I am 41. Will surgery help in restoring my sense of smell?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am 41 and have completely lost my sense of smell and taste over the past six months, along with chronic nasal congestion that does not improve with decongestants or antihistamines. I also have persistent post-nasal drip and facial pressure, especially around my forehead and cheeks.

My ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor found nasal polyps during examination and mentioned they might be related to my asthma, which has been harder to control lately. Will surgery to remove the polyps restore my sense of smell, or could this be permanent? Are nasal polyps likely to come back even after treatment, and what causes them in the first place?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Your loss of smell and taste, ongoing congestion, post-nasal drip, and facial pressure are very typical of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps), which is often linked to asthma in a condition sometimes called aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease (aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease).

Nasal polyps develop due to chronic inflammation in the lining of the sinuses, not from infection or cancer, and they are strongly associated with allergic disease, asthma, and sometimes aspirin sensitivity.

Surgery (endoscopic sinus surgery) can help by removing the polyps, clearing the sinuses, and improving airflow, which often leads to at least partial restoration of the sense of smell; however, the degree of recovery varies. Some patients regain smell completely, while others only partially, and in cases where the olfactory nerves have been chronically inflamed or damaged, the loss can sometimes be permanent.

Unfortunately, polyps have a high recurrence rate, especially in people with asthma, allergies, or Aspirin sensitivity, which is why surgery is often combined with ongoing medical therapy such as intranasal corticosteroid sprays, steroid irrigations, or newer biologic treatments like Dupilumab that target the underlying inflammation.

Long-term management usually requires both surgical and medical approaches to control symptoms, reduce recurrence, and improve quality of life.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.

Thank you.