Carolina Sinus Center offers a simple procedure called balloon dilation that can improve the lives of those suffering from chronic sinus problems. | Adobe Stock
Carolina Sinus Center offers a simple procedure called balloon dilation that can improve the lives of those suffering from chronic sinus problems. | Adobe Stock
If you suffer from chronic sinusitis and you've put off the possibility of having treatment because you thought it would require anesthesia and significant recovery time, the Carolina Sinus Center now offers balloon sinuplasty, an in-office procedure with a local anesthetic.
The procedure, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2005, has seen improvements recently that make it simpler and quicker to recover from. Balloon sinuplasty is used to clear sinuses and is recommended for those suffering from chronic sinusitis.
According to Healthline, doctors will prescribe an antibiotic and possibly a painkiller after the treatment, but the sinuplasty generally does not cause pain. Doctors also instruct the patient to use a saline nasal solution for three to seven days afterward. Healthline calls it a “promising treatment for people with chronic sinus problems.”
Dr. Andrea Williams
| Carolina Sinus Center
Williams, who received her Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry at S.U.N.Y Stony Brook in 1989 and her MD magna cum laude at S.U.N.Y Buffalo School of Medicine in 1994, opened the first Carolina Sinus Center in Charlotte in January 2003. It now services patients in Rock Hill, Gaffney, Union and Concord as well. She began performing the balloon sinuplasty procedure, along with other traditional sinus surgeries, in 2007. She has been specially trained to offer the balloon dilation procedure in her office.
The staff also includes Niccole Mount, who is a nurse practitioner, board-certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She has been practicing since 1999 and specializes in otolaryngology. She graduated cum laude from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science and master's degree in nursing.
Wayne Wilkens is an adult/gerontology nurse practitioner, specializing in otolaryngology. He is nationally certified through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. He specializes in the ear, nose, throat and sinus disease.
To evaluate your symptoms, refer to this quiz created by Carolina Sinus Center.
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