16 Aug 4 Myths About Balloon Sinuplasty Debunked

Living with chronic sinus symptoms is no picnic and they can be notoriously stubborn. If medications or other treatments just don’t seem to provide much relief for your chronic sinusitis or recurrent acute sinusitis, you may be a candidate for balloon sinus surgery.

Balloon sinus surgery, also called Balloon Sinuplasty, is a procedure that’s performed using a small balloon to dilate the sinuses instead of using surgical tools to cut and remove tissue. This technique is much like the one commonly used in a balloon angioplasty to open blocked arteries. As the balloon gently inflates, it increases the sinus openings and restores structural blockages, often a major source or factor in chronic sinus problems.

You may be thinking that sound too good to be true. There quite a few myths and misinformation out there about Balloon Sinuplasty. So let’s separate fact from the fiction.

Understanding the potential treatment options available to you, can bring you one step closer to achieving the real, lasting relief you deserve.

Here are some of the most common misconceptions about balloon sinus surgery and the true facts behind them:

It’s an Experimental Procedure

Balloon Sinuplasty is a breakthrough alternative to traditional endoscopic sinus surgery, but it is not an experimental procedure.

Approved by the FDA in 2005, Balloon Sinuplasty has since been performed hundreds of thousands of times and is recognized by the medical community to be safe and effective with a very low complication rate. The procedure uses a proven, less invasive technology, so there’s actually less risk involved than with an invasive traditional surgery.

There’s a Long and Painful Recovery Period

As an in-office procedure performed under local or topical anesthesia, Balloon Sinuplasty involves almost no downtime. Most patients are able to return to normal activities within a day or two and report little to no pain.

Unlike with traditional sinus surgery, there’s no need for an operating room, to undergo general anesthesia, or for an overnight hospital stay. Because it’s accomplished using a less invasive technique, Balloon Sinuplasty allows patients to recover very quickly and with minimal discomfort.

It’s a Temporary Fix and Must Be Performed Multiple Times

Balloon Sinuplasty is highly effective in treating chronic sinusitis and provides long-term relief. The vast majority of patients who undergo the procedure report significant and lasting improvement in their chronic sinus symptoms and quality of life.

The procedure does not typically need to be repeated. Some patients, however, may require the procedure on more than one sinus cavity.

While traditional sinus surgery can result in scarring that creates a need for more surgery, balloon sinus surgery is different.  The procedure does not involve cutting or removal of bone or tissue from the nose, essentially eliminating that possibility.

It’s Costly and Insurance Doesn’t Cover It

The cost of balloon sinus surgery is significantly less than the cost of traditional sinus surgery because it can be performed in-office without the significant, added expenses associated with a traditional operation and hospital stay.

Balloon sinus surgery is covered by Medicare and nearly all private insurance companies cover the procedure, as well.  Balloon sinus surgery can be highly beneficial and for some, may offer a number of advantages over traditional sinus surgery. Not everyone is a candidate for Balloon Sinuplasty, however, and it does not treat all sinus related conditions, but, for many people it can make relief possible.

To find out if you are a candidate or to learn more, give us a call today to schedule an appointment. We’ll be happy to assist you in anyway we can.