LATERA® Nasal Implant for Nasal Valve Collapse

A minimally invasive implant that restores structural support to the nasal sidewall — improving breathing, enhancing sleep, and supporting easier exercise.

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If you struggle to breathe freely through your nose — particularly during exercise, exertion, or when lying down at night — but cannot find relief from sprays, drops, or medication, the cause may be structural rather than inflammatory. A condition called nasal valve collapse is one of the most common yet most frequently missed causes of nasal obstruction in adults, and it does not respond to antihistamines, steroids, or decongestants.

LATERA is an absorbable nasal implant designed specifically for this condition. Placed through a small keyhole incision under local anaesthesia — in a procedure that takes around 30 minutes — it provides immediate and durable structural support to the cartilages of the lateral nasal wall, preventing them from collapsing inward during breathing. No external scarring. No change to the shape or appearance of the nose. And no general anaesthetic required.

What is nasal valve collapse — and could it be the cause of your blocked nose?

The nasal valve is the narrowest point of the entire nasal airway — a small but critical area just inside the nostril responsible for controlling the flow of air into the nose. It is supported by the upper and lower lateral cartilages of the nasal sidewall. In patients with nasal valve collapse, these cartilages are insufficiently rigid: when you breathe in, the reduced air pressure created by inhalation pulls the sidewall inward, partially or fully collapsing the nasal valve and restricting airflow.

Nasal valve collapse is as common as a deviated septum as a cause of nasal obstruction, yet it is frequently overlooked — in part because it is invisible on a standard nasal examination and can be masked by other concurrent conditions. Many patients spend years receiving treatment for allergies, rhinitis, or sinusitis that delivers little benefit, because the underlying structural problem has never been identified.

Recognising the symptoms

Nasal valve collapse produces a distinctive pattern of symptoms that distinguishes it from other causes of nasal obstruction. Common signs include:

The sensation that the side of the nose is being "sucked in" or collapsing when you breathe in deeply
Marked difficulty breathing through the nose during exercise, exertion, or physical activity
Nasal obstruction that is worse when lying down, particularly at night
Persistent nasal congestion that does not respond to antihistamines, nasal sprays, or decongestants
Chronic snoring worsened by nasal obstruction
Reliance on nasal dilator strips (such as Breathe Right®) to breathe comfortably at night or during exercise
Reduced sleep quality and disturbed breathing during sleep

The Cottle manoeuvre — a simple self-test

There is a straightforward self-test that can help identify whether nasal valve collapse is contributing to your nasal obstruction. Known as the Cottle manoeuvre, it is performed as follows:

Place one or two fingertips gently against the side of your nose, just below the cheekbone.
Gently pull the cheek outward and slightly upward — widening the nasal valve on that side.
Breathe in through your nose and notice whether your breathing improves on that side.

If you notice a clear and immediate improvement in nasal airflow when you perform this manoeuvre — the sensation of being able to breathe more freely through the nose on that side — this is known as a positive Cottle's sign and is a strong indicator of nasal valve collapse. The same principle underlies the temporary benefit many patients get from Breathe Right® strips or nasal dilators: by mechanically opening the nasal valve from the outside, they bypass the collapsed cartilage.

LATERA achieves the same effect from within — permanently and without any external device.

Why nasal strips are not enough

Many patients with nasal valve collapse discover, by trial and error, that nasal dilator strips or external nasal splints bring noticeable relief — particularly at night or during exercise. If you have found yourself relying on these products to breathe comfortably, you have already identified the site of your obstruction. The strip is holding open what your cartilage cannot.

But nasal strips are a workaround, not a solution. They need to be worn every night. They can come loose during sleep. They are impractical during exercise. And they do nothing to address the underlying structural weakness in the nasal sidewall. LATERA does.

LATERA and breathing during exercise

Nasal breathing during exercise is physiologically important — the nose filters, warms, and humidifies the air before it reaches the lungs, and produces nitric oxide that supports oxygen transfer and cardiovascular function. When nasal valve collapse restricts airflow during exertion, the body defaults to mouth breathing: faster, drier, and less efficient. For many patients with nasal valve collapse, difficulty breathing through the nose during exercise is the primary — and most debilitating — symptom.

Runners, cyclists, swimmers, gym users, and patients pursuing active lifestyles frequently describe reaching a ceiling of physical effort beyond which nasal breathing simply is not possible. Some have come to accept this limitation as “normal”, or attribute it to fitness level rather than anatomy. Others use Breathe Right strips during exercise — noticing immediate improvement that confirms the structural nature of the problem.

LATERA directly addresses this limitation. By providing structural support to the nasal sidewall, it reduces or eliminates the dynamic collapse that restricts nasal airflow during exertion — allowing many patients to breathe nasally through exercise for the first time in years.

LATERA and sleep — breathing, snoring, and OSA

Nasal obstruction and sleep quality are closely linked. When nasal airflow is restricted by valve collapse, the body is more likely to switch to mouth breathing during sleep — a contributing factor to snoring, dry mouth, unrefreshing sleep, and in some patients, obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).

For patients with OSA who use CPAP therapy, nasal valve collapse can significantly impair mask tolerance — forcing patients to use a full face mask rather than a more comfortable nasal mask, or making CPAP adherence difficult altogether. Improving nasal airflow with LATERA can directly improve CPAP comfort and compliance.

If nasal obstruction is contributing to your snoring or sleep quality, LATERA can be considered as part of a broader sleep health treatment plan at Hillser Clinic — alongside assessment for OSA, palate procedures, or other targeted interventions.

How LATERA works

The LATERA implant is a small, slender rod made from a bioabsorbable polymer — the same family of materials used widely across reconstructive and orthopaedic medicine. It is placed inside the lateral nasal wall through a small incision just inside the nostril, positioned to provide cantilever support to both the upper and lower lateral cartilages. By reinforcing the cartilage from within, it prevents the inward collapse that restricts airflow during breathing.

What makes LATERA distinctive is its mechanism of long-term action. Over approximately 18 months, the implant is gradually absorbed by the body. As it resorbs, the surrounding tissue responds by forming a fibrous tissue scaffold — a natural collagen structure that takes the place of the implant and continues to provide structural support to the nasal sidewall long after the implant itself has gone.

The result is sustained, durable improvement in nasal breathing — not just for the life of the implant, but beyond it. In clinical studies, patients continued to show significant improvement in nasal obstruction symptoms years after implant placement.

LATERA does not alter the shape, width, or external appearance of the nose. The implant is entirely internal, and over 90% of patients reported no cosmetic change to the appearance of their nose following the procedure.

Is LATERA right for you?

You may be a candidate for the LATERA implant if you experience any of the following:

Persistent nasal obstruction that does not improve with antihistamines, nasal sprays, or decongestants
Difficulty breathing through the nose during exercise, sport, or physical exertion
Nasal congestion that is worse at night, affecting your sleep quality or contributing to snoring
A positive Cottle's manoeuvre — noticeably improved nasal airflow when gently pulling the cheek outward
Regular use of Breathe Right strips or nasal dilators to breathe comfortably at night or during activity
Nasal obstruction that is contributing to mouth breathing, dry mouth, or poor CPAP mask tolerance
A desire to address the functional component of nasal obstruction without full rhinoplasty surgery
Patients considering rhinoplasty who wish to address nasal valve collapse alongside cosmetic reshaping

LATERA is not suitable for all causes of nasal obstruction. Conditions such as a deviated septum, turbinate hypertrophy, nasal polyps, or chronic sinusitis may also need to be addressed — either alongside the implant or as an alternative treatment. Your consultant will carry out a full functional nasal assessment to identify all contributing causes and recommend the most appropriate combination of treatments..

What to expect

LATERA is performed as an in-clinic or day-case procedure under local anaesthesia. No general anaesthetic is required, and most patients return to normal activities the same day or the following day.

The inside of the nose is numbed with a local anaesthetic to ensure you are comfortable throughout.
Using a slim cannula delivery device, the LATERA implant is guided into position along the lateral nasal wall, anchored to provide optimal cantilever support.
The procedure is repeated on the opposite side if both nasal valves require treatment.
The appointment is complete. Most procedures take approximately 30 minutes.

Recovery is generally mild. Patients may notice some swelling, mild discomfort, or awareness of the implant in the first two to three weeks — all of which resolve as the implant settles into position. Most patients notice a clear improvement in nasal breathing within the first few weeks following the procedure, with ongoing benefit as the fibrous scaffold continues to mature over the months that follow.

Individual factors including the degree of lateral wall insufficiency, nasal anatomy, the presence of concurrent structural conditions (such as a deviated septum or turbinate hypertrophy), and overall nasal airflow assessment all influence suitability and the approach taken — each of these is evaluated carefully at consultation.

Why choose Hillser Clinic?

Consultant-led expertise – LATERA is placed by senior rhinologist ENT consultants, with specific expertise in functional nasal assessment, nasal valve diagnosis, and structural nasal treatments.

Advanced techniques – A precise, anatomy-guided implant procedure with a well-established safety profile — performed in around 30 minutes with no general anaesthesia and minimal recovery time.

Integrated care – LATERA can be combined with septoplasty, turbinate reduction, ClariFix cryotherapy, or sleep treatments as part of a comprehensive nasal and airway care plan.

Safety and clinical excellence – procedures carried out at leading hospitals in London and the South East, ensuring safe and convenient care for patients from a wide area.

FAQs

No. The LATERA implant is placed entirely inside the nasal wall and is not visible externally. It does not alter the shape, width, or appearance of the nose in any way.
The LATERA implant is gradually absorbed by the body over approximately 18 months. As it resorbs, the body forms a fibrous tissue scaffold that continues to support the nasal cartilages after the implant is gone.
Yes. LATERA can be placed as a standalone in-clinic procedure under local anaesthesia, or performed simultaneously with septoplasty, turbinate reduction, or rhinoplasty under general anaesthesia when multiple structural issues require treatment. Your consultant will advise the most appropriate approach based on your assessment findings.

It is a strong indicator. If nasal dilator strips provide you with noticeable improvement in nasal breathing, this suggests the site of your obstruction is at the nasal valve — precisely the area LATERA addresses. A positive Cottle's manoeuvre further supports this. Your consultant will confirm the diagnosis with a full functional nasal assessment at consultation.
LATERA is primarily available as a private procedure in the UK. It is not routinely offered on the NHS, where access to nasal airway procedures is generally limited and subject to strict criteria.
We typically offer consultations within a few days of enquiry. Please contact us via the website or by email to check current availability.

If difficulty breathing through your nose is limiting your quality of life, and you have not found adequate relief through medication, the cause may be structural. A specialist assessment will identify whether nasal valve collapse is contributing to your symptoms and whether LATERA® is the right solution.

Book your consultation today with Hillser Clinic and take the first step towards better breathing.