The Portland Hospital
205-209 Great Portland Street W1W 5AH London
Balloon sinuplasty
Symptoms of a chronic sinus infection can be relieved using balloon sinuplasty
What is a balloon sinuplasty?
Balloon sinuplasty is a safe and minimally invasive procedure used by HCA UK ENT surgeons to treat chronic sinusitis (sinus infection).
Need to know
Treatment is usually carried out while you are asleep under a general anaesthetic. Your HCA UK surgeon will guide a very thin wire (catheter) attached to a tiny balloon into your nostrils and up to the area that is blocked.
The balloon will then be inflated to high pressure, causing widening of the natural nostril pathways. This will help to relieve the symptoms relating to your sinus condition.
If you are having a general anaesthetic you'll be advised not to eat or drink in the hours leading up to the procedure. You should be allowed to go home after the treatment and an overnight stay in hospital is usually not required.
Once the procedure has finished, you will be moved into the recovery area where you will wake up. There shouldn't be any discomfort, although you may feel that your nose is slightly congested.
You will be able to eat and drink soon after you wake up, and you should then be able to go home on the same day.
As with any form of nose or sinus surgery, it is important to minimise the amount of heavy lifting and/or straining in the first few days after the operation, otherwise there will be an increased likelihood of a nose bleed.
Paying for medical treatment
You don't need medical insurance to have fast access to our top consultants, extensive range of treatments, diagnostic tests and surgical procedures at our world-class facilities.
Our Balloon sinuplasty locations
The Wellington Hospital
8A Wellington Place NW8 9LE London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London
The Shard Outpatients
The Shard, 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
London Digestive Centre
41 Welbeck Street W1G 8EA London
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David’s gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist, former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.