This is an innovative procedure which is now being offered in the UK, for patients who have difficulty in breathing due to weakness of the nasal valve.

What is the nasal valve?

The nasal valve is an area on the side wall of the nose. It is the softer part of the nose just below the firmer nasal bones above. When this area becomes weak, the nose has a tendency to collapse inwards when you breathe in. Sometimes you can see this on the outside of the nose by the nose collapsing; at other times the collapse is purely internal. This can cause a feeling of nasal blockage and congestion.

What causes nasal valve weakness?

The nasal valve can become weak following an injury or trauma to the nose, occasionally following previous nasal surgery although in many cases it is a hereditary feature. It also tends to get worse as you get older. Very rarely, a facial nerve weakness can also cause nasal side wall collapse and a weak nasal valve.

What is the LateraTM implant?

LateraTM is an injectable implant that can be inserted under a local anaesthetic, through a small incision just within the nostril margin. It is bioabsorbable, meaning that it will eventually dissolve fully in time, usually by about 18-24 months. By this time, the implant has created a pocket of scar tissue around it that continues to strengthen the side wall of the nose and provide resistance to collapse even after the LateraTM implant has disappeared.

Advantages/disadvantages of LateraTM over other types of nasal valve surgery:

The main advantages of LateraTM are:

  • It can be undertaken under a local anaesthetic, unlike for the other surgical procedures
  • It is also the least invasive of all of the surgical options, taking significantly less surgical time than the other methods above, and not requiring any donor site surgery. It therefore has the least associated side effects and possible complications
  • Recovery is faster and downtime from work and social commitments are very much reduced compared with the existing surgical operations
  • There is good evidence that once the implant dissolves after 18-24 months, the natural stiffness of the side of the nose caused by scar tissue maintains the benefit of the Latera implant surgery and in most cases no further implants need to be inserted, although this does remain a possibility if required for an individual patient
  • The implant can be removed and the procedure reversed at any stage if clinically needed
  • Having this implant also does not prevent you undergoing any other nasal procedure for the nasal valve if required
  • Finally, being able to undergo this procedure under a local anaesthetic means that your risk of developing a hospital acquired infection or other viral illnesses (including COVID) is much reduced.

What does the operation involve for LateraTM?

The operation is usually performed under a local anaesthetic. The surgery involves a small incision just inside the nostril margin, through which fine scissors are used to create a narrow tunnel which runs from the edge of the nostril (where the incision is) up to about three-quarters of the way up the side wall of the nose. The tunnel is fashioned to be of the correct size that will allow the Latera implant to fit snugly. Once the pocket has been created, the implant is carefully inserted into the tunnel and secured in place. The skin incision is then closed with an absorbable stitch. The operation usually takes between 15-30 minutes per side.

A note on the Latera implant and accreditation:

The Latera implant has been in use in the USA for several years, having been used in hundreds of patients with excellent results. It has approval from the US authorities, as well as EU accreditation and CE marking in the UK. It has been submitted for review to The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE), although this process takes some time to complete. However the evidence available for Latera suggests few complications or problems and excellent improvements in patient’s nasal symptoms.