Sinusitis is a painful and uncomfortable condition that affects nearly 40 million Americans each year, but did you know you may be able to get permanent relief? An increasingly common procedure called balloon sinuplasty treats sinusitis by opening up your sinus passages to allow for proper drainage. Schedule a consult with Atlantic ENT Associates today if you want to learn more about conquering your sinusitis with an easy procedure.
Long Term Relief Compared to Conservative Therapies
If you have had many bouts of sinusitis, you have probably tried many treatments. You may have tried breathing in warm water vapor, taking decongestants and painkillers, and using nasal irrigation systems. These all work to clear your nasal passageways to allow for drainage and symptom relief.
When the pressure builds back up, you can have the return of symptoms such as:
- Achiness and the feeling of pressure behind your eyes, cheeks, and nose.
- A sore throat and coughing.
- Congestion and trouble breathing, tasting, and smelling.
- Greenish-yellow thick nasal discharge.
Endoscopic procedures are more effective in the long run, and balloon endoscopy in particular may be worth considering in our Toms River office location.
Tissue Preservation Compared to Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
Traditional functional endoscopic sinus surgery has long been the standard of care for long-term sinusitis relief. The surgery aims to open up your passageways to relieve pressure and prevent sinusitis symptoms from returning. The method is often successful.
A major problem with this technique is its relative degree of invasiveness. The doctor actually removes tissue during the procedure as the way to open up your sinus cavities and nasal passages to allow for proper drainage. As you might expect, recovery can be painful.
In contrast, balloon sinuplasty does not involve any tissue removal. In fact, it uses a balloon to open the passages. The doctor inserts a catheter to your passages and inflates the balloon when placement is verified.
A More Comfortable Option
Regular endoscopic sinus surgery is performed under general anesthesia, and is usually in a hospital setting. This can make patients more nervous than they need to be. In addition, not everyone is a good candidate for general anesthesia. You could have respiratory problems or allergies, for example, which make general anesthesia a more dangerous proposition.
Balloon sinuplasty is minimally invasive and does not require anesthesia. You can get the procedure done right in the comfort of either of our offices without needing to be admitted to a hospital. The familiar setting and smaller area can make you less nervous, which can actually improve outcomes.
Faster and Easier Recovery
Balloon sinuplasty is an easier procedure to recover from without general anesthesia or removal of sinus or nasal cavity tissue. You can go home within minutes after the procedure, and most patients can return to work and regular activities the same day.
To find more information on our services or to take a look at this specific service, please head over to our services page or schedule an appointment if you want to learn more about what we can do to help find you relief.