What is a Nasal Valve Collapse?
Nasal valve collapse, also called nasal valve stenosis or nasal vestibular stenosis, refers to a narrowing or weakening in the front part of the nasal airway. This area includes both the external nasal valve (the outer part of the nostrils) and the internal nasal valve, which lies between the septum and the side wall of the nose. When either area becomes too narrow or collapses inward during breathing, airflow becomes restricted. This condition can be congenital (present from birth), related to trauma or scarring, or even cleft lip/palate deformities.
Common Symptoms:
- Difficulty Breathing Through the Nose
- Congestion
- Your breathing worsens with deep inhalation during activity or at night.
- An Obstruction of the Nasal Passage
- Nasal Bleediing
- Crusting Around the Nostrils
- Snoring
In this video, Dr. Peter Jay Abramson goes into detail about nasal valve collapse:
Nasal valve collapse is a weakness or narrowing of the nasal valve. It is commonly treated with Rhinoplasty surgery.
One of the things that patients may or may not be aware of in terms of the nasal airway is something called the nasal valve. It is actually as described, when you take a deep breath in, and the side wall of the nose comes in and collapses down, or is compromised.
This can be created, actually, by an obstruction on the other side, or a lack of support on the side of the nose that’s collapsing in. In fact, the more air that flows through, the more the side wall of the nose will be compromised or come in towards the inside of the nose or towards the septum, which is the divider between the two sides of the nose.
Think of it this way: if you’re in the shower with a hanging shower curtain, the higher you turn up the shower, the more that shower curtain will come in towards you. And that’s a very similar physics principle that happens inside the nose in terms of aerodynamics.
There are multiple ways to help fix this. The most important thing is an adequate, and excellent physical examination to determine why this is occurring, and how best to treat the patient, and get the best success rate.
If you have compromised breathing because of nassal obstruction, it may be time to explore whether nasal valve collapse is the issue. Dr. Peter Abramson is an Ent and rhinoplasty specialist. Contact Abramson Facial Plastic Surgery today to get started on a path to treatment.
