Ashford Clinic Blog
Is Balloon Sinuplasty Right for Me?
By now, you might have at least heard of a treatment called Balloon Sinuplasty. In fact, if you're a patient of ours or follow us on social media, you’ve probably seen it mentioned by us on several occasions. Is it right for you though? How familiar are you with how it works?
Basically, Balloon Sinuplasty is a short, in-office procedure used to dilate inflamed sinus passages and flush the infected sinus cavities. It typically takes about an hour, and most patients report that their nasal breathing improves during the procedure. They’ve also reported that sinus and head pressure are immediately decreased.
During the procedure, a small wire catheter with a flexible balloon is inserted into the nasal passages and inflated. This gently restructures and widens the nasal passages to restore normal function. It’s a very similar procedure to the one used by a cardiologist to open blocked arteries during balloon angioplasty.
So what makes you a good candidate for Balloon Sinuplasty? The answer is fairly simple for most patients with moderate to mild sinus issues. Are you constantly fighting off acute or chronic sinus infections? By expanding the openings of the nasal passageways, your body will be able to drain your sinuses naturally. This reduces the chances that mucus will be able to build up and cause infections in the first place.
In the past, if you frequently had to use antibiotics, antihistamines, and steroids but they didn’t provide long-term relief, endoscopic sinus surgery was your only option for advanced treatment. That’s no longer the case now that Balloon Sinuplasty is an established treatment option.
Balloon Sinuplasty is not only a short, in-office procedure, it also only requires light sedation.
The benefits include:
- Immediate, lasting relief from acute sinus pressure
- Quick and mild recovery period in less than a week
- A stop to chronic sinus infections
- Bone and tissue remain intact
- Treatment of Eustachian tube dysfunction
- Return of smell and taste
- Easier breathing and better sleep
- Overall improved quality of life
If you suffer from recurring sinus problems, Balloon Sinuplasty could provide the relief you’ve been looking for. To find out if the procedure can work for you, call us at 706-248-6860 to schedule an appointment.
