Wondering whether sinus surgery will finally give you relief from severe nasal congestion?
Most people will deal with an acute sinus infection at some point; however, what happens when these symptoms persist for 12 weeks or longer, and you can’t seem to find relief from the decongestants, nasal sprays, and other home care measures? If you’re dealing with chronic sinusitis this is something that our Chicago otolaryngologist Dr. Gordon Siegel can help you with. While there are certainly nonsurgical ways to alleviate chronic forms of sinusitis, sometimes you may need to consider sinus surgery.
You may want to consider surgery if you can’t manage your symptoms
As we said, our ENT doctor will most certainly provide patients with nonsurgical treatment options first and foremost to effectively treat a chronic sinus infection; however, if these medications and procedures don’t work, and we’ve exhausted all other treatment options, then it’s time to talk with our Chicago, IL, ear, nose, and throat specialist about surgery.
Balloon sinuplasty offers a minimally invasive way to treat chronic sinusitis
If you are dealing with inflammation and blockage within one of the nasal passages then our doctor may recommend getting balloon sinuplasty, which is far less invasive than traditional surgery and may be able to quickly open up the blockage and let the nasal cavity properly drain. This procedure only takes 30-45 minutes and recovery time is minimal since there is no cutting or incisions involved.
Sometimes traditional surgery is required to properly treat chronic sinusitis
There are many factors to consider before our otolaryngologist can choose the right course of action. While our goal is always to rely on more non-invasive methods whenever possible, sometimes traditional sinus surgery is truly the best way to alleviate your symptoms for the long term. You may benefit from functional endoscopic sinus surgery if we need to remove certain tissue from the sinuses to help you breathe better.
If patients have structural abnormalities within the sinuses this may also make them better candidates for traditional surgery than balloon sinuplasty or other options. Of course, the type of surgery we perform also depends on the type of sinuses we are dealing with. For example, since the maxillary sinuses are under the eyes, the best way to clear blockages and improve functionality within these sinuses is through traditional surgery (known as the Caldwell Luc procedure).
Midwest ENT is a proud member of Northwestern Private Practice. This means that many of our doctors are active, prominent figures within the field of medical research and academia. If you are looking for an ear, nose, and throat doctor in Chicago that can provide you with a quick appointment to discuss your sinus problems then call our office today at (312) 988-7777.