Do you find it challenging to breathe through your nose? Does your nose look sunken or asymmetrical?
Nasal valve collapse could be to blame. A collapsed nasal valve can cause bothersome, ongoing symptoms that can disrupt sleep, affect daily activities, and lower your overall quality of life.
Luckily, ENT specialists can repair a collapsed nasal valve and resolve your symptoms. Keep reading to learn more about how nasal valve collapse is treated.
What is Nasal Valve Collapse?
Your nose has valves in each nostril found in the middle to the lower part of the nose. These valves regulate airflow in and out of your nose.
Nasal valve collapse happens when the valves narrow or weaken. As a result, the valves can collapse inward during inhalation, restricting airflow into your nose.
Your nose may look sunken, asymmetrical, or thinner where your nasal valves have collapsed. However, sometimes, the valve collapse isn’t visible.
There are two types of nasal valve collapse: internal and external nasal valve collapse. Internal nasal valve collapse is the most common.
The internal nasal valve is the passageway in the middle of the nose, while the external nasal valve is at the bottom of the nose, close to your nostrils.
What Causes Nasal Valve Collapse?
Nasal valve collapse can occur when the cartilage supporting your nasal valve weakens. This may be due to trauma, aging, or cosmetic surgery on your nose.
Nasal valve collapse can also be caused by anatomical differences such as a deviated septum, an over-projecting nose, or a wider columella. The columella is the bridge of tissue separating your nostrils at the bottom of the nose.
Other causes of nasal valve collapse include enlarged tissue, inflammation, and scar tissue.
What are the Symptoms of Nasal Valve Collapse?
The most common symptom of nasal valve collapse is difficulty breathing through your nose. Trouble breathing can worsen when lying down or during physical activity.
Other symptoms include:
- Snoring
- Mouth breathing
- Stuffiness or nasal congestion
- Crusting around the nostrils
- Nasal bleeding
In some cases, nasal valve collapse can worsen over time, resulting in further narrowing and trouble breathing.
How is Nasal Valve Collapse Treated?
There are various nasal collapse solutions, depending on the cause and severity. These can include:
Latera
Latera is a small absorbable nasal implant that reinforces the weaker side walls of your nose, reducing collapse and allowing you to breathe more easily. It’s implanted inside the side or lateral nasal wall to support the upper and lower nasal cartilages, alleviating nasal valve collapse.
The minimally invasive outpatient procedure is typically performed under local anesthesia. Post-procedure, your body absorbs the Latera implant within 18 to 24 months, replacing it with natural tissue that continues to support your side walls.
VivAer
VivAer addresses nasal airway obstruction due to nasal valve collapse. It gently and permanently remodels your nasal valve area to remove any obstructions.
During the in-office, non-invasive procedure, your ENT specialist will start by applying local anesthesia to numb your nose. They’ll then insert a small wand into your nostril to target the nasal tissue causing obstruction.
The wand’s tip will deliver controlled, low-temperature radiofrequency or RF energy that reshapes affected nasal tissues. This widens the nasal valve area without changing the outward appearance of your nose for better airflow.
Many patients notice improved nasal breathing right after VivAer remodeling. The procedure takes about 15 minutes, and you can resume regular activities immediately after the treatment.
Permanent Sutures
Your ENT specialist can use sutures to repair weakened nasal valves. The sutures can secure the valve area to the bone tissue under your eye, lifting the nasal valve outward.
This opens up your nasal passage for easier breathing. Using permanent sutures can ensure the long-term stability of your nasal valve.
Cartilage Grafts
Cartilage grafts, also called spacer or spreader grafts, are a common treatment for nasal valve collapse. Your ENT specialist may use cartilage grafts harvested from your ear, septum, or rib.
The grafts are surgically inserted between the upper lateral cartilage and the septum. Once in position, they push the upper lateral cartilage outward.
The procedure helps widen the narrowed area, offers structural support to a weakened nasal valve, and prevents collapse during inhalation, providing lasting symptom relief.
Septoplasty
The wall of cartilage and bone that divides your nostrils is called the septum. A deviated septum occurs when your septum is bent or off-center, making one nostril narrower than the other.
This can weaken your nasal valve and cause it to collapse. A septoplasty is a procedure done to straighten a misaligned septum.
Turbinate Reduction
Turbinates are the bony structures inside the nose. Your ENT specialist may recommend turbinate reduction if you have enlarged turbinates.
The procedure decreases the size of enlarged turbinates and can help further open up your airways.
Breathe Easier with Nasal Valve Repair
Nasal valve collapse can obstruct airflow and make it harder to breathe through your nose. Fortunately, you don’t have to live with a collapsed nasal valve.
Our ENT specialists can provide cutting-edge treatments to help you find lasting relief and breathe better. Do you suspect you have a collapsed nasal valve?
Schedule your appointment at Southern Indiana ENT in Indianapolis, IN, today to explore treatments to help you find relief.