Sinusitis is inflammation of the tissue lining the sinuses, which are the hollow spaces between the eyes, behind the cheekbones and behind the forehead. When you have sinusitis, the sinuses cannot humidify and filter the air you breathe or trap germs like they’re supposed to. One solution for chronic sinusitis is balloon sinuplasty.
What Is Balloon Sinuplasty?
Balloon sinuplasty has nothing to do with the balloons you’d find at a birthday party or at The Tennessee Valley Fair; it is a procedure that was adapted from angioplasty, where balloon catheters are used to dilate congested blood vessels.
The purpose of the procedure is to clear blocked sinuses. Unlike traditional sinus surgery, balloon sinuplasty does not require any incisions, making it a minimally-invasive and low-risk procedure.
How Is Balloon Sinuplasty Performed?
Balloon sinuplasty is sometimes performed in a hospital, but more often in an ear, nose, throat (ENT) office.
- First, you are put under local or general anesthesia. You’ll discuss which option is better for you with your doctor.
- Second, the doctor will insert an endoscope, which is a tube with a lighted camera at the end, into the nose so they can see what they are doing.
- Next, they’ll advance a balloon catheter into the sinus passage. The balloon is slowly inflated in order to expand the opening of the sinus and gently restructure the bone around the sinuses.
- Then, the doctor will flush out the sinuses with a saline solution.
- Finally, the balloon is removed, and you are done!
What Is Recovery Like?
You don’t need to stay at the clinic long after the balloon sinuplasty procedure, and some people can even drive themselves home afterward. Most people return to regular activities 24-48 hours after the procedure.
You can expect tenderness, congestion and drainage for about a week following the surgery.
How Safe Is Balloon Sinuplasty?
Balloon sinuplasty is a highly safe and effective procedure. The benefits of balloon sinuplasty over traditional sinus surgery include:
- Lower risk of bleeding.
- Shorter post-op stay in the clinic.
- Faster recovery.
- No intended removal of tissue, cartilage or bone.
- Fewer post-op appointments.
- Reduced need for general anesthesia and pain meds.
- Lower risk of infection, inflammation and scarring.
For more information about balloon sinuplasty or to schedule a consultation, call Foothills ENT and Allergy and Hearing Center today!