The nasal valve area is the narrowest part of the nasal airway. The nasal valve area is the region between the nasal septum and the side of the nose. Nasal valve collapse is a sometimes subtle, sometimes obvious site of nasal obstruction. It can be a stand-alone problem causing nasal obstruction, or more often is a contributing factor along with other causes of nasal obstruction such as deviated septum and/or turbinate hypertrophy. Sometimes nasal valve collapse is identified prior to ever having nasal surgery, sometimes it is a cause of residual nasal obstruction after other nasal surgeries. Sometimes surgery is performed only on the nasal valve, other times nasal valve surgery is performed in conjunction with other surgeries to improve the congested nose.
There are two types of nasal valve collapse – internal and external. Internal nasal valve collapse is more common. The internal nasal ‘valve’ is found in the middle third of the nose – the region between the bottom of the nasal bones and the top of the nasal tip. The internal nasal valve is the narrowest part of the nasal airway. Its primary function is thought to limit nasal airflow, but in some patients it narrows airflow too much. The external nasal ‘valve’ is found at the bottom of the nose, it is the opening to the nostril – the triangle comprised of the columella (the cartilage and skin that divides the nostrils), the floor of the nose and the rim of the nose (the ala). Collapse in this region is less common.