How Fast Will You Recover from Balloon Sinuplasty?

When patients are suffering from sinusitis that is unresolved with medication, doctors may recommend balloon sinuplasty to give them relief. This is an endoscopic surgical procedure that’s safe and minimally invasive. All surgical procedures have some recovery, but the nature of balloon sinuplasty means patients recover from the procedure quickly.

What Is Balloon Sinuplasty?

Balloon sinuplasty is an alternative to more traditional forms of sinus surgery that has been used since 2006 to help patients who have sinusitis breathe more easily. Sinusitis is a common medical condition worldwide that can impact patients’ health and wellness. Patients who deal with acute or chronic sinusitis will experience clogging or obstruction of their nasal passages. This leads to issues such as:

• Pressure in the sinuses
• Congestion
• Sinus headaches
• Difficulty breathing through the nose
• Tenderness or swelling in the sinus area, such as the cheeks, nose, eyes, or forehead
• Sore throat
• Fatigue

Balloon sinuplasty is a treatment option that may give relief and improve the quality of life for patients. It is an FDA-approved treatment for sinusitis that involves the use of a small balloon to reopen and reshape the nasal passages. This allows normal sinus drainage to be restored and it also reduces or eliminates other symptoms of sinusitis for patients. This procedure works the same way as angioplasty for the heart that is used to open up blocked arteries. It is becoming a popular option for patients who want relief with a safe, less-invasive procedure.

Results And Recovery After The Procedure

One of the treatments options for sufferers of sinusitis is antibiotics. Unfortunately, a significant portion of these patients may not respond to the treatment. In this case, the doctor may suggest surgical intervention instead. Balloon sinuplasty is performed with a local anesthetic and has a fast recovery process. Doctors and patients alike choose balloon anaplasty for various reasons such as:

• No removal of bone or tissues
• Less pain than traditional sinus surgery
• Much faster recovery time
• Minimal bleeding during and after the procedure

This procedure is not entirely pain-free, but the vast majority of patients do not require any prescribed pain relief medications to handle the pain and can take over-the-counter options as needed. With traditional sinus surgery techniques, patients may require strong pain relief due to the invasive nature of the surgery which includes cutting bones.

Balloon sinuplasty patients are able to go home the same day of their procedure and they are back to their normal routine within a few days. This procedure is trusted by doctors and extremely effective for patients. Of those who had had this procedure, it has been reported to have a 95% rate of improving the symptoms of sinusitis.

If you are suffering from acute or chronic sinusitis, contact the staff at Alabama Ear, Nose, & Throat Specialists in Tuscaloosa to schedule a consultation.