Breathe Easy This Holiday Season: Is Balloon Sinuplasty Your Answer to Chronic Sinusitis?

The holiday season moves fast. There are Thanksgiving dinners to host, flights to catch, shopping lists to finish, and parties to attend. But when you’re living with chronic sinusitis, it can all feel like too much. Constantly dealing with pressure behind your eyes, congestion, or a dull headache will make the idea of toasting with friends or flying to see family feel exhausting.

Chronic sinusitis is long-term inflammation of the sinus lining that lasts at least 12 weeks. The tiny drain openings (ostia) inside your face swell shut, causing mucus to build up instead of draining, which can trigger irritation or infection. 

Thankfully, treatment has evolved. While medications and rinses help many people, others may need a procedure to reopen the natural drainage pathways. 

Among these options, balloon sinuplasty has become a popular choice because it’s gentle, quick, and effective — often performed in the office with little downtime. However, the procedure isn’t right for every case, and determining whether you’re a good candidate requires an experienced ENT.

If you’re weighing your options, Mani Zadeh, MD, a board-certified ENT, is the best choice for balloon sinuplasty. Dr. Zadeh’s careful evaluations ensure you get the right procedure for your specific sinuses, and his technique ensures comfort, precision, and lasting results.

Understanding what’s happening in your sinuses

Your sinuses are small, hollow pockets that help you breathe, filter air, and regulate voice resonance. They’re lined with a thin, delicate membrane that produces mucus to trap dust, allergens, and germs, and connect to your nasal passages through narrow openings that let air and mucus flow freely. 

When those openings become blocked (because of allergies, infection, or polyps), mucus gets trapped. That trapped mucus becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, and inflammation occurs. You may notice a reduced sense of smell, postnasal drip that tickles your throat, or pain in your cheeks and forehead.

How balloon sinuplasty works

Balloon sinuplasty opens those blocked passages without cutting or removing tissue. Using a thin, flexible catheter, Dr. Zadeh gently guides a small balloon into the blocked sinus opening. Once it’s positioned correctly, the balloon is slowly inflated to widen the passageway so air and mucus can flow freely again.

The balloon is then deflated and removed. Because there’s no cutting, there’s usually no bleeding and little pain. The procedure takes about an hour and is often done under local anesthesia right in the office. Most people return to work or normal activities within a day or two. Relief is usually immediate.

Who is a good candidate?

Balloon sinuplasty is ideal for people with:

• Chronic sinusitis that hasn’t improved after medication and nasal sprays
• Recurrent sinus infections (several each year)
• Constant congestion or facial pressure
• Sinus blockages, which are visible on imaging

It’s especially useful when inflammation is limited to specific sinuses, like the frontal (forehead) or maxillary (cheek) areas, and when no large polyps are blocking the way.

If you have extensive nasal polyps, severe structural problems, or issues in multiple sinus areas, traditional sinus surgery or a combination of both might be better.

What to expect during and after the procedure

During the procedure, your nose will be numbed so you remain comfortable. You might feel a brief sense of pressure when the balloon inflates, but not sharp pain. Dr. Zadeh uses gentle, precise movements to keep the process as smooth as possible.

Afterward, there’s mild congestion or tenderness for a day or two, and light bleeding is possible, but most people say it feels more like recovering from a stuffy nose than surgery. We advise you to rinse with saline, avoid serious exercise for a short while, and stay hydrated as your sinuses heal.

Within a few days, breathing usually feels easier, and facial pressure begins to ease. For many people, this relief lasts for years, especially when they continue good sinus habits like regular rinses and allergy management.

Between flights, late nights, and the cold winter air this season, the holidays can already be hard on your sinuses. If you’ve been struggling with chronic sinusitis year-round, now’s the time to take care of it. Balloon sinuplasty is a gentle, effective solution for many people to restore normal drainage and provide lasting relief without traditional surgery. 

Schedule a consultation with Dr. Zadeh today to find out if this procedure is right for you.