Sinus Pain Care in Austin, TX
Sinus Pain and Sinusitis: What is it?
Sinusitis affects 37 million people each year, making it one of the most common health problems in the U.S. It causes terrible symptoms and can leave you exhausted and missing out on the joys of life. As an ENT specialist, Dr. Leeman has extensive experience treating sinusitis and always looks to the latest and most effective treatment options.
I want relief from my sinus pain
What are the sinuses?
Your sinuses are empty spaces in the face with the primary job of keeping you from getting sick. They keep you from getting sick by producing mucus that traps foreign objects like bacteria, viruses, and fungus. Once trapped, the mucus drains the foreign material out of your sinus cavities.
However, your sinus cavities can become blocked for a variety of reasons. When this happens, airflow and drainage are blocked, and the foreign bodies in your mucus begin to multiply. This increase in bacteria, viruses, or fungus is what causes pain and infection. A sinus infection, also known as sinusitis, can be excruciating and may not heal independently.
Are your sinus pain and sinusitis becoming a chronic issue?
If you are suffering from headaches, stuffy nose, sneezing, and coughing, you may think it is a cold or allergies. However, if your symptoms last for longer than twelve weeks at a time and occur several times a year, you may be suffering from chronic sinusitis.
Chronic sinusitis can occur because of continuous swelling of the sinus cavities or a nasal blockage that makes it difficult for your body to naturally drain mucus. Certain conditions like allergies or nasal blockage can make you more susceptible to chronic infections.
Symptoms to look out for include:
- Headache
- Facial pressure and pain
- Congestion
- Nasal drainage
- Cough
- Fatigue
Is there a chronic sinusitis treatment?
If you have been suffering from chronic sinus symptoms for a while and don’t think that relief is possible for you, there is good news: sinus pain relief is possible. You no longer have to miss work, school, or hobbies. Dr. Leeman offers several treatment options that can be used by themselves or as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. Dr. Leeman will listen to your overall health goals to help you choose the best treatment plan. Some treatment options include sinusitis home remedies, medications, and minimally invasive procedures like Balloon Sinuplasty.
Give me more information about treatment options
Balloon Sinuplasty: Long-term sinus pain relief
Balloon Sinuplasty is a minimally invasive, in-office procedure that gently opens the sinuses so your body’s natural drainage can resume. Balloon Sinuplasty is proven to be a safe and effective treatment for chronic sinus symptoms.
Find out more about Balloon Sinuplasty
Austin Sinus Care with Dr. Leeman
If you have been suffering from the painful symptoms of chronic sinusitis, it’s time to schedule with Dr. Leeman. He will listen to your personal health goals to make sure you get an effective treatment plan that will work with your lifestyle and schedule.
What is Balloon Sinuplasty?
With traditional sinus surgery, the surgeon removes tissue and bone to make the sinus opening bigger to help clear blocked sinuses and restore proper sinus drainage. Also, recovery after a sinus surgery procedure can often involves carring and pain.
With a Balloon Sinuplasty procedure, the surgeon dilates the sinus openings which can clear up any infection and restore normal drainage. On average, the Balloon Sinuplasty procedure takes around an hour.
Other benefits include:
- No cutting or removal of tissue or bones like traditional sinus surgery
- Less bleeding
- Helps preserve healthy mucus membranes, nasal tissues, and structure
- Lower infection risk than with traditional sinus surgery
- 95% success rate
How Much Does Balloon Sinuplasty Cost?
Choosing Balloon Sinuplasty over traditional sinus surgeries can save you both money and time. You will have minimal time off work, none of the costs associated with surgery in a hospital, no long recovery, and, best of all, Balloon Sinuplasty is covered by most insurances. In fact, in 2014, the American Academy of Otolaryngology issued a statement calling for all medical insurance companies to consider providing coverage for the cost of the Balloon Sinuplasty procedure.
However, some insurance companies continue to make it difficult to qualify for Balloon Sinuplasty. Several consider it to be an elective procedure that should not be covered.
To find out if your policy covers Balloon Sinuplasty, contact your insurance company. It is always a good idea to check with your insurance company to be sure you understand all of your plan's features.
Why Should I Choose Dr. Leeman for my Balloon Sinuplasty Procedure
Dr. Leeman is a double board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon. He is also a member of the American Board of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery. As such, he has been specially trained in the anatomy, physiology, and treatment of diseases of the ear, nose, throat, neck, and head.
With his experience serving the Austin community for nearly 20 years, he has diagnosed and performed many successful procedures to treat these areas of the body, using the most up-to-date techniques—both surgical and non-surgical.
If you have any other questions about what Balloon Sinuplasty could do for you, feel free to schedule an appointment and we would be happy to discuss everything in more detail.
