Balloon sinuplasty safe, effective sinus treatment with recovery 'very favorable for the patient'

Balloon sinuplasty is an effective treatment for a variety of sinus conditions that long has been noted for its brief and relatively painless recovery time.

Dr. Matthew Blair, a board-certified otolaryngologist with the Gulf Coast Breathe Free Sinus and Allergy Centers in Pensacola, Florida, provides comprehensive specialist ear, nose and throat (ENT) care to patients throughout the Florida Panhandle.

"The recovery is very, very favorable for the patient compared to traditional sinus surgery," Blair said. "And most people will benefit from it to the point where they won't need a second procedure."

That compares well with other procedures, Blair said. He has a great deal of experience with balloon sinuplasty and has observed recovery in many patients.

"There's always traditional sinus surgery, if you fail, something minimally invasive," he said. "But that's why it's called 'smart sinus surgery' because it's very tailored to a specific sinus or all the sinuses that you need, but a specific sinus in a specific problem."

Blair's practice focuses on treating all types of sinus- and allergy-related issues, and he understands sinuses can be complicated. Blair keeps up to date on all sinus and allergy innovations, and he listens to his patients to make proper diagnoses and plans for successful treatment.

As one of the newest tools sinus inflammation specialists have in their arsenal, balloon sinuplasty isn't scary so much as exciting. In this minimally invasive procedure, a tiny balloon is inserted into the nose and inflated to expand nasal cavities, Healthline reported.

While balloon sinuplasty is a surgical intervention, its recovery time is relatively brief. Balloon sinuplasty patients receive local anesthesia and, on average, require only 1.4 days to recover, which compares well to the 4.2 days for patients who undergo other surgical interventions, a study published in the medical journal The Laryngoscope reported.

Recovery plans for balloon sinuplasty don't require packing the nose with gauze, and patients should not expect bruising, though they usually receive recommendations to not blow their noses, the Cleveland Clinic reported. Patients are encouraged to rinse their noses with saline if they feel congested, to elevate their heads when they sleep and to avoid excessive exertion during the first week.

Results of a balloon sinuplasty have been noted for lasting an impressive amount of time. A 2008 Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation study published in SAGE Journals found 85% of patients still reported improvements with their sinus symptoms two years following the procedure.

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Gulf Coast Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers is committed to providing the best sinus and allergy relief in the entire Panhandle area, using the most advanced, proven patient-friendly techniques available. With 29 million Americans suffering from sinusitis and 242,000 annual chronic sinusitis ER visits, our mission is to provide minimally invasive options for needed, long-lasting relief so that patients can get back to living. We call this mission Breathe Free and Live Well, and it is the North Star that guides us in each unique, collaborative patient interaction. To learn more about Gulf Coast Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers, please visit our website.