New Balloon Treatment Relieves Chronic Facial Pain

Imagine living with facial pain so severe it feels like electric shocks shooting through your face. For 40 patients in Hong Kong, a tiny balloon has changed everything.

The pain management teams at the University of Hong Kong and Queen Mary Hospital started offering percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) in 2024 for people suffering from chronic facial pain. This includes trigeminal neuralgia, a condition that causes sudden, severe facial pain, and lingering pain from shingles.

The procedure works by inserting a small balloon through the cheek into the trigeminal ganglion near the base of the skull. Doctors inflate it with contrast medium to gently compress the nerve fibers causing pain. The whole procedure happens under general anesthesia, making it far more comfortable than traditional treatments that require patients to stay awake.

"Traditional pain management methods often involve medications, but some patients experience inadequate relief and intolerable side effects," said Dr. Stanley Wong Sau-ching, Clinical Associate Professor at HKUMed. "Patients who are unable or unwilling to undergo more invasive surgeries now have a promising alternative."

The Ripple Effect

The impact extends beyond individual patients. The procedure covers multiple branches of the trigeminal nerve in a single intervention, meaning it can address pain in different areas of the face simultaneously.

Dr. Timmy Chan Chi-wing, a consultant at Queen Mary Hospital, explains that PBC offers broader coverage than radiofrequency ablation, the traditional technique. This makes it especially effective for patients with pain affecting their eye area or multiple facial regions.

The numbers tell an encouraging story. Initial pain relief exceeds 80%, matching traditional treatments. But PBC shows better durability, with over 70% of patients remaining pain-free after 10 years.

Side effects like facial numbness and chewing muscle weakness are typically temporary and well-tolerated. The procedure also carries a lower risk of eye complications compared to traditional treatments, particularly important for patients with pain around their eyes.

The team has now performed 40 PBC procedures over the past two years. Early results show patients experiencing significant pain relief and improved daily function.

"We can now tailor treatment to the individual," Dr. Wong said. "Optimal management is about having the right tool for the right patient."

For people who've endured years of facial pain that medication couldn't touch, this gentle balloon procedure offers something precious: hope for lasting relief.