Nasal obstructions are blockages of the nasal cavity that impede airflow in and out of the nose. While some causes of this condition may be temporary, others such as lateral wall or nasal valve collapse require a long term solution.
LATERA is a novel nasal implant that may reduce nasal airway obstruction symptoms by supporting the upper and lower cartilage inside the wall of your nose.
What is LATERA?
LATERA® is an absorbable nasal implant used to support the upper and lower cartilage inside the lateral (side) wall of your nose. Supporting the cartilage may reduce nasal airway obstruction symptoms and help you breathe better.1 The implant is placed inside the nasal wall by an ear, nose, and throat specialist. Dr. Stolovitzky was one of the National Principal Investigators in charge of the LATERA clinical trials. Ask him if LATERA could be right for you.
Does LATERA Work?
LATERA provided significant quality of life improvements. Two years following the procedure, patients surveyed report a significant reduction in their nasal obstruction symptoms.
A 2017 clinical study2 showed that LATERA patients experienced:
- Reduced nasal congestion or stuffiness
- Less trouble breathing through the nose
- Improved ability to get enough air through the nose during exercise or exertion
- Reduced nasal blockage or obstruction
- Less trouble sleeping
Are There Risks?
Like any procedure, LATERA comes with risks. Patients may experience temporary symptoms such as mild bruising and inflammation, awareness of the implant and mild pain or irritation. Other risks include discomfort, infection, reaction to material and need for the device to be removed.
Patients experience no long-term adverse cosmetic changes with the LATERA implant.
Call Dr. Stolovitzky at (404) 921-5474 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
Citations
[1, 2] Assessment of bioabsorbable implant treatment for nasal valve collapse compared to a sham group: a randomized control trial. Stolovitzky P, Senior B, Ow RA, et.al. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2019 Aug;9(8):850-856.
[3] Long-Term Follow-up from the Treatment and Crossover Arms of a Randomized Controlled Trial of an Absorbable Nasal Implant for Dynamic Nasal Valve Collapse Bikhazi, N. Ow, R., O’Malley, E., Perkins, N., Sidle, D., Stolovitzky, P. Facial Plast Surg 2021 Link to Publication
[4] Bioabsorbable Implant for Treatment of Nasal Valve Collapse with or without Concomitant Procedures Douglas M. Sidle, MD Pablo Stolovitzky, MD Ellen M. O’Malley, MS Randall A. Ow, MD, Nathan E. Nachlas, MD Stacey Silvers, MD, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Facial Plast Surg 2021 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1726464
