck conditions, head and neck cancer, thyroid and salivary gland disease, obstructive sleep apnoea, paediatric ENT and selected general ENT problems.
Her team can assist with arranging an appointment at Darlinghurst, Kogarah or Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, and will help ensure the appropriate information and investigations are available before your consultation.