People living with chronic sinusitis must accept pain, congestion and drainage as part of life; but with an effective and safe procedure like Balloon Sinuplasty they can breathe better and resume normal daily routines more comfortably.
Under local sedation, this procedure is performed by a certified ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor in-office and has many advantages over traditional surgery:
Minimally Invasive
Balloon Sinuplasty differs significantly from functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), which involves cutting nasal bone and tissue, by being performed minimally invasively in our office or outpatient facility by one of our ear, nose and throat physicians. This enables quicker recovery time with decreased pain, bleeding, and complications.
With this technique, a flexible balloon catheter is inserted into the nose. After inflation, this balloon reshapes and widens sinus openings without harming delicate mucus membranes in sinus passageways. Once deflated, all sinus passageways return to their original, healthy size.
Your ENT doctor may recommend Balloon Sinuplasty if your chronic or recurrent sinus issues do not respond to medications, as well as for structural issues like deviated septum, nasal polyps or severe sinus blockage.
FDA-cleared technology underlying this procedure uses a sinus balloon catheter to gently and effectively reshape nasal and sinus passageways, opening blocked sinuses while also restoring normal drainage, helping patients breathe easier.
Before beginning, your ear, nose and throat surgeon will administer either general or local anesthesia before inserting an endoscope through nasal and sinus passageways to locate the treatment area. Once in position over your sinus entrance, this balloon catheter can slowly inflate to widen and reshape it without cutting any bones or tissue to preserve the natural anatomy of the sinuses.
Once the balloon has been taken away, your sinus passageway returns to its usual, healthy condition and your ENT doctor can administer any further treatments as necessary. Most people undergoing this procedure can return to work and other activities within two or three days.
Balloon Sinuplasty is a safe and effective treatment option for individuals suffering from chronic or recurrent sinus issues that don’t respond to medication. Reach out to us now to discover more about how this innovative sinus procedure can help restore breathing ease!
Fast Recovery
Balloon sinuplasty offers many advantages over traditional sinus surgery, namely being significantly less invasive as no tissue is cut and no general anesthesia or operating room visit are needed – leading to less tissue damage and quicker recovery times for all involved parties.
As part of this procedure, your doctor will use a tool to create a small hole in your nose before inserting a catheter into the affected sinus. After they’ve inserted it, they’ll inflate it – inducing pressure within your sinuses as well as producing cracking sounds; all completely normal indicators that your sinus is being unblocked.
Once your sinus has been drained, the doctor will deflate and remove the catheter. They may then rinse your sinuses with a saline solution to reduce irritation, pain, and promote healing. For optimal healing during recovery it is important to drink plenty of water while avoiding alcohol as both can slow the healing process down significantly.
While recovery from balloon sinuplasty may be relatively fast, it is still essential that you follow your physician’s instructions in order to achieve optimal results. This includes refraining from strenuous activities and sleeping with your head elevated as recommended. In addition, try not blowing your nose for at least 24 hours after treatment has taken place if possible; when doing so use soft tissues if necessary and avoid pressing or rubbing areas around your nose.
Patients should follow all medical advice of their physician when taking medications and use over-the-counter remedies under medical supervision. Furthermore, it’s essential to avoid foods high in fats or caffeine which can irritate sinuses and cause discomfort. By adhering to these simple tips you’ll enjoy a rapid and comfortable recovery following balloon sinuplasty and quickly return to regular life activities – in most cases it can even be performed within an ENT specialist office – making balloon sinuplasty an efficient alternative to more invasive surgery techniques like open surgery techniques like open surgery or open sinus surgery procedures.
Less Bleeding
Balloon Sinuplasty differs significantly from traditional sinus surgery by not producing significant bleeding, enabling patients to recover faster while decreasing scarring and bruising risk. Many have reported experiencing complete recovery only days post procedure!
Your doctor will use this non-invasive procedure to insert a thin guide wire with a flashlight on its tip through your nose into your sinus cavity, before inserting and inflating a small flexible balloon catheter in a blocked sinus opening to expand it and flush away mucus and debris from your sinuses. Finally, they remove both components – leaving your sinuses clearer than ever.
Under local anesthesia, this procedure will be performed at your ear, nose and throat specialist’s office. As it doesn’t involve cutting or removal of tissue, your doctor should be able to quickly perform it compared with other sinus surgeries which may take up to four months of healing and recovery time.
Once your sinuses are clear, you’ll notice less congestion and increased relief from symptoms. Breathing more freely will allow more restful sleep as well as speed up return to work or other regular activities much more rapidly following any procedure.
Studies have demonstrated that up to 95% of patients see an improvement in their sinus symptoms after receiving this treatment, saving both money and time because it takes place within a doctor’s office rather than hospitalization, anesthesia or extended recovery periods.
Though less invasive than other sinus procedures, you must still follow your doctor’s instructions closely for this type of procedure. In particular, avoid blowing or touching your nose too frequently during this stage as your delicate nose still requires protection. You should also sleep with your head elevated as this will drain any extra fluid out and reduce any potential swelling caused by drainage of extra sinus fluid and drainage of excess sinus pressure.
Mount Sinai ear, nose and throat doctors employ image-guided balloon sinuplasty technology to precisely guide these tools through your nasal passageways and reach sinus cavities. Similar imaging technology is also used to guide stents into blocked arteries to open them up; you’ll likely feel some pressure while your doctor inserts the device, with some crackling noises possible when inserting the device.
Fewer Side Effects
Chronic sinusitis can be debilitating. Running nose, stuffiness, headaches and sinus pressure make even daily tasks challenging to accomplish. Balloon Sinuplasty is a minimally invasive sinus surgery which provides long-lasting relief from these symptoms with less pain, bruising, bleeding and swelling than traditional surgical solutions.
Under local anesthesia and performed in-office, the procedure involves applying topical decongestant to your nose before injecting anesthetic into some of the tissue lining your nasal cavity. Once this process has taken place, healthcare providers use an endoscope – a thin tube with light at its end that guides catheters – into your nostrils, inserting an inflatable balloon attached to an endoscope into your sinus opening, inflating it to stretch open its walls, drain the sinus, regaining breathing ability before taking out and then cleaning out your nose with saline solution in order to remove debris build-up in any subsequent procedures.
After their procedure, most patients experience mild discomfort that can be managed using over-the-counter analgesics. Bloody nasal drainage may occur for a few days post-op; this should dissipate rapidly with time. Patients should sleep with their heads elevated to promote drainage and healing and should refrain from any strenuous activities for at least 24 hours post-procedure.
Balloon Sinuplasty involves no cutting or removal of sinus tissue, bone or cartilage for faster recovery times than traditional sinus surgery procedures. Many patients can return to work and their normal daily activities within 24 hours after the procedure! For more information about Balloon Sinuplasty procedures please visit our website or make an appointment online – one of our healthcare professionals would be more than happy to answer any queries that arise during your process.
