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Balloon Sinuplasty

What can a Balloon Sinuplasty procedure do for you?

March 30, 2018

5 minutes

Reviewed by Michael Kaplan, MD

You may have heard of the balloon sinuplasty procedure, but how familiar are you with what it does and how it can improve to your quality of life? If you’re looking for sinus relief, you might find that the balloon sinuplasty procedure is exactly what you need to save you from all the seasonal allergies and sinus infections that crop up at the worst times.

Kaplan Sinus Relief is committed to providing you with a convenient, minimally invasive means of getting rid of those pesky sinus troubles, helping you breathe easy even on the days with high pollen counts. Learn more below about the balloon sinuplasty procedure and how it can help you, here.

Meet chronic sinusitis

Have you ever suffered from any of these sinus symptoms?

If so, you may have experienced chronic sinusitis. Chronic sinusitis occurs when the sinuses are inflamed or infected for longer than 12 weeks. It affects more than 30 million Americans each year and costs patients more than 4.3 billion dollars annually.

Many patients attempt sinusitis treatment with over-the-counter medicine. The convenience of over-the-counter medicine is attractive, but many patients find it falls short of treating severe sinus congestion, as the medication is often unable to prevent sinus headaches and other sinusitis symptoms.

The bottom line? Chronic sinusitis complications can be extremely uncomfortable and greatly affect your daily activities. Unsurprisingly, 800,000 people elect to have surgery each year, including the balloon sinuplasty procedure, to cure their sinus issues.

Why choose the balloon sinuplasty procedure?

The balloon sinuplasty procedure is a relatively new sinusitis treatment option that is rapidly gaining popularity for effective and non-invasive approach.

Sinusitis treatments such as antibiotics, steroids, and sinus irrigations can be easy and effective in the short term, but over time, it’s likely that your sinus issues will continue to crop up. Balloon sinuplasty is much more effective. The procedure permanently remolds your sinus cavity, which allows for long-lasting relief.

Other procedures, functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), can also relieve sinus issues. However, the FESS procedure is invasive; it usually requires an overnight stay in the hospital and can carry risks, complications, and trauma. Meanwhile, the balloon sinuplasty procedure is minimally invasive and can give you lasting sinusitis relief in as little as 21 minutes.

Balloon sinuplasty should be your sinusitis treatment choice because it offers the best of both worlds: the convenience of over-the-counter medicine and the effectiveness of sinus surgery. (A quick but important note: if you need deviated septum relief, septoplasty, which is another invasive surgery, might be necessary.)

History of the balloon sinuplasty procedure

The balloon sinuplasty procedure was approved by the FDA in 2005. Ever since, ENT specialists have found it increasingly attractive and a safe way to handle sinus issues. Balloon sinuplasty patients agree, and have given positive reviews for balloon sinuplasty experience and the balloon sinuplasty success rate.

Balloon sinuplasty is quickly becoming a mainstay in sinus treatments and, because of its reliability and safety, is sure to be used for years to come.

Balloon sinuplasty procedure steps

Patients often ask, “What is involved in balloon sinuplasty?” It’s a great question. Fortunately, the procedure for balloon sinuplasty is simple and straightforward. It is performed in the office and can be done with either general or local anesthesia. The procedure steps are as follows:

  1. The doctor first inserts an endoscope (a flexible, plastic tube equipped with a light and camera) into the nasal passage.
  2. Once the endoscope reaches the sinus cavity, the doctor slowly inserts a deflated balloon catheter using the endoscope.
  3. When the balloon reaches the proper location, it is slowly inflated to open the sinus cavity and remold it.
  4. Once this is done, the doctor flushes the cavity with a saline solution to remove any blockages and then slowly removes the balloon. Your sinuses then drain normally.

And that’s it! Patients report no pain, only a numb sensation or slight pressure in their sinuses during the procedure. It truly is a simple, minimally invasive procedure.

Balloon sinuplasty recovery

Prospective patients also ask, “How long does it take to recover from balloon sinuplasty?” Recovery from balloon sinuplasty can be as simple as the procedure itself. After the procedure, patients can typically return home in less than a few hours and return to work in just 1-2 days. However, it is recommended that you take the next day to rest and recover and to avoid heavy exercise and physical labor for at least a week.

In the rare instance you experience tenderness and congestion or occasionally bloody discharge after the procedure (many doctors recommend against blowing your nose for 1-2 days). Over-the-counter pain medication and Vitamin E can help facilitate the recovery process.

What do people think of balloon sinuplasty?

Patients who have undergone balloon sinuplasty are extremely happy with the results because they find lasting relief from their sinus issues. They love the relative ease of balloon sinuplasty compared to other alternatives and prefer the non-invasive nature of this life-changing procedure.

Don’t take just our word for it. Hear from real-life patients whose lives have been changed by the balloon sinuplasty procedure.

Your balloon sinuplasty procedure

Kaplan Sinus Relief is committed to providing you with the sinus relief you need with balloon sinuplasty in Houston. Nobody wants their life clogged up by sinus problems. Schedule a consultation today and never worry about your sinuses again.

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4101 Greenbriar Street, Suite 320

Houston, TX 77098