Balloon Sinuplasty: What to Expect During the Procedure

Your sinuses are four paired, air-filled cavities in your head connected by narrow passages. They produce sticky mucus that drains out of the passages in your nose, helping keep your nose free of dirt, pollutants, allergens, and pathogens.

Sinusitis (sometimes called rhinosinusitis) is an inflammation of the tissue lining your sinuses that causes them to swell, fill with fluid, and become blocked. This leads to pressure and pain in your face, nasal congestion, and other uncomfortable symptoms.

Mani Zadeh, MD, a board-certified ear, nose, and throat specialist in Los Angeles, California, offers balloon sinus dilation to patients who are struggling with chronic sinusitis, an inflammation of the nasal sinuses. Here’s what it involves.

Forms of sinusitis

The different types of sinusitis have different causes and durations.

Acute sinusitis, which lasts less than four weeks and includes nasal congestion, mucus drainage, facial pain/pressure, and a decreased sense of smell, is most commonly caused by a virus like the common cold.

Subacute sinusitis symptoms last 4-12 weeks.

Chronic sinusitis symptoms last at least 12 weeks, and a bacterium usually causes them.

Recurrent acute sinusitis symptoms return four or more times in a given year, lasting less than two weeks each time.

Viruses cause most cases of sinusitis, and the problem usually resolves on its own. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories, pain medicines, and decongestants can help manage the symptoms.

Bacteria can cause sinusitis on their own or infect you after a bout of viral sinusitis when your tissues are vulnerable. 

Runny nose, stuffy nose, and facial pain that don’t resolve after 10 days are indications of a bacterial infection. You may see your symptoms start to improve but then return worse than before. Antibiotics and decongestants are usually effective in these cases.

What is balloon sinuplasty?

Balloon sinuplasty (sinus balloon dilation) is a minimally invasive, nonsurgical treatment for chronic sinusitis. It’s become increasingly popular with ENT providers because they can perform it in the office instead of a hospital.

Sinus balloon dilation can be used for people of all ages and genders, providing permanent relief for patients with chronic sinusitis and other sinus problems that haven’t responded to conventional medications. We recommend sinus balloon dilation for the following:

• Chronic sinus infections
• Chronic nasal congestion
• Facial pain and pressure

Some of the procedure’s many benefits include:

• Minimally invasive, in-office procedure
• Immediate results and fast recovery
• Long-term sinus relief
• Low risk of complications
• Improved breathing
• Eliminates the need for sinus medications

And without the chronic inflammation, you’re less at risk for developing another sinus infection.

The balloon sinuplasty procedure

If you’re scheduled for the balloon sinuplasty procedure, here’s what you can expect.

You sit in a reclining examination chair, and we apply a topical decongestant inside your nose.

Next, we apply an anesthetic spray to your nasal tissues before putting additional anesthetic on thick cotton pads and placing the pads in your nose.

Once the anesthetic has taken hold, we remove the pads and inject a local anesthetic into some of the tissue lining your nose.

Then, we use a thin, flexible tube with a light on the end called an endoscope to insert a catheter into your nose.

We use the catheter to guide a tiny deflated balloon into your sinuses. Once in place, we slowly inflate the balloon to expand the tissue and unblock your sinuses.

Finally, we either deflate the balloon and remove it from your nose or repeat the dilation process before deflating and removing it.

The procedure generally lasts about an hour. Most patients report immediate positive results following their treatment. And because the treatment is minimally invasive, it doesn’t require extensive downtime. You can resume your normal activities within 24-48 hours.

If you’re struggling with blocked sinuses and have difficulty breathing, it’s time to see Dr. Zadeh for an evaluation and possibly a balloon sinuplasty. To learn more or to get started, call us at 310-286-0123 or book online today.