Chronic sinusitis doesn't just affect your nose and sinuses but may also cause frequent headaches, sore throats, fatigue and other symptoms that affect the quality of your life. If medications don't do enough to relieve your symptoms, you may want to consider balloon sinuplasty. Dr. Ryan Gallivan of Northwest Sinus Center in Bend, OR, explains how the minimally invasive procedure can relieve your symptoms.

No cutting with balloon sinuplasty

Sinus surgery has traditionally involved cutting away tissue or bone in your sinuses that cause or contribute to your sinusitis symptoms. Not surprisingly, recovery from the surgery can be painful and take longer than you anticipated. Balloon sinuplasty provides a less invasive option that may be just as effective as endoscopic sinus surgery.

Inflating a balloon in your sinuses enlarges the walls of the sinus passageways, allowing better drainage of mucus and easier breathing. Prior to the sinuplasty procedure, you'll receive a local anesthetic to ensure that you don't feel any pain. A catheter container a small deflated balloon will be inserted through your nostrils into your sinuses. When the catheter is correctly positioned, the balloon will be inflated, compressing tissue in your sinus passageways. The final step of the procedure involves spraying a stream of saline solution into your passages to remove accumulated mucus and pus.

Although many people can benefit from balloon sinuplasty, you may need endoscopic sinus surgery if you have bone spurs, nasal polyps or a deviated septum.

Balloon sinuplasty offers a shorter recovery period

If you're too busy to spend a few weeks recovering from sinus surgery, balloon sinuplasty may be a good option for you. The procedure is performed in our Bend office and only takes about an hour. Most people who have the sinuplasty procedure return to their usual activities in about one or two days. Although you may initially feel congested after the treatment, you'll notice a significant improvement in your breathing in about a week.

Dealing with post-procedure pain can make recovering from endoscopic sinus surgery unpleasant. Pain is minimal following balloon sinuplasty because there's no cutting involved. If you do experience any pain or a sinus headache, taking an over-the-counter pain reliever can be helpful.

Are you interested in learning if balloon sinuplasty is a good option for you? Call Dr. Ryan Gallivan of Northwest Sinus Center in Bend, OR, at (855) 746-8700 to schedule an appointment.