How VivAer® Stylus treats nasal airway obstruction (NAO)
VivAer® Stylus procedure is a convenient, in-office treatment designed to treat the underlying causes of nasal airway obstruction and improve nasal breathing. During treatment, your ENT physician uses the VivAer® Stylus to apply low-temperature radiofrequency technology to the areas of blockage inside your nasal airway, opening your nasal passages and improving airflow. Since VivAer® Stylus is non-invasive, for most patients, the treatment has minimal discomfort and once it’s finished, you can typically get right back to your normal daily activities. To learn more about how VivAer® Stylus works, please watch this video.
If you respond well to either breathing strips, nasal dilators, or the Cottle Maneuver or have a NOSE Score of 55 or higher you may be a good candidate for VivAer® Stylus treatment. However, given everyone’s needs and nasal anatomy are unique, the best way to find out if treatment can help is by scheduling a consultation with a local ENT physician. To find a local physician near you, click here. For additional information on who may not be a good candidate, please see the Patient Safety FAQs
In clinical studies, patients treated with VivAer® stylus demonstrated long-lasting results through the study duration of four years1. At four years, patients in the study were consistently satisfied with the results of their treatment:
- 96% of patients reported getting a better night’s sleep
- 96% of patients experienced significant improvement in nasal breathing
- 93% of patients improved their ability to get air through their nose during exercise or exertion
1Jacobowitz O, Ehmer D, Lanier B, Scurry W, Davis B. Long-term outcomes following repair of nasal valve collapse with temperature-controlled radiofrequency treatment for patients with nasal obstruction. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2022;1-5. https://doi.org/10.1002/alr.23019
Currently VivAer® Stylus is only available in the U.S. We hope to expand our availability in the future but are not able to provide more information at this time. To be notified of availability changes in your area, please join our mailing list.
While clinical trials have demonstrated results are long-lasting, we are continuing to measure the effectiveness of treatment over time to understand the full duration of treatment benefits.
Yes, VivAer® Stylus was cleared by the FDA in 2017.
VivAer® Stylus is indicated for adults, individuals 22 years of age and older.
What to expect from the VivAer® treatment
Once you and your ENT physician have decided that the VivAer® procedure is a suitable treatment option for your nasal airway obstruction, the path to relief is simple.
- Book an Appointment You book a convenient in-office treatment. There’s no need to have anyone bring you to or from your appointment and no pre-surgical restrictions on eating or drinking the day before.
- Prepare for Treatment Prior to treatment, your physician applies local anesthesia to numb the inside of your nose.
- Receive Treatment with VivAer® Stylus
Your physician applies low-temperature RF energy with the VivAer® Stylus to the areas of obstruction inside your nose. There’s minimal discomfort during the procedure. - Get Back to Your Day There is minimal discomfort with the treatment, and once it’s finished, you can soon get back to your daily life activities.*
- Enjoy Lasting Relief Patients treated with VivAer® Stylus has demonstrated lasting relief. Studies have shown continued relief at four years post treatment.1
*Individual results may vary
1Jacobowitz, O, Ehmer, D, Lanier, B, Scurry, W, Davis, B. Long-term outcomes following repair of nasal valve collapse with temperature-controlled radiofrequency treatment for patients with nasal obstruction. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2022; 1- 5.
After VivAer® treatment, most patients return to normal daily activities with minimal to no downtime.
Recovery time is variable, it is common to experience temporary congestion, increased sensitivity and crusting at the treatment site for 2 weeks however these symptoms can last up to 6 weeks following treatment (this is a sign that your nasal passage is healing).
Please follow your ENT physician’s post-care instructions as directed, including:
- If you need to blow your nose, do so gently
- Do not pinch or manipulate the treatment area
- Use recommended nasal sprays/rinses and any ointments as directed
One of the benefits of VivAer® treatment is that it’s non-invasive so most patients experience little to no discomfort during treatment. For your comfort, your ENT physician will apply local anesthesia to numb the inside of the nose prior to treatment. After treatment patients typically get right back to their normal daily activities with minimal to no downtime.
The VivAer® Stylus treatment can be conveniently and safely done right in an ENT physician’s office. Some physicians may also choose to use VivAer® Stylus in an outpatient surgical center or hospital setting.
Some patients respond well to over-the-counter relief measures (medications, nasal strips, nasal sprays, etc.) and some can benefit from surgery. However, over-the-counter relief measures might only offer temporary relief, and surgery isn’t always the best option for every patient. With VivAer® Stylus, patients can achieve significant, lasting relief in one non-invasive treatment.
The temperature-controlled radiofrequency technology for the VivAer® Stylus and RhinAer® Stylus devices may be similar; however, they are used for treating different nasal conditions. VivAer® Stylus is used to treat nasal airway obstruction that may be due to nasal valve collapse and inferior turbinate swelling or other nasal conditions. RhinAer® Stylus is used to disrupt the posterior nasal nerve which can cause chronic rhinitis symptoms such as a runny nose, post-nasal drip and chronic cough.
Discuss all medications you’re currently taking with your physician, including any medical conditions you may have. To find a local physician near you, click here.
Patient Safety Information
As with any medical treatment, there are potential risks associated with VivAer® treatment. Given everyone’s needs, medical history, and nasal anatomy are unique, we recommend scheduling a consultation with a local ENT physician who can assess your symptoms, provide personalized guidance on whether VivAer® treatment is right for you and share any potential risks. To find a local physician near you, click here.
Common side effects related to the use of radiofrequency energy on tissue in the nose include mild bleeding, redness, temporary swelling, temporary numbness/tingling at the treatment area, temporary soreness/pain, blanching (white appearance of tissue), disruption of mucus such as crusting, changes to the nasal membrane (the lining of the nasal cavity), sensory changes (smell) at treatment site, bruising including around the eye(s) (black eyes).
Less common side effects may include infection, severe bleeding, scar formation at the treatment site with increased obstruction, and change in external shape or appearance of the nose.
VivAer® Stylus is not for use in:
- Patients who have had nasal surgery within the last 3 months.
- Patients with extreme nasal pathology or a history of extreme nasal injuries.
- Patients with medical conditions that may impair normal healing processes or be exacerbated by the stress of surgery.
For additional information, please see the Important Safety Information.
Insurance
VivAer® Stylus is covered by Medicare, many Medicare Advantage plans, and Medicaid in many states. To better understand your coverage details we recommend asking your provider to run a benefit investigation. To find a local physician near you, click here.
VivAer® Stylus is covered by some private insurance plans, but as all plans differ, we recommend consulting with your physician and/or your insurance provider to verify insurance benefits prior to treatment. To find a local physician near you, click here.
Treatment costs are determined by an ENT physician based on factors such as the complexity of your case, insurance coverage, and more. The best way to find out treatment costs is by scheduling a consultation with a local ENT physician. To find a local physician near you, click here.
VivAer® Stylus is eligible for reimbursement with a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), or a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA). Note, that FSAs, HRAs and other account types listed may not all be the same. Be sure to check with your administrator to confirm if something is eligible.
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