- Symptoms of chronic sinusitis can include nasal inflammation, runny nose, postnasal drainage, congestion, pain or swelling in the face, headaches, loss of smell and taste, a sore throat, bad breath, or fatigue.
- Chronic sinusitis affects 28.9 million American adults, or 11% of the adult population, and is responsible for 4.1 million doctor visits per year.
- After a balloon sinuplasty procedure, many people are able to return to their regular activities within a day or two.
Balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that can help address chronic sinusitis, a condition that can become more debilitating the longer it goes untreated. Many ear, nose, and throat doctors (ENTs) recommend balloon sinuplasty, including Dr. Farhad Sigari of Del Rey MD.
“The ideal balloon sinuplasty patient for us is anyone who has been dealing with sinus issues for more than three months or anyone who has noticed something amiss with their breathing,” Dr. Sigari told the South Bay Leader. “Anyone who feels their quality of life is impacted by breathing difficulties through the nose, ear issues, or sleep problems should consider seeking help. We’ve had patients coming from other healthcare providers who were told to use medications that didn’t work. In contrast, we were able to successfully treat them, leaving them incredibly satisfied.”
Balloon sinuplasty, also known as balloon catheter dilation surgery, is a procedure to clear blocked sinuses, according to Healthline. This surgery is relatively new, having been approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2005. Balloon sinuplasty is most often recommended for people with chronic sinusitis after attempts at other forms of treatment are ineffective. Balloon sinuplasty is fairly straightforward, and reported complications are minimal.
Balloon sinuplasty is becoming more popular because it has lower risks and a quicker recovery time than traditional sinus surgery, as noted by GoodRX. The procedure is performed in the office, is less expensive compared to the procedures conducted in a hospital setting, and is typically covered by insurance.
A balloon sinuplasty procedure usually takes less than 30 minutes, and patients typically recover within 1-2 days. Most patients can resume their normal activities in that time period, although they may experience some swelling for up to a week, according to Medium. By contrast, functional endoscopic sinus surgery procedures take 1.5–2 hours, and patients might need up to four weeks to fully recover from surgery, during which time they should avoid strenuous activities such as exercising.
A study reports that 91% of patients would choose to have a balloon procedure again, compared to only 49% of functional endoscopic sinus surgery patients.
According to Del Rey MD’s website, Dr. Sigari obtained his bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from the University of California, San Diego, where he conducted research on heart disease. He attended Chicago Medical School, earning degrees in medicine, applied physiology, and pathology. During this time, Sigari received recognition, including the Dean’s Award and the Alpha Omega Alpha Award. Following this, he completed his surgical internship training, specializing in otolaryngology and head and neck surgery, at the University of Chicago Hospital.
