Do I Need A Balloon Sinuplasty?

The Balloon Sinuplasty procedure was developed for people who suffer from chronic sinusitis. This condition causes inflammation of the sinuses, nasal blockage, and poor mucus drainage. As a result, people with chronic sinusitis will experience recurrent sinus infections, which can be extremely bothersome and frustrating. It can be considered acute or chronic; acute sinusitis means that you experience symptoms for up to 4 weeks, whereas chronic means you experience symptoms for 12 weeks or longer.

Sinusitis Symptoms:

• Sinus headaches
• Facial pressure and/or pain
• Eye and head pressure and/or pain
• Pain in the teeth
• Decreased sense of smell
• Congestion, stuffiness, or feeling of blockage in the nose
• Discolored nasal discharge (yellow or green)
• Postnasal drip
• Bad breath
• Coughing
• Fatigue
• Fever

Non-Surgical Treatments:

• Balloon Sinuplasty
• Saline nasal sprays
• Antibiotics (for sinus infections)
• Nasal steroid sprays
• Steam inhalation

Although these treatments have been helping sinusitis sufferers for centuries, there is a proportion of patients that do not respond to medication therapy or home remedies. These patients would greatly benefit from seeing an ENT doctor to discuss alternative treatments. Traditionally, chronic sinusitis has been treated with surgery, in which the ENT removes bone and tissue from the nose to enlarge the sinus openings and facilitate drainage. However, the recovery from sinus surgery is painful and causes scarring. Thankfully, a minimally invasive procedure was developed as an alternative to surgery. The Balloon Sinuplasty uses a small latex-free balloon to restructure each sinus separately. Unlike traditional surgery, this procedure is very quick, has an easy recovery, and doesn’t involve cutting and scarring.

The Balloon Sinuplasty gives sinusitis sufferers life-long relief from their symptoms and significantly reduces the need for future medication therapy. The procedure takes about 30 minutes and can be performed in the office under local anesthesia; the patient is free to leave after the procedure and a follow-up appointment may or may not be required. After two days, most patients have a full recovery and are able to perform daily activities and work.

Who Qualifies For a Balloon Sinuplasty?

In order to determine if this procedure is right for you, talk with your ENT doctor. You will need to bring up all previous treatments that you’ve received, including the frequency of sinus symptoms and whether the prescribed medication was effective. If you have chronic sinusitis, you will likely qualify for this procedure. Regardless if you suffer from acute or chronic sinusitis, or whether medication therapy helps you or not, reach out to your ENT doctor to discuss alternative treatment options. Relief may be just around the corner! Schedule an appointment with Vitale ENT online or call us today at (813) 406-4400.