Nasal Valve Stenosis

Causes:

• poor anatomy:  your nasal cavities are too narrow, the cartilages of the nasal wall are too weak or there is deviated septum
   
• excessive weakening of the nasal cartilages after a rhinoplasty 

External Nasal Dilators:

Breathe Right

You may have seen this product worn across the noses of many sports figures, particularly football players. We recommend that you wear them only in the privacy of your bedroom at night. They are available in most pharmacies but are expensive. One must be careful of an allergy or irritation from the adhesive tape.

www.breatheright.com

Internal Nasal Dilator:

Breath-Eze

This is one of the better designs of a commercial wire spring that can be worn inside the nose. The advantage of this device is that it remains unseen and therefore can be worn throughout the day. The disadvantage is that it may cause crusting, irritation and bleeding inside the nose. It may be purchased in some pharmacies or by contacting: BREATHE WITH EEZ, 315 Liberty Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11207 – (718) 498-5568.

 Sinus Cones™

Soft plastic inserts into the anterior nasal passageways. Reusable. www.sanostec.com

Nozovent Anti-snoring Device

Although it is unlikely to stop a person’s snoring, it can be very effective in improving one’s nasal breathing. It is a soft plastic piece that is partially within the nose and partially outside. It is best worn at night. This device and similar ones are also available in most pharmacies. http://www.nosnorezone.com/nozovent-nasal-snoring-relief.html

 
Flents Breathe Quiet!

This simple and innovative device gently stimulates the septum to improve airflow in the nasal cavity. (Caution. Not sure how this works.)

Surgery

Surgical correction of nasal valve collapse is often the best long-lasting solution to this problem. Unfortunately it does not work for everyone.

There are several techniques that are commonly used. A sample of some of the options include:

• A permanent suture may be tied to the side of the collapsing nasal wall, tunneling under the skin and anchored to the bone under the eye.  There is a risk of changing the shape of the nose, but the suture can also be removed. 
   
• Placement of a piece of cartilage, usually removed from the ear or septum, may be used to support and spread one’s existing nasal cartilages.  Similar to a permanent Breathe-Right strip buried under the skin.
• Placement of a piece of cartilage along the top of the nasal septum which broadens the nasal ridge.
• With a lateral crural J-flap, the lateral walls of the nose are altered.

Any one of these procedures may mildly alter the external appearance of the nose. The ENT doctor will examine your condition carefully, then recommend and discuss a specific plan which is appropriate for you.

What to Expect: 

Surgery is usually be performed under general anesthesia in about one hour.  You can go home a few hours after the surgery.  This type of surgery usually involves mild pressure and pain and it will not interfere with work or activities for more than a few days.  In most cases, you will not have any visible scar but it may be possible to see or feel some scar tissue alone the sides of the nose.  Complications could also include local infection or bleeding. This surgery often provides a long-lasting solution, but one needs to be prepared for failure because a single procedure that always works has not yet been designed.
 

“I had a repair of my nasal valve stenosis. This was a complication after nasal surgery performed by a different doctor. It was great to breath much, much better!” - Dany Gerges