Nasal Valve Repair
Request an AppointmentNasal Valve Implant For Nasal Airway Obstruction (NAO)
What Is Nasal Airway Obstruction (NAO)?
Nasal breathing provides over 70% of the air that circulates through your body and into your lungs. Proper airway circulation helps your body to function correctly and keeps you feeling your best. When a nasal airway becomes blocked—even slightly—it can negatively impact your health as well as lower your quality of life. Nasal congestion or stuffiness is known as nasal airway obstruction (NAO) and is a medical condition that can be treated by an ear, nose and throat doctor at Sinus Center Los Angeles. Proper treatment of NAO can help resolve numerous breathing problems, including snoring and sleep apnea.
What Causes NAO?
NAO is caused by the following problems that block or narrow the nasal airway:
- Collapsed nasal wall
- Deviated septum
- Enlarged turbinates
When NAO is caused by a collapsed nasal wall, your nostrils tend to fall inward and close off the airway during sleep or while exercising. You may be suffering from a collapsed nasal wall if:
- You benefit from using snoring strips at night
- You see an improvement in your breathing while performing a test
- called the Cottle Maneuver, which is done by pulling your cheek away from your nose to open the nostril
Options for Nasal Valve Repair
- Cartilage Graft From The Nose
- Latera Implant
Cartilage Graft From The Nose
This is the standard technique used for many years using septal cartilage from the nose in the valve to improve nasal airway patency. One can use a cadaver graft or ripped cartilage to increase the strength of the nasal valve. This now is for the worst conditions of total airway collapse. Today there are newer, dissolvable implants that you can do the surgery without the need of extensive opening of the nose, which is called a Spirox Latera Graft.
Options for Nasal Valve Repair
- Cartilage Graft From The Nose
- Latera Implant
What Is Latera?
Created by Spirox, Latera is the latest innovation in the treatment of nasal obstruction. Now, ear, nose, and throat physicians have an advanced method of correcting NAO using minimally invasive techniques. Latera is a tiny implant that is used to give cartilage support in the lateral nasal wall. It is used by ear, nose and throat physicians to correct a collapsed nasal airway. The small implant is inserted into the nasal cartilage and naturally absorbs into the body over time. Latera provides long-lasting stability in the nasal wall to improve breathing function without changing the appearance of the nose. The procedure is done in-office at Sinus Center Los Angeles and is sometimes performed after a functional rhinoplasty procedure to reduce the chance of the nasal wall collapsing again.
Why Is Latera Used?
An estimated 20 million Americans suffer from nasal airway obstruction (NAO). Symptoms that indicate you may be suffering from NAO include:
- Nasal stuffiness or congestion
- Difficulty breathing during sleep
- Nasal obstruction or blockage
- Inability or difficulty getting enough air through nose during exercise
- Reduced daytime productivity
- Lowered quality of sleep
Your doctor at Sinus Center Los Angeles can help you determine the cause of your nasal obstruction and offer solutions, including minimally-invasive Latera.
How Does Latera Work?
At Sinus Center LA, Latera is implanted during a minimally invasive in-office procedure. This involves your doctor inserting a cannula (small medical insertion tube) gently into the nasal wall and then injecting a small, clear implant. Once the implant is correctly positioned, the cannula is removed and the implant remains securely inside the nasal wall. The Latera implant is made of a special material, which naturally absorbs into the body within about 18 months of the procedure. It continues to provide support and increase airflow through the nasal cavity even after the implant has fully absorbed.
Some patients experience mild bruising, pain, inflammation, or irritation near the implant after the procedure. This generally subsides quickly and without complication. Most patients experience a significant decrease in their NAO symptoms within one year of receiving the Latera implant.
What Are The Benefits Of Latera?
- Minimally invasive
- Less chance of nasal obstruction occurring after functional rhinoplasty
- Little or no recovery time
- Little or no swelling or pain
- No nasal widening or unwanted aesthetic changes
- Provides added nasal airway support
If you are suffering from nasal congestion or nasal obstruction and believe you may benefit from Latera, the first step is to consult with a sleep health expert. Ear, nose, and throat specialists at Sinus Center LA in Pacific Palisades have extensive experience in treating a range of sinus and nasal conditions with minimally invasive procedures. Fill out the form on this page to schedule an appointment or to learn more about Sinus Center LA’s treatment options.