Yes, I usually get one a year. In the past they've all been viral, which means antibiotics won't help and all you can do is treat the symptoms. Usually I get one following a bout of influenza, and the sinus infection part lasts at least a month. In 2005 I had a series of viral infections that lasted from Jan - June and saw the doctors several times. They told me that viral sinus infections usually do take at least a month to clear. Mine kept coming back b/c I got very sick in Africa and my body was already exhausted and fragile, so I just couldn't kick it. Each time, they made sure I didn't have malaria, but then said to just keep getting rest and taking the OTC meds to treat the symptoms.
Over Christmas I got a bacterial infection which resulted in a sinus infection, periorbital cellulitis in both eyes, and a weird skin infection/abscess on my head. For this I took heavy antibiotics since it was bacterial. For the sinus infection symptoms, I did my normal routine of any OTC sinus formula with a daytime and nighttime regimen.
I've never considered surgery, but I will say that the one year I did not get a viral sinus infection was the year I had a flu shot.
Make sure he's only getting antibiotics for something that antibiotics actually treat (i.e., not a virual infection caused by a bad cold or influenza - for those you need antivirals, if they are available/necessary). The more you take antibiotics, the less impact they will have.