Recurring sinus infections aren’t much fun. For some sufferers, nasal irrigations and antibiotics help for a while, but the infections keep coming back. If this sounds like you, there’s another treatment, known as balloon sinuplasty, that might offer long-term relief.
“Balloon sinuplasty is an in-office procedure I perform that could offer long-term relief from your chronic sinus infections,” says T. Greg Borski, M.D., a board-certified Ear, Nose, and
Throat specialist at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic. “It’s a minimally invasive procedure that can widen the natural opening of the sinuses, allowing for better – and more natural – drainage.”
Dr. Borski threads a tiny, balloon catheter (flexible tube) into the nostrils and up into the area of blockage.
“The balloon is gradually inflated to gently open sinus passages. It’s similar to the way doctors open a blocked artery during a balloon angioplasty,” he says.
For optimum results, Dr. Borski says balloon sinuplasty can be used in conjunction with other approaches such as nasal irrigations.
“I’m glad we have this in-office procedure to offer relief for those who’ve long dealt with the miseries associated with recurring sinusitis,” he says.
Common sinusitis symptoms include heavy nasal congestion and discharge, facial pain, sinus headaches, toothaches, a general sense of fatigue, and even bad breath.
“If you’re on a carousel of recurring sinus infections, consider discussing treatment options,” suggests Dr. Borski, who performs the balloon sinuplasty procedure at Kelsey-Seybold’s Berthelsen Main Campus.