Balloon Sinuplasty: An Effective Treatment for Sinusitis
For those suffering from chronic sinusitis, Houston Sinus and Allergy is now offering a new simple office procedure called balloon sinuplasty, or balloon sinus dilation, which can provide immediate and long-lasting relief. Say goodbye to the uncomfortable feelings of sinus headaches, congestion, fever, fatigue and loss of smell and taste.
More than 37 million Americans suffer from sinusitis every year, making it one of the most common health conditions in the country. The impact of chronic sinusitis can extend beyond nasal and sinus symptoms, where sufferers experience challenges to their quality of life, sleep, and work productivity.
Traditionally, those who suffer from the pain, pressure and other symptoms of recurring and persisting sinus infections have two routes to relief:
1) Medical therapy (antibiotics, steroids, etc.)
2) Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS)
While medications can be used to minimize the discomfort of symptoms, they aren’t fixing the underlying drainage problem. With surgery, the procedure requires the cutting of nasal bone or tissue to fix the problem.
Fortunately, Houston Sinus and Allergy is offering an alternative. Balloon sinuplasty, a procedure that can be done with local anesthesia in our office, can reopen the sinus pathways and restore drainage. In a single office visit, our experienced Dr. Nguyen can perform the safe and effective procedure, allowing you to breathe properly again and not experience any more pain.
Benefits of Balloon Sinuplasty
There are many reasons why balloon sinuplasty has become a preferred method for treating sinusitis.
Some of the benefits include:
- Instant, long-lasting relief
- Convenient and comfortable office procedure
- A short recovery time, typically 1-2 days
- Less expensive than other health care options
- No device-related adverse events
- No surgical nasal alterations
- No reliance on medications
Now I know the idea doesn’t have to be oversold but there are plenty of reasons why Balloon Sinuplasty is favorable to traditional endoscopic surgery.
Recovery Time
Foremost is the recovery time. Recovery is roughly 48 hours after the surgery but most patients are able to resume day-to-day activities within 24 hours. The bleeding is most often minimal and the whole thing can usually happen in a doctor’s office under local anesthetic.
Results
The most important reason though is the results. Most patients who undergo Balloon Sinuplasty report immediate relief for up to two years!
Is Balloon Sinuplasty Right for You?
The reasons you’d look into getting it done are actually the same reasons you shouldn’t put it off: Sinusitis. This lovely word is a catch-all for viral, fungal or bacterial inflammations of the sinuses.
Poor sinus drainage, which leads to infection and discomfort, is the source of persistent or recurring sinus pain. Strained or blocked breathing, headaches, facial pain and swelling are also common side effects. Most will endure the symptoms and hope they don’t come back. The problem is that they often do. Becoming chronic, sinusitis can worsen over time and start to cause serious complications. Teeth start to ache, bad breath develops and you could even risk meningitis because the sinuses are so close to your brain! Nearly 30 million people or 12% of the population are suffering through pain and you don’t have to be one of them.
When repeated cases of sinusitis make it difficult to function on a day-to-day basis and other treatment options have failed, surgical procedures offer the best chance of long-term recovery. When performed by experienced practitioners, like the sinus experts at Houston Sinus & Allergy, Balloon Sinuplasty can help eliminate the symptoms of chronic sinusitis while reducing the recovery time and risk inherent in other surgical sinus procedures.
While balloon sinuplasty is an effective solution to sinusitis, you’ll need to qualify for the procedure. Take our “Chronic and Recurrent Sinusitis Quiz” to see if you qualify for this revolutionary treatment.
One way to get over any hesitation is to see what people who’ve had the procedure done have to say. Blogger amywynn217 has blogged about this very issue! She goes over the whole process from check-in to recovery.
What to Expect with the Balloon Sinuplasty Procedure
The process for balloon sinuplasty is relatively quick and painless and is performed while the patient is relaxed under local anesthesia.
The 4 steps of balloon sinus dilation are:
1) A balloon catheter is inserted into the inflamed sinus
2) The balloon is inflated to expand the sinus opening
3) Saline is sprayed into the inflamed sinus to flush out pus and mucus
4) The system is removed, leaving sinuses open
When the sinus balloon is inflated, it restructures and widens the walls of the sinus passageway while maintaining the integrity of the sinus lining.
Where Can Houston Residents Get Relief?
Make an appointment with Dr. Nguyen today to determine if balloon sinus dilation is right for you, and get the relief you need. So book an assessment, or visit our Houston clinic and treat your sinusitis today!
What Is Balloon Sinuplasty?
Similar to endoscopic surgery, Balloon Sinuplasty is a surgical procedure for treating inflamed or blocked sinuses. During the operation, your surgeon will use a small balloon, insert it into your sinus pathways, and then inflate it slowly. After the balloon is inflated, it presses against the sinus walls and widens the air pathways. By slowly dilating narrow sinus canals, the sinus pathway opens up to better airflow, allowing the sinuses to properly drain, breathe and heal from chronic infections.
After that, your surgeon will introduce a saline solution to flush the sinus walls and remove bacteria. Unlike most traditional ENT surgeries that require an incision, balloon sinuplasty in Houston is quick and convenient. So, within 24 to 48 hours, you can go back to your normal activities at home, work or school.
How Do You Get a Balloon Sinuplasty Evaluation in Houston?
Balloon sinuplasty is an advanced but highly effective surgical procedure that allows the surgeon to get to the root of the sinus problem. So, if you have tried other sinus treatments without the desired relief, you could be a candidate for balloon sinuplasty.
But before you’re scheduled for this operation, you need to have a thorough medical test. This allows your surgeon to use imaging tests like CT scans and x-rays to see the sinuses and surrounding areas clearly. If antibiotics and other types of therapies don’t treat your sinus infection well, you may need to have a balloon sinuplasty.
Dr. Nguyen offers a single-day diagnosis for all sinus problems as long as you have an insurance plan. After conducting the relevant tests, he’ll schedule you to have sinuplasty surgery based on the results obtained from the tests. Then, you’ll receive instructions on how to prepare for your operation.
How Do You Prepare for Balloon Sinuplasty Treatment in Houston?
During your medical assessment, Dr. Nguyen will show you how to prepare for your balloon sinuplasty procedure. About two weeks before the procedure, he may ask you to stop taking some medications, supplements and herbs. He’ll also ask you to stay away from smoking and alcohol to prevent unnecessary bleeding during and after surgery. Within two weeks before you come in for surgery, you should avoid consuming:
- Aspirin-based pain medication
- Vitamin E supplements
- Ginseng, gingko biloba and garlic tablets
- All forms of alcoholic drinks
- All drugs that can thin your blood
On the day before the surgical procedure:
- Don’t eat a few hours before the surgery
- Use any medication prescribed to you as normal, including antibiotics or nasal sprays
- Come to the office with your insurance card and valid identification documents
What Happens After a Balloon Sinuplasty Procedure in Houston?
After the operation, you should be able to resume your normal activities within 24 to 48 hours. However, it’s safest to have someone else drive you home. During the week after the procedure, it’s normal to see some blood or mucus coming from your nose, but it should stop within a week.
Dr. Nguyen may ask you not to blow your nose for the next one to two days. You should also sleep with your head raised up to avoid discomfort from drainage. Reduce the intensity of your activities for a week and take any prescribed medication according to the doctor’s instructions.
The procedure does require monitoring and follow-up visits that usually averages about 10 months. Significant gains in sinus health have been reported for up to two years following the procedure.
Do You Want to Know More About Balloon Sinuplasty Surgical Procedure in Houston?
For more details about how to treat sinusitis with balloon sinuplasty, contact Dr. Nguyen at Houston Sinus & Allergy now. You can also schedule an assessment of your condition to discover the best treatment option to use if you reside within or close to Houston, TX or Cypress/Jersey Village in Texas.Book an Assessment
