Nasal Valve Surgery

Nasal obstruction, or a stuffy nose, can make breathing difficult and even disrupt sleep. It can also impact your quality of life by making exercising or participating in other activities hard.

If you have a chronic nasal obstruction that isn’t helped by medications or other conservative treatments, nasal valve surgery may be an option.

What is a Nasal Valve?

The nasal valve is positioned where the bony and cartilaginous portions of the nose meet, serving as the most constricted area within the nasal air pathway.

It plays a crucial role in nasal breathing. The valve widens when you inhale and narrows slightly when you exhale.

This helps to regulate airflow, humidify the air you breathe, and filter out dust and other particles.

Nasal Valve Collapse

A nasal valve collapse narrows the airway within your nose, obstructing airflow. This vital passage, responsible for filtering inhaled air, extends from the middle to the base of the nose.

Breathing becomes labored, and the nose may appear thinner or sunken. While not always evident, this condition significantly hampers comfortable breathing and impacts daily life.

Types of Nasal Valve Collapse

Nasal valve collapse manifests in two primary forms:

Internal

The more prevalent type is the internal nasal valve, situated centrally within the nasal cavity.

External

The external nasal valve near the nostrils is less common but more visually apparent. While internal collapse affects airflow through the middle of the nose, external collapse visibly impacts nostril function during inhalation.

Nasal valve collapse symptoms

Nasal valve symptoms include:

Breathing difficulty exacerbated by exertion or reclining.
Nasal valve collapse impedes nostril breathing.
Nasal congestion (stuffy nose).
Daytime mouth breathing and nighttime snoring occur.
External nasal valve collapse can alter nasal appearance.

Common causes

Most common causes of nasal valve collapse encompass various aspects of nasal anatomy and medical history:

Deviated Septum: A crooked or bent septum, dividing the nasal valve unevenly, is a prevalent risk factor often accompanying nasal valve collapse.
Inherent Nasal Structure: Natural characteristics like narrow nostrils, a widened columella, or an over-projecting nose may predispose individuals to nasal collapse.
Rhinoplasty: Following nose surgery, particularly rhinoplasty, there's a risk of nasal valve collapse depending on the case, especially if a potential risk is not addressed during the surgery.
Aging: With age, the supportive tissue of the nasal valve may weaken, increasing susceptibility to collapse.
Injury: Trauma to the nasal bones and tissues can compromise their structural integrity, contributing to nasal valve collapse.

Diagnosis and Tests

Diagnosing nasal valve collapse involves a comprehensive assessment by a healthcare professional.

The process typically starts with thoroughly examining your medical background and symptoms, frequently incorporating the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) questionnaire to assess the intensity of your symptoms and their influence on your everyday activities.

During a physical examination, Dr. Escobar provider carefully examines your nose and throat, employing various tests to assess nasal function and structure.

Diagnostic tests for nasal valve collapse may include:

By widening the nasal valve temporarily, they can identify areas of collapse and assess their severity.

Nasal Valve Collapse Treatment/Nasal Obstruction Surgery in Dubai

If you are experiencing chronic nasal obstruction and suspect you may have nasal valve collapse, Dr. Paulo A. Escobar can help.

Dr. Paulo A. Escobar is a leading (ENT) specialist in Dubai with extensive experience in diagnosing and treating nasal valve problems.

Nasal Valve Repair

Nasal valve repair is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that can improve airflow through your nose.

The type of surgery will depend on the cause and severity of your nasal valve collapse. Some standard methods include:

Grafting: Cartilage or bone is harvested from another body part and inserted into the nose to widen the nasal valve. Standard techniques include the Alar Batten graft, which utilizes extra cartilage tissue to support and stabilize the nasal valve.
Nasal valve reconstruction: This is a more complex procedure involving grafting and other reconstructive techniques aimed at selected cases where the nasal valve is strengthened and reshaped to improve its function.
Septoplasty: Corrects a deviated septum, which can obstruct airflow through the nasal passages.
Turbinate reduction: Decreases the size of the turbinate, and the bony structures inside the nose may impede airflow when they enlarge.

These surgical procedures are tailored to everyone’s needs and aim to improve nasal function and relieve symptoms associated with nasal valve collapse.

Nasal valve collapse treatment without surgery

In selected cases, nasal valve insufficiency may initially be managed conservatively with the use of medications such as different types of nasal sprays, including steroid sprays, decongestants, and hypertonic saline solution. In other cases, there are devices available that can help increase the airflow through the valve, such as adhesive strips or intranasal devices. However, these do not address any underlying causes of the problem, and upon discontinuation, the patient may experience a return of breathing difficulty.

Benefits of Nasal Valve Surgery

Nasal valve surgery can offer several benefits, including:

Improved nasal breathing
Reduced nasal congestion
Better sleep quality
Improved sense of smell
Reduced facial pain and pressure
Fewer sinus infections

What to Expect After Nasal Valve Surgery?

Nasal valve surgery is typically performed on an outpatient basis.

Following surgery, it’s common to experience swelling and minor discomfort, which can typically be alleviated with appropriate medication within the next 7 days.

You must avoid strenuous activity for a few weeks and take care of your nose as it heals.

As a member of the International Federation of Facial Plastic Surgery and the European Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery, you can trust that you are in expert hands with Dr Paulo A. Escobar. He is a distinguished ENT Specialist and Plastic Surgeon with over 15 years of experience.

Consultation with Dr. Paulo A. Escobar for Nasal obstruction surgery in Dubai

If you are considering nasal valve surgery in Dubai, schedule a consultation with Dr. Paulo A. Escobar.

Dr. Escobar will discuss your symptoms and medical history and thoroughly examine your nose.

He will discuss the available treatment options with you and assist in determining whether nasal valve surgery suits your condition.

Book an appointment now.

Nasal Valve Surgery