Do you suffer from nasal congestion that hasn’t responded well to medication? Are you looking for a solution that doesn’t involve surgery? VivAer may be an option that will provide you with the relief you need with a non-invasive office-friendly treatment now offered at Chicago ENT.
What is VivAer?
VivAer is a non-invasive procedure that helps reduce nasal airway obstruction (NAO) in patients struggling to breathe. VivAer treatment delivers long-lasting relief from the frustrating symptoms that come with nasal airway obstruction, like congestion, reduced airflow, finding it challenging to exercise, difficulty sleeping, or frequent mouth breathing.
How Does VivAer Work?
During a VivAer treatment at Chicago ENT, your ENT specialist will begin by applying anesthesia to numb the inside of your nose. After numbing your nose, they insert a small wand into your nostril.
The wand precisely and accurately targets the blockage to treat it efficiently. The tip of the wand uses low-temperature radiofrequency (RF) energy.
Radiofrequency energy helps rebuild your nasal passage in any areas of obstruction to improve airflow in and out of your nose. VivAer is a single-solution, minimally invasive procedure that treats the entire nasal valve.
It increases nasal valve radius to improve airflow and shrinks the inferior turbinate submucosal tissue while reducing soft tissue obstruction on the septum. During VivAer, you will experience minimal discomfort.
There is no lengthy recovery period, allowing you to return to your usual routine almost immediately.
Is VivAer Treatment Long Lasting?
Yes. Clinical studies have shown that after receiving VivAer, patients continued experiencing relief four years after treatment. In a follow-up study, patients experienced improvements across a broad set of quality of life (QOL) measures.
On the NOSE Scale (nasal congestion, nasal blockages, difficulty breathing, trouble sleeping, and inability to get enough air while exercising), patients saw improvements across all 5 QOL measures.
Am I a Good Candidate for VivAer?
Do you struggle with congestion that over-the-counter medications haven’t helped? Have you undergone other surgical procedures to improve your breathing without success?
The only way to know if you’re a good candidate for VivAer is to schedule an appointment at Chicago ENT. However, you can take two simple tests in the meantime to get a better understanding.
Cottle’s Maneuver
For this test, start by placing two fingertips on your cheeks. Your fingertips should be on each side of your nose. Next, gently press and pull out to further open your nasal passages.
While continuing to hold your fingers in place, breathe through your nose. Did doing the Cottle’s Maneuver help you improve your breathing? If this is the case, you may be a good candidate for VivAer.
NOSE Score
Fill out the NOSE Score to determine if you may benefit from VivAer treatment. If you have a NOSE Score of 55 or higher, this indicates that you have moderate to severe nasal airway obstruction. Patients with this level of obstruction are often excellent candidates for VivAer.
Are you ready to start breathing better? Schedule an appointment at Chicago ENT at one of our five convenient locations to learn more about VivAer, and if it’s a treatment you may benefit from.
