Balloon Sinuplasty, Sinus Surgery
What is Balloon Sinuplasty?
February 5, 2021
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7 minutes
Reviewed by Michael Kaplan, MD
If you struggle with sinus issues and have been researching solutions, chances are that you have run across balloon sinuplasty and wondered, “Exactly what is balloon sinuplasty?” Balloon sinuplasty is a relatively simple procedure that can provide long-term relief from many common sinus issues, including sinus infections. Its minimally invasive nature has made it an increasingly popular option for patients who wish to avoid the cutting of bone and tissue involved in traditional sinus surgery.
Read on for everything you need to know about balloon sinuplasty, conditions it helps to treat, its success rates, and more.
Want a quick overview of balloon sinuplasty? Check out our balloon sinuplasty FAQ page and take our balloon sinuplasty candidate quiz to see whether this revolutionary procedure is right for you!
What is balloon sinuplasty? The procedure’s history.
Balloon sinuplasty was created by Doctor Joshua Makower, an inventor who had previously made a name for himself creating catheters that bypassed blocked arteries. Dr. Makower suffered from recurrent sinus infections. After being told that his infections weren’t serious enough for sinus surgery, he began researching the possibility of using balloon technology to open up blocked or constricted sinus passageways. His technology was approved by the FDA in 2004. Dr. Michael Kaplan at Kaplan Sinus Relief was one of the first otolaryngologists to perform the balloon sinuplasty procedure.
How is balloon sinuplasty done?
When patients most ask us “What is balloon sinuplasty?” they are actually wanting to know how the procedure is performed. Balloon sinuplasty is performed in-office, with the entire procedure typically taking less than one hour from start to finish. During the balloon sinuplasty procedure, Dr. Kaplan locates the affected sinus cavity and positions a small endoscopic balloon within said cavity. He then inflates the balloon, effectively widening the blocked sinus cavity and restoring proper drainage. The sinus cavity is then flushed to remove any residual blockage.
Want to learn more about how balloon sinuplasty is performed and how it differs from traditional sinus surgery? Check out Dr. Kaplan’s video and hear it straight from the doctor’s mouth!
What can balloon sinuplasty help treat?
Balloon sinuplasty is an effective treatment for both acute and chronic sinus-related issues. These include but are not limited to:
- Balloon sinuplasty for acute & chronic sinus infections: One of the most common applications for balloon sinuplasty is as an effective treatment for acute and chronic sinus infections. Blocked and congested sinus pathways create the perfect breeding ground for sinus infections; balloon sinuplasty helps open those passageways and restore drainage, significantly reducing the likelihood of sinus infections.
- Balloon sinuplasty for sinus headaches:Sinus congestion with nowhere to go contributes to a buildup in pressure in and around your sinuses. This buildup creates sinus headaches; balloon sinuplasty opens up your sinus passageways, allowing this pressure to release.
- Balloon sinuplasty for chronic cough: When your sinuses are not draining properly, you might begin to experience increased symptoms of post-nasal drip. One of these symptoms is coughing. Chronic congestion can lead to a chronic cough. When balloon sinuplasty clears your sinuses, it reduces post-nasal drip, eradicating the source of your chronic cough.
- Balloon sinuplasty for allergies: While balloon sinuplasty cannot address the root cause of allergies, it can provide significant symptom relief as well as reduce the likelihood of allergy-induced sinus infection, snoring, cough, headaches, etc.
- Balloon sinuplasty for snoring: Blockages in your airways are the primary cause of snoring. Balloon sinuplasty helps keep your sinus passageways free of congestion and mucus buildup, significantly reducing congestion-related snoring issues. If a deviated septum contributes to your snoring, balloon sinuplasty might also be able to provide you with relief.
What are the benefits of balloon sinuplasty?
After “What is balloon sinuplasty?” many of the questions we receive after the procedure have to do with the benefits of the procedure. There are many benefits of balloon sinuplasty. The most commonly cited ones include:
- Minimally invasive: Traditional sinus surgery involves the cutting of bone and tissue in your sinus cavities. Balloon sinuplasty is non-invasive, meaning it does not require any cutting or bone or tissue, which reduces the procedure time, recovery time, and discomfort involved.
- Quick: Patients are typically in and out of the office in an hour on the day of the procedure.
- Efficient: The vast majority of patients (97%) report long-term relief from their sinus issues.
- Relatively painless: Is balloon sinuplasty painful? Because balloon sinuplasty is so minimally invasive, the procedure is virtually painless. Patients may experience slight swelling the day after the procedure, but this is minimal and can typically be counteracted by simple OTC medication.
- Short recovery: Most patients are able to return to normal activities in just one to two days after the procedure.
- Cost: Balloon sinuplasty costs are typically much less expensive than those of traditional sinus surgery, and the balloon sinuplasty procedure is often covered by insurance.
Balloon sinuplasty before and after: Reviews, success rates, and more
Patients who opt to have the balloon sinuplasty procedure report dramatic differences from before and after their procedure. We highly recommend checking out our balloon sinuplasty reviews from some of our patients over the years. These patients suffered from a wide variety of sinus-related ailments but all found relief after undergoing balloon sinuplasty with Dr. Kaplan.
Over the years, multiple studies have reported that the vast majority of patients (97%) experience long-lasting relief from their sinus issues after sinus surgery.
What makes balloon sinuplasty at Kaplan Sinus Relief different?
Dr. Michael Kaplan of Kaplan Sinus Relief is a leading proponent of balloon sinuplasty as a minimally invasive alternative to traditional sinus surgery. Not only has he performed over 5,000 successful balloon sinuplasty procedures in Houston, he also has taught sinus doctors around the country best practices for the procedure.
In addition to Dr. Kaplan experience performing balloon sinuplasty in Houston, we also offer leading technological solutions to make your experience as safe and comfortable as possible. These include:
- IV sedation: Even though balloon sinuplasty is virtually painless, patients who suffer from anxiety regarding surgical procedures can relax with IV sedation. This type of sedation puts patients into a “twilight sleep,” after which most patients don’t even recall the procedure even happening.
- AR-guided surgery: Augmented reality-guided surgery is no longer a thing of the future. TGS navigation helps maximize Dr. Kaplan’s precision when performing the balloon sinuplasty procedure.
- Low-radiation CT scans: In order to decide the right treatment plan for your sinus issues, Dr. Kaplan needs to take a CT scan of your sinuses. Our low-radiation CT scans use 82% less radiation than average and last less than 20 seconds.
Interested in balloon sinuplasty? Meet with Dr. Kaplan to find out more.
Now you know the basic answer to the question, “What is balloon sinuplasty?” you may wish to speak to your local sinus doctor about your options.
To find out more about balloon sinuplasty, including whether or not you’re a candidate and whether or not the procedure can provide you with the relief you need, schedule a consultation with Dr. Michael Kaplan at Kaplan Sinus Relief!
Simply give us a call at 713-766-1818 or request a consultation online today.
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