23 Aug Minimally Invasive Sinus & Nose Procedures to Breathe Better, Improve Symptoms
What if you could put an end to chronic sinus misery, without the operating room and long, painful recovery? Yes, it’s possible. Patients today have more options than ever thanks to the latest advanced medical technologies and techniques. There are a number of minimally invasive nose and sinus procedures that can improve chronic sinus infection, constant nasal congestion, and constant nasal drainage. Here’s a look at just a few of the most common, minimally invasive, in-office procedures that can help you achieve relief and regain your life from the vicious cycle of sinus and nasal symptoms, and breath easier.
Balloon Sinuplasty/Balloon Sinus Dilation
If you’ve been living with chronic sinusitis, you know the painful symptoms associated with chronic sinus infections can be overwhelming. When symptoms are difficult to control with medication alone, in some cases surgery may be necessary to open up the sinus passages. Balloon sinuplasty, also called ballon sinus surgery or balloon sinus dilation, offers a less invasive option for treatment of blocked sinuses. It is clinically proven to be safe, effective and improve the quality of your life.
This minimally invasive sinus procedure uses an endoscope and specialized device to gently open the natural sinus drainage pathways. Balloon sinus dilation uses a small, flexible, sinus balloon catheter to open up blocked sinus passageways, restoring normal sinus drainage. When the sinus balloon is inflated, it gently restructures and widens the walls of the passageway while maintaining the integrity of the sinus lining.
Balloon sinuplasty is performed in-office with no visible cuts, incisions, or changes in appearance and little to no recovery time.
If you suffer from frequent sinus problems and you are seeking an effective sinus infection treatment option, then balloon sinuplasty may be right for you.
Turbinate Reduction
The turbinates are structures in the nose that humidify the air we breathe. They are made by a boney structure that is surrounded by soft tissue. Turbinates can enlarge and become swollen causing nasal obstruction, mouth breathing and snoring. The inferior turbinates can become enlarged or inflamed from allergies, frequent nasal decongestant spray use, genetic predisposition, or age-related changes. Enlarged turbinates can cause a nasal obstruction that leads to congestion and sinus issues.
In cases where enlarged turbinates do not respond well to medical therapy and allergy treatment a number of procedures are available to reduce the size while still maintaining normal function.Turbinate reduction surgery and other advanced endoscopic sinus procedures can improve breathing and alleviate nasal symptoms.
Sometimes it is necessary to perform a simple procedure to reduce the turbinate tissue and improved the nasal passage airway. Turbinate reduction surgery is typically performed as an outpatient procedure.
There are a variety of advanced techniques using an endoscopic approach for minimally invasive turbinate reduction surgery. By performing surgery through the nostril openings with an endoscope and specialized instruments, your specialist physician can effectively reduce enlarged turbinates with no visible incisions and a quick recovery time.
Turbinate reduction procedures include turbinate submucous resection, cryotherapy, low-level heat energy ablation and very simple outfracture.
Many of these procedures can be done in the office setting under simple local anesthesia with minimal discomfort, no incisions and limited downtime.
If it is determined that inferior turbinate reduction surgery is right for you, your ENT will utilize the methods that are best for your unique case in order to reduce the size of your inferior turbinates and increase the space of the nasal passageways.
Patients should plan to rest for a day or two after the procedure. You may experience some mild swelling and discomfort, which can be managed with medication. Post-procedure care recommendations generally involve frequent nasal saline and antibiotic ointment for several weeks after the procedure. Patients typically return to work or school within one week of surgery.
VivAer® Nasal Airway Procedure
If you are one of the millions of people who suffer constant nasal congestion, even when you are not sick, then you may have a condition known as nasal airway obstruction. This chronic nasal congestion is not the result of sickness or allergies, it is due to physical problems with the structure of the nose.
Nasal congestion causes a significant reduction in the volume of air you can breathe through your nose and can greatly impact your quality of life. If you have nasal airway obstruction, you know how difficult the simple act of trying to breathe through your nose can be. Nasal airway obstruction can cause you to struggle for air when you are physically active, interrupt your sleep and leave you feeling exhausted during the day.
Depending on the root cause of your nasal obstruction, various treatment options are available.
Nasal airway obstruction can occur when there are physical abnormalities with the structure of the nose related to the nasal valve, the areas of the septum (the bone and tissue that divide the two nostrils), the turbinates (the long passages that direct and warm air as it enters the nose), or the lateral wall (the outer wall of the nose).
If any of these three areas become enlarged, it reduces the amount of air that can flow through the nasal valve and into the lungs.
The nasal valve refers to the area where the lower nasal cartilage meets the inside of the nose at the septum. In certain patients, the nasal valve cartilage is weak and floppy and collapses on itself which results in nasal obstruction.
The Vivaer® Nasal Airway Remodeling procedure is a solution for nasal airway obstruction that works by treating the obstruction within the nasal valve.
While more invasive surgical approaches may be required to correct these kind of anatomical problems, for some patients the cause of nasal airway obstruction can be addressed under a simple local office-based procedure using low heat energy. This is referred to as the VivAer® procedure.
For patients with nasal airway obstruction that is caused by certain physical problems related to the structure of the nose, such as an enlarged nasal organ or weakened nasal valve, VivAer® can offer a minimally invasive treatment option that is clinically shown to significantly improve quality of life and provide long lasting relief.
This simple in-office procedure is completed using only local anesthetic, involves minimal discomfort, and no incisions.
The VivAer® is a one-time non-invasive procedure that can be performed in minutes in our office. VivAer® Nasal Airway procedure uses a low-temperature process that gently reshapes tissue of the nasal airway to help you breathe easier right away. Patients typically return to normal activity on the same day.
Conclusion – the right treatment for you
There are many advanced treatments that can offer real, lasting relief for chronic nasal and sinus conditions—making find a solution that works more comfortable, less painful and invasive than ever before.
For some patients, sinus issues can be more complex and are often accompanied by other conditions, such as nasal polyps or a deviated septum. Not all patients may be good candidates for these types of in-office procedures.
The only way to know the best treatment option for you is to seek out the expertise of an experienced ENT.
To find out if one of these procedures may be right for you and the best treatment possible, contact the Ohio Sinus Institute today.
Regardless of what your individual case may be, the Ohio Sinus Institute can help. Schedule a consultation to learn more. We’ll discuss your symptoms, medical history, and together identify a personalized treatment path that will help you achieve the relief you deserve and the right plan for you.
Discover your options and get started on the path to freedom, get in touch with us now. What are you waiting for?