Maxillary sinus lift: what it is, recovery and what to expect

If you have been told that you do not have enough bone to place dental implants in the back of the upper jaw, you may have been advised to undergo a maxillary sinus lift. It is a common procedure in implant dentistry, but it often raises questions, particularly about pain and recovery. In this article, we explain what it is, what the postoperative period is like and what you can expect at each stage.

What is a maxillary sinus lift and what is it used for?

A maxillary sinus lift is a bone regeneration technique used to increase the height of available bone in the posterior area of the upper jaw when there is not enough support to place dental implants with adequate stability.

The maxillary sinus is an air-filled cavity located above the upper premolars and molars. When these teeth are lost, the bone tends to resorb and the sinus may expand downwards, reducing the amount of bone available to support an implant. The procedure involves carefully lifting the membrane lining the sinus and creating a space where bone graft material or biomaterial is placed to encourage new bone formation.

There are two main approaches: the closed or transcrestal technique, which is more limited and is performed through the implant site itself, and the open or lateral window technique, which allows a greater amount of elevation when more bone is missing. The most appropriate approach is selected individually following a 3D assessment (CT scan or CBCT). In some cases, the implant can be placed during the same surgical procedure; in others, it is necessary to wait for the bone to regenerate. You can find full details on Face Clinic’s sinus lift treatment page.

Is a maxillary sinus lift painful?

This is one of the most common concerns. The procedure is carried out under local anaesthesia, with the possibility of conscious sedation in selected cases, so you should not feel pain during the surgery.

Once the anaesthetic wears off, it is normal to experience swelling, a feeling of pressure around the sinus and mild to moderate discomfort, which can usually be managed with the prescribed medication. The intensity and duration vary from one person to another. Pain that becomes worse, does not respond to medication or is accompanied by fever or discharge should be assessed by the clinical team.

Postoperative recovery after a maxillary sinus lift

After surgery, it is common to experience swelling, some bruising, pressure and discomfort, which should gradually improve. One important point to understand from the outset is that early gum healing does not mean that the new bone has already formed; bone regeneration takes several months.

First 24–48 hours: swelling, minor bleeding and rest

These are usually the days when swelling and pressure are most noticeable. There may be small amounts of bleeding from the nose or mouth, which can be expected. Patients are generally advised to rest, apply cold packs as instructed, keep the head slightly elevated and avoid touching or manipulating the surgical area. Facial swelling during the first few days is normal; if you would like to understand this type of reaction in more detail, you can read about a swollen jaw.

First week: what you can eat and what you should avoid

During the first few days, a soft, lukewarm diet is generally recommended, avoiding very hot or hard foods and chewing on the side opposite the surgical area. It is important to:

• Avoid blowing your nose for the period advised.
• If you need to sneeze, do so with your mouth open rather than holding it in.
• Maintain careful oral hygiene without manipulating the surgical area and use only the products recommended by the clinical team.
• Avoid smoking, alcohol and strenuous physical activity that could increase pressure within the sinus.

From the first month onwards: when can you return to normal activities?

After the first few weeks, most patients are able to return to their usual activities. The initial swelling and discomfort will normally have resolved. However, internally, the bone graft is still maturing, so it is important to continue following the precautions and attend the follow-up appointments recommended by your surgeon until sufficient bone formation has been confirmed.

When can the dental implants be placed?

This depends on each individual case:

• Simultaneous implant placement: if there is enough residual bone to achieve adequate stability, the implant may be placed during the same sinus lift procedure.
• Delayed implant placement: if sufficient stability cannot be achieved, bone regeneration is carried out first and the implant is placed at a later stage, once the graft has matured adequately, usually after several months.

The decision depends on the amount of available bone and the patient’s progress and is confirmed through clinical and radiological follow-up.

Maxillary sinus lift recovery: realistic timelines

It is important to distinguish between two different recovery processes:

• Healing of the gums and improvement in discomfort is relatively quick: the first few days are usually the most noticeable, with a clear improvement often occurring within one or two weeks.
• Bone graft maturation is much slower and takes several months. The exact timeframe depends on the technique used, the amount of bone regenerated, the graft material and whether the implant was placed at the same time or will be placed later.

For this reason, feeling well soon after surgery does not mean that the treatment has finished. The procedure is not complete when the discomfort disappears, but when sufficient bone formation has been confirmed and the site is ready for implant placement.

Side effects of a maxillary sinus lift

Expected and temporary postoperative effects may include:

• Swelling and bruising around the surgical area.
• A feeling of pressure around the sinus.
• Mild nasal congestion.
• Small amounts of bleeding from the nose or mouth.
• Local discomfort that improves with the prescribed medication.

These symptoms should gradually improve when postoperative instructions are followed. As with any surgical procedure, there are also less common potential complications, such as perforation of the sinus membrane, infection or postoperative sinusitis, which the specialist will take measures to prevent and manage. You should contact the clinical team if you develop fever, discharge, persistent bleeding, worsening pain or significant sinus-related symptoms.

Care after a maxillary sinus lift

Following postoperative instructions carefully is important for proper healing. The main recommendations include:

• Avoid pressure within the sinus: do not blow your nose and sneeze with your mouth open for the period recommended.
• Diet and oral hygiene: follow an appropriate diet during the first few days, keep the area clean without manipulating it and use only the products prescribed or recommended.
• Physical activity and habits: avoid strenuous exercise, smoking and any situation that could increase pressure within the sinus.
• Medication: take any prescribed medicines, such as painkillers, anti-inflammatory medication or antibiotics when indicated.
• Scheduled follow-up appointments: attend all reviews so the surgical site can be assessed, sutures removed when necessary and the progress of the graft monitored.

When should you request an assessment for a maxillary sinus lift?

You may benefit from an assessment if you want dental implants in the posterior area of the upper jaw and have been told that there is not enough available bone, or if you have had missing molars for a long time, a history of periodontitis or previous infections that may have reduced the amount of supporting bone. Bone loss can have several causes; previous lesions, such as a jaw cyst, may also leave bone defects that require regeneration.

Not every patient requires a sinus lift. In selected cases, other approaches may be considered, including short or angled implants or specific techniques for advanced bone atrophy, as we explain in this article about alternatives to dental implants. For this reason, an individualised assessment with CT imaging is essential to determine which treatment is appropriate in each case.

At Face Clinic, a team of oral and maxillofacial surgeons specialised in regenerative surgery assesses the available bone and the anatomy of the maxillary sinus in order to plan treatment individually. If you are in this situation, you can request an assessment to determine whether a maxillary sinus lift is the most appropriate option for you.