A sinus lift creates bone height in the upper back jaw so that an implant can be placed there. The floor of the maxillary sinus — an air-filled space in the cheekbone above your upper molars — is gently raised, and the space created beneath it is filled with graft material that turns into bone over several months. Nothing is put into the sinus itself.
It sounds more alarming than it is. It is a routine and well-established procedure, and the reason it comes up so often is anatomical rather than a reflection of anything you have done.
Why the upper back jaw runs out of bone
The roots of the upper molars and premolars sit close beneath the sinus floor, sometimes separated by only a thin sheet of bone. When one of those teeth is lost, two things happen at once. The ridge resorbs from below, as it does anywhere a tooth is removed. And the sinus itself tends to expand downwards into the space the roots used to occupy — a process called pneumatisation.
Squeezed from both directions, the remaining height between the top of the ridge and the sinus floor can end up at a few millimetres. That is not enough to anchor an implant, and no amount of careful placement makes bone that is not there.
The two techniques
The crestal or internal lift
Used when a reasonable amount of bone is already present and only a few millimetres more are needed. The approach is through the implant site itself: the bone is prepared to just below the sinus floor, the floor is gently lifted from underneath, graft material is introduced, and in many cases the implant is placed at the same appointment. It is the less invasive of the two, with a shorter recovery.
The lateral window lift
Used when substantially more height is needed. A small opening is made in the side wall of the jaw above the ridge, the sinus membrane is carefully separated and lifted, and the space is packed with graft material. The implant is usually placed later, once the graft has matured — commonly after six to nine months, though it is sometimes possible at the same visit if enough bone remains to hold the implant steady.
Which technique applies to you is decided from a CBCT scan, which shows the height available, the shape of the sinus floor and whether any septa — small bony walls inside the sinus — are present.
Does it affect the sinus or your breathing?
No. The membrane lining the sinus is lifted rather than opened, and the sinus cavity itself is not entered. Its function — air, drainage, the lining that produces mucus — is unchanged once healing is complete.
The main intraoperative complication is a tear in that membrane, which is not rare and is usually repaired at the time with a small collagen patch. If the tear is large the procedure may be stopped and repeated after the membrane heals, which is a delay rather than a disaster. Existing sinus problems — chronic sinusitis, significant allergy, polyps — need to be discussed and sometimes treated first, so mention them at the planning stage.
Recovery, and the aftercare that is specific to this procedure
Expect swelling in the cheek, some bruising, and discomfort for several days, managed with ordinary pain relief. A little blood-tinged discharge from the nose on the treated side in the first day or two is common and not a cause for alarm.
The instructions that matter most here are the ones you would not guess:
- Do not blow your nose for the period you are told — usually around two weeks. Pressure can displace the graft.
- Sneeze with your mouth open, for the same reason.
- Avoid drinking through a straw and avoid smoking.
- Avoid flying for the period your clinician specifies, since cabin pressure changes are unhelpful in the early days.
- Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for the first few days.
Contact the clinic rather than waiting if you develop increasing pain after the third day, persistent nasal discharge that is not blood-tinged, or a fever.
Can it be avoided?
In some cases, yes, and it is worth asking. Shorter implants are used routinely now and may work where height is limited but the bone is dense. Placing implants further forward in the arch, where the sinus is not a factor, and bridging backwards from there is sometimes an option. And a bridge or a partial denture remains a legitimate alternative if you would rather not have the surgery.
What cannot be done is placing an implant into insufficient bone and hoping. That fails, and it usually fails after you have paid for the crown.
Frequently asked questions
How long until the implant can go in?
With an internal lift, often at the same appointment. With a lateral window lift, commonly six to nine months later, then the implant’s own integration period after that.
Is it done under general anaesthetic?
Normally local anaesthetic is sufficient. Sedation is available for anxious patients.
Is it more painful than an extraction?
Most patients report swelling and pressure rather than sharp pain, and describe it as comparable to a difficult extraction.
Can both sides be done at once?
They can, but recovery is more demanding. Many patients prefer one side at a time.
Have the height measured before deciding anything
Whether you need a sinus lift, and which type, is settled by a scan rather than an opinion. Our articles on bone grafting and implant candidacy cover the wider picture, and our oral surgery page explains how surgical cases are handled here.
To arrange a consultation at our clinic on Abbas El-Akkad in Nasr City, call +20 101 969 7597 or message us on WhatsApp.
