Nasal Obstruction

If you’re always feeling congested, relying on nasal sprays, or struggling to breathe through your nose, you’re likely dealing with nasal obstruction. It can be frustrating, exhausting, and even affect your sleep, focus, or sense of smell.

At Head & Neck Surgery of Kansas City, we take a closer look at what’s causing your blockage — whether it’s inflammation, a structural issue, or something else entirely. Once we understand the cause, we’ll work with you on a treatment plan that helps you breathe freely again.

If nasal congestion is part of your daily life, schedule an appointment today. Relief could be closer than you think.

Nasal obstruction can be constant or come and go. Common symptoms include:

• Difficulty breathing through one or both sides of the nose
• Chronic congestion or stuffiness
• Frequent mouth breathing
• Snoring or worsening sleep apnea
• Post-nasal drip or sinus pressure
• Loss of smell or reduced sense of taste
• Frequent use of decongestant sprays

We start with a detailed history and physical exam. To understand what’s causing your nasal obstruction, we may also recommend:

• Nasal endoscopy to examine the nasal passages and detect swelling, blockages, or anatomical issues
• CT scan to look for deeper sinus or structural problems like a deviated septum
• Discussion of symptom triggers, such as seasonal changes, medications, or previous infections

Your treatment plan will depend on the root cause of the blockage, whether it is structural, inflammatory, or both. We may recommend:

• Nasal steroid sprays or antihistamines to reduce inflammation and improve airflow
• Saline rinses or irrigation to flush out mucus and allergens
• Allergy treatment if seasonal or environmental triggers are a factor
• Septoplasty to correct a deviated septum that’s physically blocking airflow
• Polyp removal if nasal polyps are contributing to the obstruction
• Balloon sinus dilation to open narrow sinus pathways and relieve pressure
• Turbinate reduction to shrink swollen tissues that narrow your airway
• VivAer®, a non-invasive, in-office procedure that uses radiofrequency energy to gently remodel nasal tissue and improve airflow
• RhinAer, a non-invasive and low-temperature radiofrequency treatment to improve a runny nose and congestion. Learn more below.

Our goal is to help you breathe more easily, day and night.

Chronic rhinitis is common and often goes undiagnosed. Chronic rhinitis causes frequent runny nose, post-nasal drip, and congestion. People with chronic rhinitis often feel like their nose is stuffy or runny every day, even when it’s not allergy season. They may have what feels like constant post-nasal drip and a need to clear their throat, as well as nasal/throat itching, and sneezing.
​
While not life-threatening, chronic rhinitis can seriously impact your quality of life. Sufferers often feel dependent on medications that provide only temporary relief or rely on tissues and sprays to manage their symptoms. If you are one of the millions of people suffering from chronic rhinitis, you can now get lasting relief with a single, non-invasive RhinAer treatment performed right in our office.
​
How RhinAer works

Using low-temperature radiofrequency energy in its tip, RhinAer targets and calms overactive nerves, helping to reduce the production and flow of unwanted mucus. RhinAer can also help shrink inflamed tissue in your nose to help relieve congestion. Once the treatment is done, you can get on with your regular day with minimal downtime. The bonus: RhinAer is designed to treat both your runny nose AND your congestion.