Vivaer
One of the most common and troubling complaints that patients have when they visit their Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist is a stuffy nose. There are many causes of nasal stuffiness, including: deviated nasal septum, sinusitis, turbinate hypertrophy, and allergies. One of the most underdiagnosed conditions causing nasal congestion is nasal valve collapse. Nasal valve collapse means the nasal passages narrow during regular breathing (see photo). A simple test at home to see if you have nasal valve collapse is to pull on the cheeks as you breathe in and see if this improves your airway.
Typical treatments for nasal congestion include medicated nasal sprays, saline rinses, and oral medications. While these medications are often helpful for allergies, they have less benefit when treating a collapsing nose. Often, patients with nasal valve collapse will require surgery to improve their nasal airway.
Traditional nasal valve repair is an invasive procedure that involves the placement of grafts to reconstruct the nasal airway. It is done under general anesthesia, and while it may be appropriate in select individuals, nasal valve reconstruction involves a longer recovery and more time off of work and daily activities.
The Vivaer Nasal Airway Remodeling procedure is a new and minimally invasive technology used for remodeling the nasal valve that is done in the office.
With VivAer, your ENT physician will apply local anesthesia to numb the inside of your nose. Once anesthetized, your doctor will insert a small wand into your nostril to target and treat the blockage. The tip of the wand uses low-temperature radiofrequency (RF) energy to gently remodel your nasal passage and improve airflow. The treatment has minimal discomfort, and once it’s finished, you can typically get right back to your normal daily activities.
In a four-year clinical study, patients were consistently satisfied with the results of their VivAer treatments:
- 96% of patients experienced significant improvement in nasal breathing
- 93% of patients improved their ability to get air through their nose during exercise or exertion
- 96% of patients reported getting a better night’s sleep
When appropriate, the Vivaer procedure can be done in conjunction with other procedures including turbinate reduction, nasal swell body reduction, or balloon sinuplasty.
For more information on the Vivaer procedure, Talk your Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist.
