VivAer® for Nasal Airway Obstruction

Clear Your Nasal Passages – Without Surgery

If your nasal passageways are obstructed and you find it difficult to breathe through your nose, we have a quick and easy non-surgical solution for you to consider.

Cleared by the FDA, the VivAer® procedure uses targeted, low-temperature radiofrequency energy to gently reshape tissue inside the nasal passageway. This opens up your airway for easier breathing. Best of all, this method does not involve a surgical incision, and it does not pose the risks associated with undergoing general anesthesia. Nor does it involve an extended recovery period as is typical after surgery.

At Austin ENT Clinic, we are proud to offer our patients VivAer: a safe and effective in-office procedure that can restore your ability to breathe without difficulty.

Are You a Candidate for the VivAer Procedure?

Do you suffer from chronic nasal congestion (stuffiness), or find it difficult to breathe through your nose – especially during exertion? Do you snore or have trouble sleeping? If so, you may have a nasal airway obstruction. The best way to identify whether you’re a candidate for the minimally invasive, in-office VivAer procedure is to consult your ENT physician at Austin ENT Clinic.

You can also perform a self-test called Cottle’s maneuver, which can help identify whether a nasal obstruction is located in the nasal valve area. This is the area that is treated with the VivAer procedure. To try this now, simply:

1. Place two fingertips on your cheeks, at the sides of your nose
2. Gently press down and outward (toward your ears)

Do you find it easier to breathe during the second step? If so, VivAer may help relieve your nasal airway obstruction and restore through-the-nose breathing.

Traditional Treatments for Nasal Obstructions

Traditionally, patients have been prescribed medications in the form of nasal steroid sprays to decrease tissue inflammation in the nasal passageways that may have been obstructing their ability to breathe freely. When a patient’s symptoms of nasal obstruction became severe or otherwise unbearable, surgery was often the next step.

The type of surgery performed depends on the reason for the obstruction. For example, surgery can reduce the size of swollen turbinates (which filter and warm the air we breathe), remove polyps, repair a deviated septum, or address issues in the nasal valve area.

How the VivAer Procedure Works

The VivAer procedure clears obstructions in the nasal valve area, which is the area at the middle of your nose above the nasal openings. Most instances of nasal airway obstruction occur in this area.

In a VivAer treatment, your ENT doctor uses a specialized wand to deploy radiofrequency energy to shrink turbinate tissue or other soft tissue that is causing an obstruction. This treatment creates a larger nasal valve area, thereby allowing better airflow and easier breathing through your nose.

Best of all, because the wand is inserted through a nostril, no surgical incisions are necessary. Local anesthesia is used in order to temporarily numb the area, so there is minimal discomfort involved during the brief, in-office procedure.

Benefits of the VivAer Procedure

This clinically proven treatment can provide a host of lasting benefits for patients with nasal airway obstruction, including:

• Improved ability to breathe – even during exercise
• Improved quality of sleep

Most patients report an immediate improvement in their nasal breathing after the procedure.

Schedule Your Nonsurgical Treatment for Nasal Airway Obstruction

If you have difficulty breathing through your nose and think you may have a nasal airway obstruction, surgery is not your only option! Find out if you’re a candidate for the minimally invasive VivAer procedure. This is performed quickly and easily right here in the Austin ENT Clinic. Call us at (512) 381-2850 for more information or request an appointment now.