Exit

Allergies, Sinus Surgery

Should You Pursue Sinus Surgery for Allergies?

December 19, 2018

3 minutes

Reviewed by Michael Kaplan, MD

There’s no question that allergies can cause frustrating sinus problems, from congestion and runny nose to chronic rhinitis and chronic sinus infections. However, pursuing sinus surgery for allergies can be time-consuming, and it also comes with risks that many people are not willing to deal with.

Thus goes the allergy sufferers conundrum: My allergies are making me miserable day in and day out, but is sinus surgery for allergies worth the risk?

For many (especially those who have the 5 most common allergies), a low-risk procedure called balloon sinuplasty may be the solution you’ve been searching for. Learn more about why sinus surgeries can help with your allergies, and why balloon sinuplasty is different from other procedures.  

How do allergies affect sinuses? Will sinus surgery help my allergies?

Allergies occur when allergens cause the tissues in your nose to become inflamed. This inflammation can result in congestion, sinus headaches, and sometimes, sinus infections.

Sinus surgery for allergies has been shown to reduce allergy side effects in some individuals. Specifically, it can help improve sinus drainage, which rids the sinuses of sinus infection-causing bacteria.

That said, sinus surgery may seem like a drastic step to take as a means of finding relief from your allergies — but only until you realize how much time you’re losing to allergy-induced sinus pain and sinus infections. For more information, check out our post, “When is sinus surgery necessary?

Traditional sinus surgery risks vs. balloon sinuplasty risks

There are many types of traditional sinus surgery, many of which involve the removal of sinus tissue or bone. While the experience of your surgeon should mitigate the following risks, they are still worth keeping in mind when deciding whether or not to elect for sinus surgery.

  • Bleeding and pain
  • Chronic drainage
  • Failure to resolve the sinus issue
  • Damage to the skull and eyes
  • Loss of sense of smell and taste

Balloon sinuplasty is a newer, less invasive type of sinus surgery. During the procedure, a small balloon is inserted endoscopically into the nasal cavity and then inflated as a means of restructuring the sinuses.

While balloon sinuplasty does come with the same set of risks as traditional sinus surgery, its minimally-invasive nature makes the likelihood of their occurrence much, much lower.

Sinus surgery recovery vs. balloon sinuplasty recovery  

While recent technological improvements have been made, the standard sinus surgery recovery timespan is still 3 – 5 days. During that time, many patients are required to use nasal packing, which can be frustrating and uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, balloon sinuplasty reviews state that the typical balloon sinuplasty recovery timespan is 24 hours. Most patients are able to return to their normal activities and jobs the day after the procedure.

No matter the procedure you elect, it’s always best to talk with your doctor about how long your specific recovery time should take.

Contact Kaplan Sinus Relief to see if balloon sinuplasty is right for you

Depending on the extent and type of your sinus issues, you may be an ideal candidate for balloon sinuplasty. Dr. Kaplan is one of the leading performers of balloon sinuplasty in Houston. He and the staff at Kaplan Sinus Relief have helped thousands of patients take their life back from allergies and sinus problems.

Visit Kaplan Sinus Relief online to request an appointment or give us a call at 713-766-1818.


Related Resources:

Location

4101 Greenbriar Street, Suite 320

Houston, TX 77098