Balloon Sinuplasty vs. Traditional Sinus Surgery in Glen Allen, VA

While chronic sinus issues such as nasal congestion, postnasal drip, breathing difficulties, and sinus pain and pressure are not life-threatening in most cases, they can be frustrating to deal with and manage.

If medications prove to be ineffective in managing symptoms, your ENT doctor may recommend sinus surgery in Glen Allen, VA, as a treatment option.

Here’s what you need to know about this treatment option:

What Is Sinus Surgery?

Sinus surgery is an ENT procedure that can potentially treat certain cases of chronic sinusitis and address structural sinus conditions and other persistent sinus issues. This may be recommended when other treatments have not been effective.

Our ENT clinic in Glen Allen, VA, can perform sinus evaluations to assess your symptoms and determine if your condition will benefit from sinus surgery, taking into consideration your clinical findings, symptoms, medical history, and other individual health factors.

During your consultation, your ENT doctor may mention two types of sinus surgery: balloon sinuplasty and functional endoscopic sinus surgery.

What Is Balloon Sinuplasty?

Balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive ENT procedure designed to treat certain cases of chronic sinusitis in appropriate patients. The procedure uses a small, flexible balloon catheter that is inserted into the affected sinus cavity via the nose.

Your ENT doctor may recommend this procedure if your symptoms don’t respond to other forms of treatment. A consultation with an ENT specialist can help assess your symptoms and determine if you are an appropriate candidate for balloon sinuplasty.

What happens during the procedure?

To begin the procedure, your doctor injects local anesthesia into the tissues lining your sinuses. This will numb the area for treatment. Then, they will insert a small, flexible balloon catheter into the sinus cavity through the nose. The balloon is gently inflated, which is intended to widen and open blocked sinus passages. In appropriate cases, this may help improve sinus drainage and airflow. The balloon is then deflated and removed.

What is healing and recovery like?

You will stay in the hospital or the medical office until you are comfortable leaving and going home. Your doctor may also recommend that you have someone take you to and from your appointment.

Before your scheduled appointment, your ENT doctor will thoroughly discuss the procedure, how it goes, and what you can expect after, including recovery. Healing experiences and recovery timelines will vary per patient, depending on individual health factors.

They will also give you detailed instructions to aid healing and recovery, which may generally include:

• The use of nasal packing, if necessary
• Avoiding blowing your nose for 24 to 48 hours after the procedure
• Rinsing your nose with a saline nasal spray
• Keeping your head elevated, especially during sleep, to manage post-procedure congestion
• Avoiding strenuous activities for about a week after the procedure

Your physician will discuss follow-up appointments so they can monitor your recovery. As with any medical procedure, risks and side effects are possible, which may include congestion, swelling in the treatment area, and a bloody nasal discharge.

What Is Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery?

Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) is an ENT procedure that can treat certain cases of chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps, and other structural sinus issues. If your ENT doctor has exhausted other forms of treatment to no avail, they may recommend these procedures, depending on your symptoms, nasal structure, and potential underlying causes.

FESS allows ENT doctors to perform surgery on the sinuses without external cuts or incisions in the sinus and nasal area.

What happens during the procedure?

To begin the FESS procedure, your doctor administers general anesthesia so you are asleep for the entirety of the procedure. Then, they will inject local anesthesia into the tissues of the sinuses to numb the area for treatment.

Your doctor inserts a thin and flexible instrument with a camera and light on one end, called an endoscope, into the affected sinus cavity through the nostril. Once in place, they will use specialized instruments to remove nasal polyps, bone, or diseased tissue that may be contributing to persistent sinus issues.

What is healing and recovery like?

After the procedure, you will stay in the hospital or the medical office until you wake up and feel comfortable enough to go home. You may also be advised to have someone take you to and from your appointment for extra precaution.

During your pre-procedure consultation, your doctor will walk you through the entire procedure, what will happen, and what you can expect after, including healing and recovery, which will vary per patient depending on individual health factors.

Healing and recovery instructions may generally include:

• Opening your mouth when you sneeze
• Rinsing your nose with a saline nasal spray
• Avoiding blowing your nose for about a week after the procedure
• Avoiding strenuous activities as advised by your ENT doctor

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Your ENT physician will discuss follow-up appointments to monitor your healing. As this is a medical procedure, there are potential risks and side effects, including bleeding, swelling, and discomfort in the treatment area.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sinus Surgery in Glen Allen, VA

What is chronic sinusitis?

Chronic sinusitis is a long-term (usually 12 weeks or more) irritation, swelling, and inflammation of the tissues lining the sinuses. The sinuses are hollow, air-filled spaces behind the nose, cheeks, and forehead. Naturally, they produce mucus and humidify the air we breathe. However, sometimes, they can become irritated and swollen, which traps mucus.

Common symptoms include:

• Pain and pressure around the nose, eyes, cheeks, and forehead
• Postnasal drip, or mucus dripping down the back of the throat
• A stuffy nose with thick yellow or green mucus discharge
• Coughing
• Ear pain and/or toothache
• Loss of taste or smell
• Halitosis, or chronic bad breath

Which sinus surgery is best for chronic sinusitis?

Balloon sinuplasty and FESS are commonly used sinus surgeries in Glen Allen, VA, that may potentially treat chronic sinusitis and other persistent sinus conditions if other forms of treatment (such as medications) are ineffective.

Your ENT doctor can help assess your condition and determine which of the two is more appropriate for your condition, based on clinical findings, symptom severity, underlying causes, sinus anatomy, structural abnormalities, and other individual health factors.

Is sinus surgery in Glen Allen, VA, worth it?

In most cases, persistent sinus issues are not life-threatening. However, if left untreated and unmanaged, they can affect daily life productivity, sleep quality, and comfort. Your ENT doctor can assess whether you will benefit from this treatment option.

Learn More About Sinus Surgery Options in Glen Allen, VA

Richmond Breathe Free is an ENT clinic providing services for residents in Glen Allen and the surrounding communities. Patients can learn more about our clinic and services on our website.