Occasional sinus pressure or sinus headaches aren’t unusual. In fact, many people have sinus symptoms as a “side effect” of colds, flu, or allergies. But if you have sinus pressure or pain on a regular basis, you might have a condition called chronic sinusitis — and that means you might also find relief from a procedure called balloon sinuplasty.
At ENT Specialists, our team is experienced in using balloon sinuplasty to help patients relieve persistent sinus problems. If you have chronic sinusitis, here’s what you should know about this minimally invasive treatment.
Chronic sinusitis happens when your sinus tissues become chronically inflamed and swollen, interfering with normal breathing and causing symptoms like sore throat, headaches, facial pain, and frequent sinus infections. Chronic sinusitis is extremely common, and it’s also the fifth most common reason for antibiotic prescriptions.
Unfortunately, many people with chronic sinusitis don’t respond well to medications to reduce infections and inflammation. That’s because their nasal passages are naturally crowded, preventing normal drainage and airflow.
Balloon sinuplasty gently widens these passages using a tiny balloon that’s inserted through your nose, then inflated once it reaches your sinuses. Inflation opens up the passages to improve sinus function and relieve sinusitis symptoms, including pain and pressure.
Balloon sinuplasty can be a good choice for people who have:
While balloon sinuplasty doesn’t involve incisions or tissue removal, it’s not ideal for everyone, and it’s generally not recommended for anyone with a deviated septum or nasal polyps.
Unlike traditional sinus surgery, balloon sinuplasty doesn’t involve cutting through bone or any other tissue. Instead, balloon sinuplasty is performed while you’re under sedation using a special instrument to access your sinus cavity through your nose without any need for incisions.
After accessing your sinuses, your doctor removes infected material from them to prevent further infection. Next, they insert the tiny balloon and inflate it once it’s in place. As it inflates, the balloon gently widens the sinus area to improve drainage of mucus and other debris, reducing sinus pain, pressure, and infections.
After a brief recovery period, you’ll be discharged with complete instructions on aftercare, including any prescribed antibiotics and the use of saline spray to keep your sinus passages moist. You’ll return for a followup visit in a couple of weeks so we can monitor your healing.
Sinusitis can have a major effect on your quality of life and your overall health. To learn how we can help manage sinusitis and whether balloon sinuplasty is a good option for you, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at ENT Specialists in Salt Lake City, Murray, Draper, and Tooele, Utah, today.
