Hernando Reporter

• Balloon sinuplasty was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2005.
• The procedure can help treat chronic sinusitis with long-lasting effects.
• Balloon dilation is minimally invasive, and there's no cutting or removal of bones or tissue.

Balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive procedure, after which patients can go back to their daily life very quickly, according to Dr. Mariah Pate of Tampa Bay Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers.

"The big difference is that with a balloon sinuplasty versus sinus surgery, there is a shorter recovery, (usually) less bleeding and less pain for the patient,” Pate told the Hernando Reporter. “Generally, with the balloon sinuplasty, the patient is in the office for about an hour.”

According to Healthline, balloon sinuplasty, also known as balloon catheter dilation surgery, received FDA approval in 2005, and it can clear blocked sinuses. Pate added that the procedure can be performed under local anesthesia, and the patient can go home the same day.

“They relax for about 24 hours, and within about a day or two, they're back to their normal life,” Pate said. “It may be a little congested for a couple of days, but other than that, the pain is minimal and the bleeding is minimal. So they really get back to what they're doing daily pretty quickly."

According to Healthline, the procedure is often recommended for patients diagnosed with chronic sinusitis, particularly after other options have failed. The procedure requires no cutting, extraction of bones or tissue, and complications are minimal.

A balloon sinuplasty is an in-office procedure that's simple and only takes about an hour, according to Entellus Medical. The preparation takes about thirty minutes and involves anesthetics being applied to the nose for more comfort. A thin instrument with a balloon is then guided through your sinus, the balloon is gently inflated for five seconds with saline, and when your sinuses open, the balloon is removed.

Mayo Clinic reported that symptoms of chronic sinusitis can include: nasal inflammation, a runny nose, postnasal drainage, congestion, pain or swelling in the face, headaches, loss of smell and taste, a sore threat, bad breath or fatigue.

To learn more about the symptoms of chronic sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.