What Is Balloon Sinuplasty? What to Expect During the Procedure and Recovery

Sinus infections can be miserable. They cause symptoms like stuffy nose, nasal drainage, and pressure in your face, along with loss of smell and taste. 

Acute sinus infections usually go away on their own or with medication. But some people experience chronic sinusitis. This is when inflammation in the sinuses (sinusitis) continues for more than 3 months. 

If you’re prone to sinus infections, you might be wondering what you can do about them. If medications aren’t working, a procedure like balloon sinuplasty may be an option. 

What is balloon sinuplasty?

Balloon sinuplasty is a procedure that can relieve chronic sinusitis. It’s also known as balloon sinus ostial dilation (BSOD). In this procedure, a balloon enlarges the sinus openings to allow better drainage. In most cases, it can be performed in an office without general anesthesia.

This procedure was first approved by the FDA in 2005. It has since become a popular alternative to traditional sinus surgery for some people. 

How does a balloon sinuplasty procedure work?

Otolaryngologists — or ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctors — perform balloon sinuplasty. It’s minimally invasive, meaning it doesn’t require large incisions. Rather, the specialist uses an endoscope, which is a pencil-sized tool with a camera. Here’s how it works:

• The ENT doctor uses the endoscope to look inside the nose and sinuses. 

• Then, they insert a guidewire through your nostril to access the blocked sinus opening. This guidewire helps to position the balloon, which is attached to a tube, into the sinus opening. 

• They inflate the balloon for a few seconds at a time, creating tiny fractures in the bones surrounding the sinus opening. This helps to widen and open up the sinus passages.

• The balloon is then deflated and removed, and a saline solution is used to irrigate the cavity and flush out any debris. The guidewire is then removed. 

There are many advantages to balloon sinuplasty:

• It helps to improve symptoms without any cutting or removal of bone and tissue, which is what happens during sinus surgery.

• Both procedure time and recovery time are shorter than with sinus surgery.

• Most of the time, it can be done as a relatively short outpatient procedure (in the office).

• It often only requires local anesthesia, meaning you won’t be put to sleep.

Who can get balloon sinuplasty?

Balloon sinuplasty may be an option for some people with chronic sinusitis that doesn’t respond to other treatments. There must be blockage in certain parts of the sinuses, seen on imaging like a CT scan. It can also be helpful for people with recurrent acute sinusitis. 

However, balloon sinuplasty isn’t an option if you have: 

• Fungal sinusitis (sinus inflammation due to fungal infection)

• Nasal polyps

• Cystic fibrosis

• Inflammation only in the ethmoid sinuses

• No symptoms other than headache

Is balloon sinuplasty safe?

Like with any procedure, there are risks. It’s important to be aware of them when researching treatment options. 

In general, balloon sinuplasty is considered safer than traditional sinus surgery. Traditional surgery requires cutting of tissue and bone, as well as anesthesia. There’s no significant difference between the two in risk of infection and bleeding. But there’s a lower risk of scabbing and scarring with balloon sinuplasty.

Possible side effects of a balloon sinuplasty include:

• Minor nose bleeds and scabbing for about 1 week following the procedure

• Pain and swelling in the sinuses and surrounding facial areas, such as the cheeks and eyes

• Reduced sense of smell

In very rare cases, more serious complications may occur due to damage to the bones and other structures that separate the sinuses from the brain. These include:

• Infection

• Eye swelling and infection

• Cerebrospinal fluid leak 

How long does it take to recover from a balloon sinuplasty?

While it varies from person to person, balloon sinuplasty recovery is typically fast. Most people can return to work and their normal activities within a few days.

Here are some things to keep in mind while recovering: 

• Avoid strenuous activity for about 1 week. 

• Don’t blow your nose at all for 24 hours.

• Sleep with your head elevated to decrease nasal congestion. 

• Go to any scheduled follow-up appointment with your healthcare team.

How much does balloon sinuplasty cost?

Balloon sinuplasty costs much less than traditional sinus surgery. This is why many insurance companies (and Medicare) now offer partial or full coverage of this procedure. But the final cost depends on your insurance coverage and your location.

The American Academy of Otolaryngology recommends that balloon sinuplasty be covered as a standard service (as opposed to an elective surgery that may not be medically necessary). 

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Written by:

Merin Kuruvilla, MD

Merin Kuruvilla, MD, is a board-certified allergist/immunologist at Emory University in Atlanta. She has authored several peer-reviewed publications in the field.

Edited by:

Alex Eastman, PhD, RN

Alex Eastman, PhD, RN, is a California-based registered nurse and staff medical editor at GoodRx, where he focuses on clinical updates and Latino health.

Reviewed by:

Mandy Armitage, MD

Mandy Armitage, MD, has combined clinical medicine with her passion for education and content development for many years. She served as medical director for the health technology companies HealthLoop (now Get Well) and Doximity.

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