Misconceptions and Debunking the Myths About Balloon Sinuplasty

Chronic sinusitis is a condition that causes inflammation in the nose and paranasal sinuses. It often results in headaches, facial pain, and a stuffy nose. It can be challenging to diagnose and treat, but options are available. Balloon sinuplasty uses a balloon to gently expand the blood supply to your nasal passage and increase airflow into your nose. This helps drain excess mucus from your sinuses, so it doesn’t build up and block your nostrils or cause more damage than necessary during treatment. The technique has been used since the mid-2000s and has improved symptoms of chronic sinusitis in many patients.

The cause of chronic sinusitis is not well understood, but it’s thought to be caused by inflammation and infection of the inner lining of the nose and paranasal sinuses. Chronic sinusitis can affect people at any age, but it’s most common in adults between 30 and 60 years old.

Misconceptions About Balloon Sinuplasty

Before you decide to have balloon sinuplasty, you may have misconceptions about the procedure and its results. Here are some of the most common misconceptions about balloon sinuplasty, along with rebuttals;

Myth 1: It Is Unsafe

A recent study showed that complications such as bleeding or infection were rare after balloon placement. Balloon sinuplasty is a safe procedure. Balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive procedure performed with a flexible endoscope. The balloon is inserted into the airway and inflated to expand the airway and create a new airway.

Balloon sinuplasty is an outpatient procedure with only one day of hospitalization. Patients can return home within 24 hours after their surgery. The procedure takes approximately 30 minutes, and most patients do not require sedation.

Myth 2: It’s More Ineffective Than Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

This is not true. Balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive procedure using a balloon and a special catheter to reshape the nose gently. At the same time, endoscopic sinus surgery requires general anesthesia and involves more extensive cuts into the bone around the nose. The results from both procedures are similar regarding improvement in nasal airflow.

The most common misconception about balloon sinuplasty is that it’s not as effective as endoscopic sinus surgery. But this is not true.

Balloon sinus surgery is just as effective as endoscopic surgery when achieving long-term improvement in symptoms and quality of life. Some studies show that balloon sinuplasty may even be better than endoscopic sinus surgery to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This condition can cause various symptoms, including chronic cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing.

Myth 3: It Has a Long
Recovery Time

While it may take a little longer for your doctor to see results with balloon sinuplasty than with an endoscopic procedure, once they do, patients can expect to improve their symptoms faster and see better results than they would with traditional surgery. 

Recovery from balloon sinuplasty takes much less time than traditional surgical procedures like LPRs or ILSs and requires only a few days of rest at home (or in the hospital). 

Recovery from balloon sinuplasty is no different from recovery after any procedure requiring general anesthesia, including complete mouth extractions and dental procedures such as crowns or bridges. It can take up to two weeks to recover fully after the procedure, but most people return to work within two days of having their procedure done (even patients flying by commercial airline).

Myth 4: It Will Change the Way My Nose Looks/Shaped

Your nose will stay exactly how it was before your surgery; you won’t notice any noticeable changes in your appearance when you wake up after surgery. Your nose shape will remain the same after balloon sinuplasty because your nostrils are still open to air passage, but they will be smaller due to less tissue mass. The result is an improved breathing environment for you and your family members who live with you.

Balloon sinuplasty aims to reduce congestion in the nose by creating negative pressure in the airway during sleep. This reduces the risk of snoring and prevents it from worsening while improving the overall quality of life.

Now that you know more about what balloon sinuplasty can do, you can make a more informed decision about having the procedure done for yourself. Take our balloon sinuplasty quiz to see if you’re a suitable candidate, and then consult our doctor about scheduling the procedure.