Nasal Valve Repair
Many people who suffer from conditions such as headaches, congestion, sinus pressure, snoring and sleep apnea may not realize it, but they could be experiencing these health issues due to a weakness in the nasal valve area of their nose. Such a small area of the human body can be responsible for creating a lower quality of life for individuals who have to deal with the chronic stress of this type of breathing disorder.
What is the Nasal Valve?
In 1903, the nasal valve was first described by a man named Mink. It consists of an internal portion and an external portion and is the thinnest part of the nasal passage that handles all of the airflow taken into the body through the nose. The nasal septum helps form the nasal valve area.
What Goes Wrong?
Various causes can contribute to weakened or compromised nasal valves. Some children are born with a flawed nasal valve from a birth defect. In adults, aging and gravity can take a toll by producing a loss of ligament support. Additionally, a botched surgical procedure could result in a faulty nasal valve if, for example, more cartilage than necessary was removed during a rhinoplasty surgery.
Occasionally, one may see an athlete sporting a strip across his nose to help with air intake during a game. It is possible that an injury to his nose forced the athlete to seek a way to temporarily aid his breathing. The sidewalls of his nostrils may actually collapse when he breathes making it necessary for him to use the adhesive strip to help hold his nostrils open. Other temporary means of improving one’s breathing include the use of nasal sprays or steroids or allergy medications. None of these offer a permanent solution, though, and can lead to complications from unwanted side effects.
What Kind of Help is Available?
Impairments from defective nasal valves often cause cosmetic abnormalities to the outside of the nose. Because many patients with nasal valve defects also need some reconstructive work done on the external framework of their nose, it is common for patients to elect to have surgery to correct both issues at the same time. The surgeon can rebuild the nose, often using a cartilage graft to give the needed structural support.
Dr. Kapil Saigal has a goal of helping his patients achieve natural-looking, pleasing results by starting with the most thorough and informative consultation possible. This begins with a discussion of the patient’s medical history and then covers the patient’s expectations and the optimal surgical plan. It is important to Dr. Saigal that each patient knows that the doctor and his staff want the patient to feel comfortable and to thoroughly understand all options and every procedure that will take place. Dr. Saigal wants to help ensure the speediest recovery possible with no compromise in safety. He wants his patients to find the relief they seek and an end to chronic breathing problems.