Citations & Sources
Schedule A ConsultationThe information on this website about Balloon Sinuplasty and related in-office sinus procedures is backed by the studies and data sources listed below. Where a page includes a bracketed number, like [1], it refers to one of the sources on this page. Studies measure outcomes for the patients enrolled in them, individual results vary, and not everyone is a candidate for every procedure. This page is updated as sources are added or as data changes. Last updated: September 2026.
[1]
Cutler J, Bikhazi N, Light J, Truitt T, Schwartz M; REMODEL Study Investigators. Standalone balloon dilation versus sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis: a prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled trial. Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2013;27(5):416-422. doi:10.2500/ajra.2013.27.3970
What this study found:
[1] Cutler 2013 (REMODEL, first results)
92 patients at 10 sites were randomly assigned to balloon dilation (50 patients) or traditional sinus surgery (42 patients). Symptom improvement was similar between the two groups. Patients who had balloon dilation returned to normal activity faster (1.6 days versus 4.8 days), needed fewer post-operative cleanings (0.1 versus 1.2), and used prescription pain medication for fewer days (0.9 versus 2.8) than those who had traditional surgery.
[2]
Bikhazi N, Light J, Truitt T, Schwartz M, Cutler J; REMODEL Study Investigators. Standalone balloon dilation versus sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis: a prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled trial with 1-year follow-up. Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2014;28(4):323-329. doi:10.2500/ajra.2014.28.4064
What this study found:
[2] Bikhazi 2014 (REMODEL, 1 year)
At one year, symptom improvement was statistically equivalent between balloon dilation and traditional sinus surgery. Sinus openings remained open in 96.7% of balloon patients and 98.7% of surgery patients. On average, sinus infection episodes fell by 4.2 in the balloon group and 3.5 in the surgery group. Revision surgery was needed in 2% of patients in each group, and no complications were reported.
[3]
Chandra RK, Kern RC, Cutler JL, Welch KC, Russell PT. REMODEL larger cohort with long-term outcomes and meta-analysis of standalone balloon dilation studies. Laryngoscope. 2016;126(1):44-50. doi:10.1002/lary.25507
What this study found:
[3] Chandra 2016 (REMODEL, full cohort)
135 patients (74 balloon, 61 surgery). At one year, symptom improvement was equivalent. Revision rates were 1.4 percent (balloon) and 1.6 percent (surgery). Recovery took 1.7 days versus 5.0. A pooled analysis of 358 patients across balloon studies found consistent results.
[4]
Hoying D, Kabalan MJ, Kaelber DC, Sindwani R. Comparison of long-term revision rates and health care utilization between standalone balloon sinus dilation and endoscopic sinus surgery in chronic rhinosinusitis patients without nasal polyps. Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2026;40(1):31-37. doi:10.1177/19458924251377259
What this study found:
[4] Hoying 2026 (independent, long term)
Large health-records study of patients without nasal polyps. Revision surgery rates were 3.5 percent in both groups at one year, and 5.8 percent (balloon) versus 6.3 percent (surgery) at 10 years, with no significant difference.
[5]
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CY 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule (CMS-1832-F) and CY 2026 Hospital Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Final Rule (CMS-1834-FC). National average payment rates for CPT 31295, 31254, and 31256. Calculation on file.
What this study found:
[5] 2026 Medicare cost comparison
Case with sinus disease on both sides (maxillary and anterior ethmoid). In-office balloon dilation (31295, both sides): Medicare pays about $2,369 total. Traditional sinus surgery in a hospital outpatient department (31254 and 31256, both sides): about $7,634 ($7,210 hospital plus $424 surgeon), so the office procedure costs 69 percent less. In an ambulatory surgery center: about $5,796, or 59 percent less. Anesthesia is excluded, which only widens the gap. National averages; update each January.
[6]
What this study found:
[6] Gould 2012 (case series, manufacturer distributed)
21 patients followed for 6 months, all treated in the office. Average time in the clinic was about one hour (59.9 minutes). 90 percent returned to normal activity within 24 hours. Average discomfort was 1.8 out of 10, but 71 percent received an oral sedative and pain medication beforehand. No complications or revision procedures. Small and not peer reviewed, so use it only for the one-hour visit time.
