Do small nasal polyps need surgery?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on March 14, 2025
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Nasal polyps are a relatively common nasal disease. In terms of treatment, if the nasal polyps are minimal, surgery may not be necessary initially. The first consideration can be conservative drug treatment. After timely medication, most patients may find their nasal polyps gradually shrink and might even disappear. However, regular follow-ups are required to monitor changes in the condition. If the nasal polyps do not improve with conservative drug treatment, surgical removal should be considered. Currently, endoscopic surgery is commonly used, which is a minimally invasive procedure with relatively mild damage, shorter recovery time, and generally good treatment outcomes. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician.)

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Is the nasal polyps spray effective?

Some patients find nasal polyps effectively treated with sprays, and this largely depends on the extent of the specific lesion. If the nasal polyps are relatively mild, localized, and the clinical symptoms are not particularly severe, most patients could consider using conservative treatments first to see the results. The common conservative treatment is nasal sprays, generally corticosteroid sprays. Their main function is to reduce nasal polyps and alleviate inflammatory responses. Overall, many patients find effective results following standardized medication treatment. If the conservative medication treatment is ineffective and the nasal polyps are extensive, surgery might be considered as a necessity. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
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Do nasal polyps have any harm?

Nasal polyps are abnormal tissue structures and pathological in nature, thus posing several risks to human health. Firstly, they obstruct nasal airflow because nasal polyps block the normal respiratory and ventilation passages, causing the primary sensation of nasal congestion and difficulty in breathing through the nose. Secondly, they impair the sense of smell. Nasal polyps obstruct the nasal cavity, preventing odors from smoothly reaching the olfactory area, leading to diminished olfactory perception. Thirdly, if the nasal polyps persist for too long and grow excessively large, they can result in acute changes in the nose, the most common being a "frog-like nose." This condition makes the nose appear flattened and broad like a frog's, lying against the face which is cosmetically unappealing.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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What should I do if nasal polyps cause nosebleeds?

Patients with nasal polyps who experience nosebleeds should visit an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) department to identify the specific cause of the bleeding. Some patients have bleeding caused by nasal polyps, while others may bleed due to erosion of the nasal mucosa or rupture of small blood vessels. A small number of patients might have bleeding due to tumorous lesions. Therefore, after seeing an ENT specialist, it is necessary to undergo a nasal endoscopy, complete blood count, and coagulation function tests to clarify the specific cause of the condition. Some patients might choose conservative medical treatment, some may require nasal packing to stop the bleeding, and others, if conservative treatment is ineffective, may need to consider surgical treatment.

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
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How long does nasal polyp surgery take?

The duration of hospitalization for nasal polyp surgery is approximately one week, as the surgery requires general anesthesia. Patients need to undergo endoscopic nasal polyp removal and cleaning of the nasal and sinus mucosa. Prior to surgery, routine examinations such as urine and blood tests, chest X-rays, electrocardiograms, and hepatitis B tests are required, along with consultations from relevant departments like respiratory medicine, internal medicine, and anesthesiology to fully assess the patient's vital status. After the surgery, patients need to use an expandable sponge to fill the nasal cavity to prevent local bleeding, and postoperative antibiotics are necessary to avoid local infections. If the patient does not have a fever or local bleeding, they can be discharged a week post-surgery. During the treatment period, it is recommended to drink more water and rest adequately.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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What should I do if nasal polyps are removed but grow back?

Nasal polyps are a common condition in otolaryngology and are benign neoplasms in the nasal cavity. After nasal polyp surgery, there is a possibility of recurrence, and the likelihood of recurrence is relatively high compared to other diseases. Currently, we surgically remove nasal polyps through functional endoscopic surgery, followed by regular post-operative outpatient follow-ups to clean the nasal cavity. Since then, the recurrence rate after this surgery has been relatively low. However, if the nasal polyps recur, we must perform surgery again to remove them, as enlarged nasal polyps can block the nasal cavity and damage the surrounding tissue structures, necessitating another surgical intervention, with no other special methods available.