North Texas News

• 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. Monty Trimble of Dallas Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers.

"When it comes to balloon sinuplasty, those who have recurrent infections or mild to moderate disease are clearly going to do well with balloon sinuplasty," Dr. Trimble told North Texas News. "There are also patients for whom the balloon is a great tool to open up the sinuses, some patients where there may be something that has to be irrigated out of the sinuses, and sometimes people may have something that needs to be removed from the sinuses, but using balloon sinuplasty can also be a great tool to accomplish that as well. So we find that almost every patient who has a sinus or nasal issue can potentially be a good candidate for balloon sinuplasty."

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 Dallas Breathe Free's website, Dr. Trimble is certified in otolaryngology. He obtained a bachelor's degree in biochemistry from Texas A&M University and pursued his medical education at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Dr. Trimble completed his residency training in otolaryngology at the University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics.