Breathing is something that we take for granted. As long as a person does not have a problem with their nose, their mouth or their respiratory system, breathing is something that a person does without even thinking about it. Getting a sufficient amount of oxygen into our body and removing pollutants from our body is an important part of staying healthy. Unfortunately, when an individual is battling with sinusitis, breathing can be difficult.
Sinusitis happens when the lining of the sinuses becomes inflamed. As a result, the openings into the sinuses are blocked and mucus is not able to drain like it normally does. Patients who have this disorder often have frequent sinus infections. And since sinus infections create a pressure buildup in the sinuses, a person who is dealing with sinusitis may feel pain in their face or have headaches.
Sometimes this disorder is acute and disappears within a couple of weeks. Other individuals have a form of sinusitis that is chronic and can last for 12 weeks or more. When an individual is dealing with this disorder, they may be a good candidate for Balloon Sinuplasty.
Balloon Sinuplasty is a relatively new procedure that was approved by the FDA for use in 2005. What makes this procedure unique is that unlike other sinus treatments that require invasive surgery, Balloon Sinuplasty is minimally-invasive.
During the procedure, a small balloon is put inside your nose and reaches to the area of the blocked sinus. Then the balloon is inflated. As a result, it is able to restructure the shape and size of the sinus opening. This allows accumulated mucus and fluids to drain. The procedure is very effective; it is quick and the patient is able to get back to their everyday activities in short order.
Clinical research has very clearly shown that Balloon Sinuplasty can give a person long-term relief from sinus issues. Some patients will need to have the procedure repeated, but this is going to depend on how serious their sinusitis is. There are other factors such as the natural shape of their sinuses that might determine the frequency with which they will need to have the procedure repeated. Our surgeon can advise you on what symptoms you need to look for when deciding if the procedure should be repeated.
The safety of the procedure can be seen by the fact that since 2005, more than 330,000 people worldwide have had this procedure performed successfully. The procedure is able to produce results with minimal bleeding and with a low amount of post-operation discomfort.
Follow-up studies done on individuals who had this procedure performed show that the vast majority of patients have improved sinus functionality even two years after having the procedure done. Of course, Balloon Sinuplasty is not for everyone, and there are some considerations that our surgeon will discuss with you.
Balloon Sinuplasty is an excellent procedure that will help you to improve your breathing, reduce pain and get back to living an active and healthy life. During a consultation with Dr. Ayala at Ayala ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery in McAllen, you can learn more about this procedure and how it can benefit you. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.