LATERA Absorbable Nasal Implant

Providers

Zachary Cappello, MD Isaac Dingle, MD F. Brian Gibson, MD, FACS Adam R. Gigliotti, MD S. Brett Heavner, MD Hunter A. Hoover, MD Christopher T. Jones, MD, FACS Timothy J. Kelly, MD, FACS F.P. Johns Langford, MD, FACS Roy S. Lewis, MD Jonathan R. Moss, MD Sajeev K. Puri, MD Jamie Scaglione, MD Michael W. Sicard, MD Nicholas G. Stowell, MD Ross A. Udoff, MD

Nasal obstruction treatment in Charlotte, NC

CEENTA ENT doctors offer the LATERA Absorbable Nasal Implant for patients who suffer from nasal airway obstruction caused by outer nasal wall collapse, and therefore have difficulty with nasal breathing.

Schedule an Appointment with a CEENTA ENT doctor

What is nasal airway obstruction?

Nasal breathing delivers approximately 70 percent of air to the lungs. More than 20 million Americans are believed to suffer from nasal airway obstruction, which limits airflow through the nose. Symptoms may include difficulty breathing while exercising or resting, trouble sleeping, and reduced daytime productivity.

What causes nasal airway obstruction?

Nasal airway obstruction is a narrowing or blocking of the nasal passages. Blockages in three areas are common:

The lateral/side wall: the upper or lower cartilage in the side of the nose can flex or collapse inward when you breathe
Septum: the cartilage wall between the nostrils can bend and block the nasal passage
Turbinates: small structures in your nose that clean and humidify air as it passes through your nostrils. Enlarged turbinates can cause breathing difficulty

What does the LATERA nasal implant treat, and how does it work?

The implant is designed to treat a collapse of the lateral/side wall. It is placed inside the nose and supports the nasal wall, allowing air to pass through the nose and make nasal breathing easier.

Latera absorbable nasal implant for better nasal breathing

What is the procedure like?

The doctor will make a small, puncture-like incision and will slide the implant in using a needle-based delivery system. The whole procedure takes a few minutes. LATERA is much less invasive and traumatic than prior treatments.

Before LATERA, nasal valve collapse correction involved harvesting donor cartilage from another location, like the ear or nose, and surgically implanting it in the lateral wall of the nose.

The implant can be performed by itself under local anesthesia, or the procedure can be done simultaneously with nasal turbinate reduction. Alternatively, it can be performed under general anesthesia along with septal surgery.

When the LATERA procedure is done with no other treatments, there is minimal swelling and discomfort. Patients should be able to immediately return to their normal routine with clear nasal breathing.

CEENTA physicians offer the LATERA procedure in its North and South Carolina locations.