Balloon sinuplasty is the gold standard in treating patients with chronic sinusitis

• Balloon sinuplasty is a straightforward procedure with minimal complications.

• 91% of patients said they would have the procedure again. 

• 85% of patients reported improvement two years after the procedure.

In 2005, the Food and Drug Administration approved balloon sinuplasty as a new, innovative solution for patients suffering from chronic sinus conditions. For frequent sinus sufferers, balloon sinuplasty is now considered the gold standard by sinus experts, offering a minimally invasive procedure with a short recovery period.

“Balloon sinuplasty, as you know, came out in 2005. It is a fantastic new technique because what studies have shown is that it's as effective as traditional functional endoscopic sinus surgery. So I can perform a procedure for a patient and improve their recurrent sinusitis,” Dr. John Ditto of Richmond Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers said.

As a straightforward and minimally invasive procedure, complications are typically infrequent. Balloon sinuplasty is more cost-efficient than other procedures, often recommended to patients after other treatments for their condition have been ineffective, according to GoodRx Health. Each year, chronic sinusitis costs the American public between $10 and $14 billion, whereas balloon sinuplasty is covered by most insurances, according to Current Asthma and Allergy Reports.

In addition to cost efficiency, patients also report less pain, with an average pain score in one study of 2.8, according to the American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy. Patients reported only an average of 1.4 days for recovery, compared to 4.2 days for patients who've had traditional surgical interventions.

Symptoms are also more likely to decrease over time after having a balloon sinuplasty. Symptoms of chronic sinusitis include inflammation of the sinuses, sinus headache, maxillary sinus pain and thick, discolored discharge, according to Mayo Clinic. 

To learn more about the balloon sinuplasty procedure, patients can begin by taking a Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.