If you are one of the millions of people that suffer from chronic sinusitis, you have likely tried dozens of medications to bring you relief. You are not alone, and if you are tired of the uncomfortable pressure and pain caused by reoccurring sinus problems, balloon sinuplasty may be the solution you have been looking for.
Balloon sinuplasty is a breakthrough sinus surgery that does not require the nasal bone or tissue to be cut. Instead of painful incisions, we open inflamed sinuses in a manner very similar to how heart surgeons open blocked arteries. A small balloon catheter is inserted into the sinus passageway and inflated to open the blockage. The device is removed after the procedure is complete, but the inflating of the balloon restructures and widens the passageways, which prevents reoccurrences.
In clinical studies, patients that have had the balloon sinuplasty procedure have reported symptom improvement for years after the procedure.
Balloon sinuplasty is done under local anesthesia, and the recovery time is minimal. After the procedure, most patients will return home the same day. Each person will experience slightly different recovery times, but many people return to their normal activities quickly.
Ramie A. Tritt, MD, President, Atlanta ENT
