Balloon Sinuplasty

For chronic sinus problems and discomfort

Our ENT physicians are now offering a new surgical choice known as Balloon Sinuplasty for patients who suffer from chronic sinus problems.

Balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive surgical option that allows most people to return to normal activities within 24 hours. During the procedure, a small, flexible, sinus balloon catheter is threaded into the sinus passageways and gently inflated, which widens the passages to promote drainage. The inflated balloon gently restructures the walls of the passageway while maintaining the integrity of the sinus lining.

Chronic sinusitis is an inflammation of the nasal sinuses affecting an estimated 39 million Americans annually. Symptoms include facial pain or pressure, nasal discharge, difficulty breathing through the nose and fatigue. Although antibiotics and topical steroids can help many people, about 500,000 U.S. patients undergo surgery each year to alleviate the symptoms of chronic sinusitis.

The balloon sinuplasty procedure is done as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia. It takes fewer than 30 minutes to complete and patients are able to return home the same day. Balloon sinuplasty isn't an option for all patients, including those who have had recurrent sinus surgeries or those who have extensive sinus disease. The balloon sinuplasty is a promising option for patients who have issues in the sinuses in the cheeks, forehead and frontal sinus area.

What patients have to say about Balloon Sinuplasty - "It was unbelievable how I felt the very next day, I was a new person"

Dorothy Swain, a 42-year-old resident of the Seacoast, had been suffering from recurring sinus infections for more than 10 years, when she decided to try the balloon sinuplasty. Swain had previously undergone traditional sinus surgery, which did not provide lasting relief from her sinus problems. Last winter, Swain's sinus problems took a turn for the worse, and she became so sick she took a leave of absence from her job.

"I started with a typical sinus infection and the oral antibiotics did not get rid of it at all. A couple months later, I just could not function in my normal life. I was always feeling sick with symptoms like extreme fatigue, headaches and pain that never went away, and a feeling of being sick, with nausea, and not much appetite. I was living half a life. I really wanted my whole life back." Dorothy Swain

Swain, a nurse by profession, heard about the balloon sinuplasty treatment option and decided to give it a try. Both the procedure's lower risk factor and easier recovery process appealed to her.

"It was unbelievable how I felt the very next day, I was a new person, I woke up the next day and all the head pain was done and I felt good. It was just an incredible difference and I was back to work within a week. I'm feeling like I haven't felt in years and continue to feel amazing." Dorothy Swain

Since 2005 when the technology was approved by the Food and Drug Administration, surgeons have performed 33,000 balloon sinuplasties at 800 hospitals across the country.

Please contact us to determine if the Ballloon Sinuplasty is right for you.