Are You a Candidate for Balloon Sinuplasty?

Do you have a stuffy nose that never improves? Or, do you struggle with congestion that comes and goes but doesn’t disappear? If so, you may have a chronic sinus infection (sinusitis), a condition affecting more than  1 in 10 adults.

Chronic sinusitis can be challenging to treat. But that doesn’t mean you should spend your days feeling miserable. You can look forward to long-lasting relief if you’re a candidate for balloon sinuplasty.

At Michigan Avenue ENT, Julian Dixon, MD, specializes in treating chronic sinusitis with an in-office balloon sinuplasty procedure. Learn who qualifies for this cutting-edge procedure and what to expect during treatment.

About chronic sinusitis

Four pairs of sinuses are located in your forehead (just above your eyes), between your eyes, behind your nose, and behind your cheeks (under your eyes). All the sinuses produce mucus that leaves the sinus through a tiny opening (ostia) and drains into your nose.

While you probably think of mucus as the annoying substance causing a runny nose and congestion, it has essential roles. The mucus from your sinuses warms air before it reaches your lungs and filters out allergens, dust, and other airborne irritants.

When the mucus-producing tissues become inflamed, the swollen tissues block the opening. As a result, mucus gets trapped inside the sinus, creating pressure and pain. The mucus buildup often leads to an infection.

Inflamed tissues are the most common cause of chronic sinusitis. However, structural conditions like nasal polyps or a deviated septum may also trap mucus inside the sinus.

When to consider balloon sinuplasty

We may recommend balloon sinuplasty after conservative treatments fail to improve the swelling. Your initial treatment may include saline nasal sprays, rinses, decongestants, and nasal corticosteroids. If you develop a bacterial infection, you’ll need antibacterial medicines.

You may qualify for balloon sinuplasty if you:

• Have chronic sinusitis
• Have recurring sinus infections
• Have a chronic stuffy, congested nose
• Have pain, pressure, or tenderness in the face and head
• Have thick nasal drainage
• Lose the sense of smell
• Do not have polyps or a structural blockage

Sinusitis is chronic when your symptoms last 12 weeks or longer.

What to expect during balloon sinuplasty

You only need a local anesthetic because we don’t cut any tissues inside your nose or sinus. If you’re anxious about the procedure, we prescribe an oral sedative to ensure your comfort.

We perform balloon sinuplasty using a specially designed endoscope. The endoscope has a long, flexible tube. We insert the tube through your nostril and guide it to the blocked sinus.

The scope has lighting, a camera, and a balloon. It’s also equipped with advanced technology we use to confirm its location, dilate and deflate the balloon, and clean the sinus.

After guiding the device to the sinus, we place the balloon in the opening and inflate the balloon. The balloon gently pushes the tissues, widening the passageway and restoring the small opening. Then, we rinse the sinus and deflate and remove the balloon.

While it’s inflated, pressure from the balloon restructures the tissues. As a result, the procedure produces results that last long after we remove the balloon.

You don’t need to take time off for a balloon sinuplasty. However, we may ask you to avoid blowing your nose for 1-2 days, sleep with your head elevated, and stay away from strenuous activities for a week.

Don’t put up with congestion and sinus pain

Don’t keep struggling with congestion and sinus pain. Call Michigan Avenue ENT today or request an appointment online to learn if you qualify for balloon sinuplasty.