Chronic sinus issues can negatively impact your quality of life- which is why new procedures that promise relief are so exciting. Perhaps the most talked about innovative treatments is balloon sinuplasty, where a tiny balloon is put into your nose to reach the blocked sinuses and then inflated to restructure the sinus opening. According to balloonsinuplasty.com, More than 330,000 people around the world have undergone a balloon sinuplasty procedure. Are you a candidate for this revolutionary procedure and how effective is it at the end of the day? Read on to find out.

Candidates for a Balloon Sinuplasty

The determination of whether or not you are a candidate for balloon sinuplasty lies in the severity, duration and frequency of your sinus infections and symptoms. Acute sinusitis sufferers, whose infections are less severe and last less than a month, are typically not candidates for balloon sinuplasty. Chronic sinus sufferers, however, could be candidates for balloon sinuplasty. The symptoms of chronic sinus sufferers last for more than three months and cannot be treated with prescriptions. Some of these symptoms include:

• Nasal and throat congestion
• Runny nose
• Facial pressure and pain
• Aching teeth
• Weakened sense of smell

What are the Procedure’s Advantages Over Traditional Surgery

In contrast to traditional sinus surgery, balloon sinuplasty can be performed by experienced ENT doctors, such as Dr. Agrama, as an awake procedure under local anesthesia. Dr. Agrama’s patients experience a serene and calming environment with low ambient light and music through headphones. In addition to the advantages of avoiding the hospital setting from a comfort standpoint, the costs are also significantly reduced with the absence of anesthesia and the surgery center fees. Plus, balloon sinuplasty is less traumatic and has a less cumbersome recovery.

The Effectiveness of Balloon Sinuplasty

One of the reasons for the increasing popularity of the balloon sinuplasty procedure is its effectiveness. Most individuals who have a balloon sinuplasty see an improvement in their quality of life post-procedure and it does not need to be repeated. It has been clinically proven to be both safe and effective. Last year, Acclarent, Inc announced the findings of their study that showed chronic sinusitis patients who opted for surgery with balloon sinuplasty technology showed significantly greater improvements in quality of life and less nasal steroid use, compared to those who choose to continue medical management. An earlier study showed that chronic sinusitis patients report clinically meaningful improvement in sinus symptoms and quality of life through 2 years following surgery. Balloon sinuplasty provides an exciting opportunity for chronic sinusitis sufferers in terms of the procedure’s inherent advantages and proven effectivess. Dr. Agrama has successfully dilated over 2,500 sinuses since he began using balloon sinuplasty in 2006 and is therefore extremely knowledgeable about the necessary qualifications as well as the procedure itself. If you believe you may be a candidate for balloon sinuplasty, contact our office.