Surgical Definitions

1. Myringotomy: A surgically placed tiny incision in the eardrum. Any fluid behind the eardrum can then drain and usually thickened secretions can be removed. A small plastic ear tube (a tympanostomy or PE[pressure equalization] tube) is often inserted into the eardrum to keep the middle ear aerated for a prolonged period of time. These ventilating tubes usually remain in place for 6 months to several years. Eventually, they will move out of the eardrum (extrude) and fall into the ear canal.

2. Tonsillectomy/Adenoidectomy: The surgical removal of the tonsils. A tonsillectomy may be performed in cases of recurrent tonsillitis, or treat sleep apnea and some speech disorders.  The surgical removal of the adenoid tissue is commonly performed with tonsillectomy.

3. Tympanoplasty/Mastoidectomy: A surgical operation to correct damage to the middle ear and restore the integrity of bones of the middle ear and the ear drum. Surgical removal of some or all of the mastoid process.

4.Septoplasty: is a surgical procedure done to straighten the nasal septum - the partition between the two nasal cavities.

5. Rhinoplasty: Plastic surgery on the nose, known familiarly as a nose job. Rhinoplasty is a facial cosmetic procedure, usually performed to enhance the appearance of the nose. During rhinoplasty, the nasal cartilages and bones are modified, or tissue is added. The aim is to improve the visual appeal of the nose.

6. Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (ESS): Endoscopic sinus surgery is an operation in which the surgeon examines the interior of the nose and the openings to the paranasal sinuses. Using state of the art microtelescopes and instruments, abnormal and obstructive tissues are then removed. In most cases the surgery is performed entirely through the nostrils, leaving no external scars.

7. Facelift: A surgical procedure designed to make the face appear younger by pulling loose facial skin taut. With age or excessive sun exposure, wrinkled creased skin can develop on the face, neck or forehead along with fat deposits and folds around the jaws and jowls. While a facelift cannot stop the aging process, it may turn back the clock in appearance.

8. Blepharoplasty: Plastic surgery on the eyelids. Blepharoplasty may be done to correct ptosis (sagging eyelids), remove fatty bulges around the eyes, and eliminate hanging skin from the eyelids.

9. Laryngoscopy: Examination of the larynx with a mirror (indirect laryngoscopy) or with a laryngoscope (direct laryngoscopy). The laryngoscope is a rigid or flexible, lighted tube used to look at the inside of the larynx (the voice box). The laryngoscope is inserted through the mouth into the upper airway.