Sinusitis is one of the most common types of nasal-infections in the United States with an average of 30 million cases per year. Sinusitis occurs when your sinus lining becomes infected, swollen, and inflamed due to viruses, allergies, or bacteria that you were exposed to.
Rather than your mucus draining out naturally, your sinuses get clogged, which then leads to unwanted germs developing and growing. This ultimately results in sinus infections and the accompanying issues.
While some cases can be acute (temporary), there are many cases that develop into long-term chronic issues, which can lead to excruciating pain.
Thankfully, there is a solution.
The McAllen sinus relief specialists at Glatz Group offer a minimally invasive, FDA-approved procedure known as balloon sinuplasty, which can help to rid you of the symptoms of chronic sinusitis.
Allow our McAllen balloon sinuplasty specialists answer a few of the most common frequently asked questions about the procedure.
FAQs About Balloon Sinuplasty
Q: What Are Some Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Sinusitis?
A: If you have suffered from any of the following symptoms which have lasted for more than 12 weeks, you may have yourself a case of chronic sinusitis. Please consult a specialist as soon as you can if you have been experiencing any of the following recurring symptoms:
- Nasal congestion that can interfere with breathing
- Facial pain, fullness and/or pressure
- Runny nose
- Unnatural colored mucus
- Fever
- Headaches
- Teeth pain
- Sore throat
- Unpleasant breath
Q: What Is Balloon Sinuplasty and How Does It Work?
Balloon sinuplasty is a safe and effective procedure that can help to relieve you of the symptoms and pains caused by sinusitis. The procedure is designed to reshape the blocked sinus passageways without needing to remove any bone or tissue.
Just as the name states it, the procedure involves a small balloon attached to a special device. The procedure may be done using general or local anesthesia to render it painless for the patient. Once the patient has been administered anesthesia a thin, flexible tool is inserted into the nasal passage. The tool includes a camera and light which allows the doctor to see exactly where the instrument needs to be used.
At the proper place, the doctor will utilize a small balloon catheter to open up the congested area, restructure the sinus, and restore drainage. The passageways and cavities are flushed with a saline rinse and the balloon is removed to allow the sinus to drain once again.
The procedure is relatively painless and generally takes less than an hour to complete. The procedure has been completed hundreds of thousands of times, is FDA approved, and can be administered in-office by our trustworthy McAllen balloon sinuplasty specialists at the Glatz Group.
How Long Will I Take to Recover?
While the procedure itself is relatively short and painless, the actual time for recovery does vary from patient to patient. On average, the majority of the time patients can resume their regular activities within 2 days.
After the procedure, patients may feel some swelling but this is normal and will eventually go away.
As far as driving back home after the procedure, it will depend on whether or not you were given some sort of anesthesia.
- If no pre-procedure sedation was given, then the patient is able to operate a vehicle within 15-30 minutes after the procedure.
- If a sedative will be administered, make sure to make arrangements with a relative or friend to drive you home following the surgery.
How Do I Know If I’m a Candidate?
In order to determine if balloon sinuplasty would be the right move to help with your chronic sinusitis, contact the McAllen sinus relief specialists of the Glatz Group to schedule an appointment with our trusted doctors and staff.
Our specialists will determine if the procedure is right for you based on analyzing your symptoms and will further explain the process, as well as the risks and benefits.