RhinAer® Procedure in Atlanta: Office Treatment for Chronic Rhinitis and Postnasal Drip

What is Chronic Rhinitis?

Chronic rhinitis results in a persistently runny nose and postnasal drip, congestion, coughing, itching and sneezing. While some symptoms may be related to allergies, symptoms from chronic rhinitis may occur all year. This challenging condition can negatively impact your life in countless ways. And trying to find an effective treatment can be frustrating. Like many, you may manage your symptoms using medications and sprays. For some patients, these treatments provide only partial or temporary relief. When that is the case, office-based treatment directed at the nerves that help regulate nasal secretions may be an option.

Symptoms of chronic rhinitis include:

• Persistently runny nose
• Post-nasal drip
• Nasal congestion
• Itching and sneezing

Office-Based Treatment Without Surgery or Incisions

If your nose is always runny, you may be one of the millions of people living with chronic rhinitis. For many patients, symptoms are driven in part by abnormal signals from the posterior nasal nerves, which are involved in the regulation of nasal secretions and congestion. The RhinAer® procedure uses temperature-controlled radiofrequency energy to target tissue containing branches of these nerves. It is performed in the office, without incisions, and patients typically return to normal activity on the next day.

How Effective Is RhinAer® Treatment?

Clinical studies, including randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews, have demonstrated meaningful improvement in chronic rhinitis symptoms and disease-specific quality of life in appropriately selected patients.¹

Long-term follow-up of the same trial has reported sustained symptom improvement at two and three years after treatment.^2,3

Although these findings are encouraging, treatment results vary. Some patients experience substantial improvement, while others may have more limited benefit or persistent symptoms requiring additional medical management.

RhinAer® does not cure allergies or correct structural causes of nasal obstruction, such as a deviated septum or nasal valve collapse. Determining whether the procedure is appropriate requires an individualized assessment of your symptoms, previous treatments and nasal examination findings.

Did You Know? Dr. Stolovitzky was the first author of the randomized controlled trial of this procedure (OTO Open, 2021) and of the three-year outcomes study (International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology, 2025), the longest follow-up published for RhinAer treatment.

Am I a Candidate for the RhinAer Treatment?

To find out, complete the Total Nasal Symptom Score questionnaire below.

If chronic runny nose, nasal congestion or postnasal drainage continues despite medical treatment, an evaluation can help determine whether posterior nasal nerve treatment or another approach may be appropriate. Call (404) 921-5474 or request an appointment online.

Frequently Asked Questions About the RhinAer® Procedure

What is the RhinAer procedure like?

RhinAer® is performed in the office under local anesthesia. A slim wand is placed inside the nose and delivers controlled, low-temperature radiofrequency energy to the area where branches of the posterior nasal nerve run. There are no incisions, and the treatment itself typically takes less than an hour.

What is recovery like?

Most patients return to normal activities the next day. Temporary nasal discomfort, crusting or congestion can occur in the first days to weeks after treatment. Symptom improvement is usually gradual over the following couple of months rather than immediate.

What are the possible side effects?

In the randomized trial and its long-term follow-up, no serious device-related adverse events were reported through three years.^1,3 As with any nasal procedure, temporary discomfort, minor bleeding or crusting are possible. Your individual risks will be reviewed with you before treatment.

Does RhinAer help postnasal drip and chronic cough?

In the long-term follow-up study, postnasal drip and cough scores improved significantly and the improvement was maintained at three years.³ Results vary, and an evaluation is needed to confirm that chronic rhinitis, rather than another condition, is the cause of these symptoms.

How long do the results last?

Published follow-up now extends to three years, with most treated patients maintaining a meaningful reduction in symptoms over that period.³ Longer-term durability beyond three years has not yet been studied.

Is RhinAer covered by insurance?

Coverage varies by insurance plan. Our office can help you check your benefits before scheduling the procedure.

Citations

^[1] Effect of Radiofrequency Neurolysis on the Symptoms of Chronic Rhinitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Stolovitzky JP, Ow RA, Silvers SL, et.al. American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. 2021; 5(3):1-7.

^[2] Takashima M, Stolovitzky JP, Ow RA, et al. Temperature-controlled radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of chronic rhinitis: Two-year outcomes from a prospective multicenter trial. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2024;14(7):1182-1194. doi:10.1002/alr.23315

^[3] Stolovitzky JP, Ow RA, Silvers SL, et al. 3-Year Outcomes of Temperature-Controlled Radiofrequency Ablation of the Posterior Nasal Nerve in Patients With Chronic Rhinitis. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2025;15(9):915-925. doi:10.1002/alr.23577