Balloon Sinus Surgery in Oceanside, CA
When sinus surgery is recommended for chronic or recurrent sinusitis, there are a variety of treatment options available to surgeons. Balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive technique that is used to open the obstructed sinuses. This is done using specialized endoscopes to visualize the sinus openings, and then a thin guide wire can be passed into the obstructed sinus cavity. The balloon is then carefully advanced and inflated, to dilate the clogged or narrowed drainage pathway. This technology has been FDA approved since 2006, and is often done in the office without need for general anesthesia in the operating room. The recovery following office-based balloon sinuplasty is often easier with less medication needed and shorter downtimes. After sinuplasty is performed, the sinus drainage is improved with fewer infections and congestion symptoms.
When is Sinus Surgery Necessary?
Our ENT team may recommend surgery for several reasons, but, more than likely, it will come after trying other nonsurgical treatment options first. If non-surgical options aren’t providing relief and you’re dealing with severe, frequent symptoms that impact your health and quality of life, it’s probably time to consider sinus surgery. Sinus surgery can be used to treat:
- Deviated septum
- Nasal polyps
- Nasal blockages due to chronic sinusitis
Can Nasal Polyps Grow Back?
If you are dealing with nasal polyps that are causing issues such as thick nasal discharge, pain and pressure and trouble breathing through the nose, we may recommend surgery to remove the polyps; however, it is possible that polyps could return. Why? Inflammation within the nasal passages is responsible for the development of nasal polyps. So, we must treat the inflammation to prevent polyps from returning. This means getting to the bottom of what’s causing your inflammation, such as allergies and providing you with the proper medication and treatment options to control inflammation.
What does Sinus Surgery Entail?
We perform endoscopic sinus surgery whenever possible as it's less invasive and offers a faster recovery time for our patients. Our clinic also has a surgical suite, so you don’t have to be referred to another doctor or a hospital to have your sinus surgery completed. You can turn to our trusted team for your surgical needs. Endoscopic sinus surgery involves placing a thin, flexible tube into the nasal cavity to clear the blockage and remove any polyps. The only time traditional sinus surgery may be needed over endoscopic surgery is if we need to correct a structural defect such as a deviated septum. Endoscopic sinus surgery is typically performed under conscious sedation with nasal numbing spray and usually doesn’t take more than 30-45 minutes.