Sinus lift surgery in Turkey: what it is and when you need it
A sinus lift — sinus lift surgery, also called sinus augmentation or sinus floor elevation — adds bone to the upper back jaw so that dental implants can be placed there. Above the roots of the upper premolars and molars lies the maxillary sinus, an air-filled space lined with a thin membrane. After those teeth are lost, the bone below the sinus shrinks from underneath while the sinus tends to expand from above, and often only a few millimetres of bone remain. A standard implant needs more height than that to be anchored securely.
In a sinus lift surgery the dentist or oral surgeon gently lifts the sinus membrane and fills the space beneath it with bone graft material. Over the following months this turns into bone that can hold an implant. For the full guide to implants themselves — prices per tooth, implant brands, the two trips and choosing a dentist — see dental implants in Turkey; for dental treatment abroad in general, see our dental treatment guide. This page covers only the sinus lift: whether you need one, which technique, what it costs, how long it takes to heal and what can go wrong.
Whether you need a sinus lift can only be decided from a cone beam CT scan, which shows the exact bone height under the sinus. If you already have a scan, send it with your quote request.
Lateral or crestal sinus lift: the two techniques
There are two main ways to raise the sinus floor. Which one is used depends mainly on how much bone is left.
| Crestal sinus lift (internal, osteotome) | Lateral sinus lift (lateral window) | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical remaining bone height | Usually about 5 mm or more | Usually less than about 4–5 mm |
| Access | Through the hole drilled for the implant, from below | A small window cut in the side wall of the sinus, through the gum above the teeth |
| Height that can be gained | A few millimetres | Much more, up to 10 mm or above |
| Implant placed | Almost always at the same time | At the same time if the remaining bone holds the implant firmly; otherwise months later |
| Swelling and recovery | Similar to a normal implant | More swelling and bruising for about a week |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
A crestal lift is less invasive, but the surgeon works without seeing the membrane, so it is reserved for cases with enough bone. A lateral sinus lift lets the surgeon see and protect the membrane and place a larger graft. Some clinics use piezosurgery (ultrasonic instruments) or special drills to reduce the risk of tearing the membrane.
How much does a sinus lift cost in Turkey?
The clinics on our site price a sinus lift after reviewing the CT scan, because the cost depends on the technique, the amount and type of graft material and whether a membrane is needed. As an approximate guide, a crestal sinus lift in Turkey costs about €300–€800 per site and a lateral sinus lift about €600–€1,500 per side, not including the implant. These figures are approximate and are confirmed in a written quote. Implant prices are explained on the dental implant page.
| Country | Lateral sinus lift, one side (approximate) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | about €600–€1,500 | Crestal lift lower; implant charged separately |
| United Kingdom | about £1,000–£2,500 | Private; graft material and membrane sometimes extra |
| United States | about $1,500–$3,500 | Often billed separately from the implant and the scan |
| Germany | about €1,000–€2,500 | Usually not covered by statutory insurance |
The sinus lift cost moves with the graft: your own bone, bone substitutes from animal or synthetic sources, and added growth-factor products such as platelet-rich fibrin are priced differently. Ask which material and membrane are included.
Who is a candidate for a sinus lift in Turkey?
- Patients missing upper premolars or molars who want implants and have too little bone height under the sinus.
- A healthy sinus: chronic sinusitis, polyps or a blocked sinus drainage should be assessed — sometimes by an ENT specialist — and treated first.
- Non-smokers or patients willing to stop around the surgery; smoking is linked with poorer graft healing and more implant failures.
- Controlled general health: poorly controlled diabetes, radiotherapy to the area and some bone medicines need discussion first.
If you have frequent sinus infections or allergies, mention them: the surgeon may ask for an ENT check or a scan of the whole sinus before treatment.
Sinus lift and bone graft materials
The space under the lifted membrane is filled with graft material that acts as scaffolding for new bone:
- Your own bone (autograft) — taken from the jaw; it heals well but means a second small surgical site.
- Bovine bone substitute (xenograft) — processed bone mineral of animal origin, the most widely studied material for sinus lifts; it is replaced by your own bone slowly.
- Human donor bone (allograft) and synthetic materials — used by some clinics, alone or mixed.
Mixtures are common. Some surgeons add platelet-rich fibrin made from your own blood, and a membrane is placed over the window in a lateral lift. There is no single correct material; ask why the surgeon chose one, and get the product names in your treatment report. For bone grafting elsewhere in the jaw, see dental bone regeneration.
How sinus lift surgery is performed
- Planning. A cone beam CT scan measures the bone height and shows the shape of the sinus, its walls and any septa (bony partitions) that make the lift harder.
- Anaesthesia. Local anaesthesia is usual; sedation is available for anxious patients.
- Crestal lift: the implant site is drilled to just below the sinus floor, which is then tapped or pushed up gently with instruments; graft material is added and the implant placed.
- Lateral lift: the gum is opened, a small window made in the side wall of the sinus, the membrane lifted, the space filled with graft, the window covered with a membrane and the gum stitched. The implant is placed at the same time or later.
- Duration: about 30–60 minutes for a crestal lift, around one to one and a half hours for a lateral lift on one side.
Sinus lift healing time and planning your trips
The graft needs time to turn into bone. With a crestal lift and simultaneous implant, healing is similar to a normal implant: about four to six months before the crown. After a lateral sinus lift, surgeons usually wait about six to nine months before loading the implant, or before placing it if it could not go in at the same time.
- Sinus lift with the implant at the same time: usually two trips — surgery (about 5–7 days in Turkey), then the crown after healing.
- Sinus lift first, implant later: often three trips — the lift, the implant about six to nine months later, and the crown a few months after that.
Ask the clinic at the start which plan applies to you, so you can budget for the right number of trips.
Sinus lift recovery and flying home
- First days: swelling and bruising of the cheek, sometimes up to below the eye, peaking on day two or three; a little bleeding from the nose is possible. Painkillers, cold packs and usually antibiotics and decongestant nose drops are prescribed.
- First two weeks: do not blow your nose, sneeze with your mouth open, avoid straws, smoking, heavy exercise and diving. These create pressure that can disturb the graft.
- Stitches are removed or dissolve after about 7–14 days.
Flying changes pressure in the sinus. Many surgeons recommend waiting several days to a week after a lateral sinus lift before flying, and checking the wound before you leave; follow your surgeon's advice. See flying after surgery for general tips.
Sinus lift complications and risks
A sinus lift is a routine procedure with a good record, but complications do happen. A systematic review by Pjetursson and colleagues (Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 2008) of lateral sinus lifts reported:
- Tearing of the sinus membrane — the most common complication, in about one in five procedures. Small tears are usually repaired during surgery with a membrane; large ones may mean stopping and trying again months later.
- Infection of the graft or sinus in about 3% of cases; a graft that becomes infected may have to be removed.
- Implant survival of about 90% at three years overall, and about 96% for implants with modern rough surfaces.
Other risks are bleeding, sinusitis, graft material or an implant moving into the sinus, and loss of part of the graft. Tell the clinic at once about increasing pain, fever, a bad taste or discharge from the nose after the first few days.
Alternatives to a sinus lift
- Short implants (around 6–8 mm or less) can sometimes be placed in the remaining bone without a lift.
- Tilted implants, as used in All-on-4, are angled in front of the sinus to avoid it when a whole arch is replaced.
- Zygomatic implants are anchored in the cheekbone for severe bone loss in the upper jaw.
- A bridge or partial denture without implants, when the neighbouring teeth allow it.
The dentists and clinics on our site are listed on the implant page and under hospitals; send your scan for a free written plan with the technique, graft material, number of trips and price.
Hospitals with Dental Treatments in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
Approximately €300–€800 per site for a crestal lift and €600–€1,500 per side for a lateral sinus lift, without the implant. The price depends on the graft material and membrane and is confirmed in a written quote after a dentist has reviewed your CT scan.
Only if the CT scan shows too little bone height under the sinus for a secure implant — often when upper back teeth have been missing for years. With about 5 mm or more, a smaller crestal lift with the implant may be enough; short or tilted implants are sometimes alternatives.
The surgery is done under local anaesthesia, so it is not painful at the time. Afterwards most patients have swelling, bruising and moderate soreness for a few days, controlled with painkillers.
About four to six months with a crestal lift and simultaneous implant, and about six to nine months after a lateral sinus lift before the implant is loaded or placed.
Often, yes: always with a crestal lift, and with a lateral lift if the remaining bone holds the implant firmly. With very little bone, the implant is placed several months later.
Plan about 5–7 days for the surgery trip so the wound can be checked before you fly. The crown, or the implant after a lift on its own, needs a later trip.
Many surgeons advise waiting several days to a week after a lateral sinus lift, because cabin pressure affects the sinus. Follow your surgeon's advice and have the wound checked before you leave.
A tear in the sinus membrane, reported in about one in five lateral lifts in a 2008 systematic review and usually repaired during surgery; infection in about 3%; sinusitis, bleeding and partial loss of the graft are less common.
For about two weeks, do not blow your nose, sneeze with your mouth closed, use straws, smoke, dive or do heavy exercise. Take the prescribed medication and eat soft food on the other side.
A sinus lift is a specific type of bone graft that adds height under the sinus in the upper back jaw. Other bone grafts add width or height elsewhere in the jaw.