Nasal Valve Surgery

Along with advancing age, the functions of the nasal valve structures which are located inside the nose and control the air intake may be damaged due to different reasons such as weakening of the nasal sidewall, facial trauma and previous nasal aesthetics. The person may suffer from chronic nasal obstruction in the event of the stenosis of the nasal valves and change in the angle formed by the nasal valves with the nasal septum.

What is Nasal Valve Stenosis?

Nasal valve stenosis is defined as the situation that the intranasal structures, which control air passage through the nose and are called nasal valve, become narrow in such a way to prevent healthy breathing.

If nasal valve stenosis, which manifests itself with different symptoms such as difficulty breathing through the nose, nasal obstruction, nasal passage obstruction, nosebleed, crusting around the nostrils and snoring, is not treated, it may negatively affect the general health of the person as well as the quality of life.

What are the Causes of Nasal Valve Stenosis?

“Nasal valve stenosis may develop either congenitally or later. One of the most common causes of nasal valve stenosis is the septum deviation, which we refer to as nasal septum deviation. In addition to septum deviation, I can say that nasal trauma and nasal aesthetic surgery may also cause nasal valve stenosis.”

Nasal valve stenosis may also occur due to hereditary anatomical features in people who have not previously been traumatized and had no nasal surgery. Nasal valve stenosis may be seen in a situation such as nasal septum losing its strength with advancing age.

Treatment of Nasal Valve Stenosis: Nasal Valve Surgery

We plan the treatment options to be applied to patients whose quality of life decreases due to nasal valve stenosis in line with the causes of nasal valve. We can combine surgical procedures in the scope of nasal valve obstruction treatment. As I always state, the success of the treatment is closely related to the planning of treatment according to the problems of the patients.

Nasal valve surgery can be performed with many techniques. One of the most common techniques is to support one or both of the nasal septum and alar wings with cartilage grafts. Nasal valve surgery performed under local or general anesthesia can be applied simultaneously with endoscopic sinus surgery, deviated septum surgery and concha bullosa surgery.

If combined treatment options are evaluated correctly, patients can get rid of chronic nasal obstruction and have a healthier and more comfortable life.