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Balloon Sinuplasty
Patients who suffer from chronic sinusitis, recurring sinus infections, or other sinus conditions sometimes find that medications don’t adequately address their symptoms. A balloon sinuplasty, sometimes called sinus balloon surgery, is a minimally invasive procedure that involves gently widening the openings and draining the sinuses. As a Board-Certified Otolaryngologist (ENT) and fellowship-trained sinus expert serving Houston and The Woodlands, Texas Dr. Shawn Allen regularly performs outpatient balloon sinuplasty to enlarge the sinus openings and eliminate bothersome symptoms arising from obstructed sinuses. The key to successful balloon sinuplasty is appropriate patient selection. Dr. Allen is highly skilled in all aspects of endoscopic sinus and nasal surgery, and can ensure that your treatment plan is tailored specifically to make you better regardless of the complexity of your sinus problems.
Benefits of Balloon Sinuplasty
Balloon sinuplasty, sometimes referred to as balloon sinus dilation, offers the following benefits for the appropriate patients:
- A fast, in-office procedure
- Minimally invasive
- Reduces or eliminates symptoms caused by chronic sinus infections (sinusitis)
- Prompt and long-lasting symptom relief
- Many patients find they require less medications for their ongoing sinusitis relief
- Some patients experience an improved sense of smell
- May prevent the need for more invasive traditional sinus surgery with a higher risk of
Trusted Source
Functional endoscopic dilatation of the sinuses: patient satisfaction, postoperative pain, and cost
Friedman M, Schalch P, Lin HC, Mazloom N, Neidich M, Joseph NJ
Go to Source
post-operative
pain or bleeding - Significant improvements in
Trusted Source
Long-term outcome analysis of balloon catheter sinusotomy: two-year follow-up
Weiss RL, Church CA, Kuhn FA, Levine HL, Sillers MJ, Vaughan WC
Go to Source
quality of life
comparable to traditional sinus surgery
- Approved by the FDA, it is widely regarded as
Trusted Source
Office-based balloon sinus dilation: a prospective, multicenter study of 203 patients
Karanfilov B, Silvers S, Pasha R, Sikand A, Shikani A, Sillers M; ORIOS2 Study Investigators
Go to Source
safe and effective
Who is a Candidate for Balloon Sinuplasty?
Many adults who suffer from chronic sinus infections or related problems may be good candidates for balloon sinuplasty. However, patient selection is key to a successful balloon sinuplasty procedure. For some patients, sinus problems are caused by nasal polyps, a deviated septum, or other issues that may require a different procedure. The best way to know whether this procedure is right for you is to discuss your symptoms with Dr. Allen and obtain an evaluation in the clinic.
Take our sinus quiz to learn whether your symptoms may be signs of a sinus problem that warrants further evaluation and treatment.
How Balloon Sinuplasty Works
Dr. Allen performs balloon sinuplasty on an outpatient basis at his offices in Houston and The Woodlands, Texas. This procedure ranges in length from a few minutes to an hour or two when combined with multiple other interventions, and is generally performed under intravenous (IV) sedation to avoid patient discomfort. In select cases it can be performed awake using local anesthesia according to patient preference.
To perform the procedure, Dr. Allen uses a small camera called an endoscope. The endoscope is inserted into the patient’s nose, and gives Dr. Allen a clear view to perform the procedures planned. Next, a balloon catheter is guided into each sinus and gradually inflated to enlarge the sinus opening. Once the sinus passageways are open, Dr. Allen uses a saline solution (sometimes containing an antibiotic) to flush and clear the sinuses.
Balloon Sinuplasty Recovery and Results
Recovery time following a balloon sinuplasty procedure is typically brief. Depending upon the extent of the procedure most patients will want to rest for a day or two, but should be able to quickly get back to work and light normal activities. Dr. Allen will recommend over-the-counter medication to help ease any mild discomfort.
Many of Dr. Allen’s patients notice an improvement in their ability to breathe through their noses immediately after their balloon sinuplasty and associated nasal procedures. While swelling within the nose is expected temporarily for a few days, this generally resolves within the first week.
Trusted Source
Multicenter registry of balloon catheter sinusotomy outcomes for 1,036 patients
Levine HL, Sertich AP 2nd, Hoisington DR, Weiss RL, Pritikin J; PatiENT Registry Study Group
Go to Source
95% of patients
who participated in a study on the balloon sinuplasty procedure reported enduring improvement in their sinus symptoms at their follow-up visits.
Frequently Asked Questions About Balloon Sinuplasty
How much time will I need to take off of work for my balloon sinuplasty procedure?
Most of Dr. Allen’s patients take one to two days off of work, and up to one week when additional procedures are performed.
How much does balloon sinuplasty cost?
The cost of this procedure can vary depending on the individual needs of the patient, as well as any applicable insurance coverage.
Will insurance cover my balloon sinuplasty?
In most cases, balloon sinuplasty is covered by patients’ medical insurance. Please feel free to contact our office to learn more about whether this procedure is covered by your plan.
Will a balloon sinuplasty cure my snoring?
Balloon sinuplasty is not a blanket cure for snoring. However, patients whose snoring is caused by nasal swelling in reaction to a blocked sinus may notice a reduction in snoring. Improvements in snoring are more likely when nasal airway problems are also addressed (ex. Septoplasty and turbinoplasty performed alongside balloon sinuplasty).
Is balloon sinuplasty safe?
The balloon sinuplasty procedure is approved by the FDA and is widely considered to be
Trusted Source
Acclarent® Balloon Sinuplasty Device Safety Information
Medical Devices Business Services
Go to Source
safe and effective
when performed by a Board-Certified ENT surgeon such as Dr. Shawn Allen. In the case of balloon sinuplasty, the most common side effects are temporary nosebleeds and inflammatory symptoms such as mild pressure and discomfort with associated nasal drainage similar to a cold. Rare, but more serious, complications reportedly include scarring, sinus obstruction and infection leading to revision procedures, and decreased smell function. These and other reported complications are less likely when compared to traditional functional endoscopic sinus surgery (or FESS).
Contact Dr. Shawn Allen
If you live in Houston or The Woodlands and have been unable to achieve relief from sinusitis and other nasal problems with medications and allergy treatment alone, an in-office balloon sinuplasty evaluation by Dr. Shawn Allen is a great next step towards finding relief. Contact us to schedule a consultation and learn more about your treatment options.
1 Friedman M, Schalch P, Lin HC, Mazloom N, Neidich M, Joseph NJ. Functional endoscopic dilatation of the sinuses: patient satisfaction, postoperative pain, and cost. Am J Rhinol. 2008 Mar-Apr;22(2):204-9. doi: 10.2500/ajr.2008.22.3155. PMID: 18416981. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18416981/. Accessed October 27, 2022.
2 Weiss RL, Church CA, Kuhn FA, Levine HL, Sillers MJ, Vaughan WC. Long-term outcome analysis of balloon catheter sinusotomy: two-year follow-up. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2008 Sep;139(3 Suppl 3):S38-46. doi: 10.1016/j.otohns.2008.06.008. PMID: 18707993. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18707993/. Accessed October 27, 2022.
3 Karanfilov B, Silvers S, Pasha R, Sikand A, Shikani A, Sillers M; ORIOS2 Study Investigators. Office-based balloon sinus dilation: a prospective, multicenter study of 203 patients. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2013 May;3(5):404-11. doi: 10.1002/alr.21112. Epub 2012 Nov 7. PMID: 23136057. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23136057/. Accessed October 27, 2022.
4 Levine HL, Sertich AP 2nd, Hoisington DR, Weiss RL, Pritikin J; PatiENT Registry Study Group. Multicenter registry of balloon catheter sinusotomy outcomes for 1,036 patients. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2008 Apr;117(4):263-70. doi: 10.1177/000348940811700405. PMID: 18478835. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18478835/. Accessed October 27, 2022.
5 Medical Devices Business Services. Acclarent® Balloon Sinuplasty Device Safety Information. Available: https://www.jnjmedicaldevices.com/en-US/service-details/answers-your-sinusitis-questions#Is%20Balloon%20Sinuplasty%20safe. Accessed October 27, 2022.