How RhinAer® Treats Chronic Rhinitis
RhinAer is a convenient, in-office procedure designed to treat the underlying causes of chronic rhinitis and reduce bothersome symptoms, including runny nose, post-nasal drip and congestion. During treatment, your ENT physician uses the RhinAer Stylus to apply low-temperature radiofrequency technology to calm the abnormal or overactive nerves inside your nose that are causing your symptoms. Since RhinAer is non-invasive, 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 RhinAer works, please watch this video.
If you have a Total Nasal Symptom Score of 5 or higher you may be a RhinAer candidate. 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 a clinical study, 88% of patients treated with RhinAer had improved chronic rhinitis symptoms after a 2 year follow up, demonstrating results are long-lasting1. 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.
- Ehmer D, McDuffie CM, McIntyre JB, Davis BM, Mehendale NH, Willis JH, Watkins JP, Kakarlapudi VV. Long-term Outcomes Following Temperature-Controlled Radiofrequency Neurolysis for the Treatment of Chronic Rhinitis. Allergy Rhinol (Providence). 2022 May 29;13:21526575221096045. doi: 10.1177/21526575221096045. PMID: 35663498; PMCID: PMC9158436. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9158436/
Currently RhinAer 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.
Yes, RhinAer was cleared by the FDA in 2019.
RhinAer is intended for adults, 22 years of age and older.
What to expect from the Rhinaer treatment
Once you and your ENT physician have decided that RhinAer is a suitable treatment option for your chronic rhinitis, the path to relief is simple.
- Enjoy Lasting Relief RhinAer relief lasts a long time – Studies have shown continued relief at two years post treatment.1
- Book an Appointment You book a convenient, in-office treatment appointment.
- Prepare for Treatment Prior to treatment, your physician applies local anesthesia to numb the inside of your nose.
- Receive Treatment with RhinAer Your physician applies low-temperature RF energy with the RhinAer wand to the overactive nerves causing the rhinitis. Most patients experience little to no discomfort during the treatment.
- Get Back to Your Day There is minimal discomfort with treatment, and once it’s finished, you can get on with your regular day with minimal to no downtime.*
- Individual results may vary.
- Ehmer D, McDuffie CM, Scurry WC Jr, McIntyre JB, Mehendale NH, Willis JH, Shealy RB, Watkins JP, Kakarlapudi VV. Temperature-Controlled Radiofrequency Neurolysis for the Treatment of Rhinitis. Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2022 Jan;36(1):149-156. doi: 10.1177/19458924211033400. Epub 2021 Aug 12. PMID: 34382444; PMCID: PMC8652359.
After RhinAer treatment, most patients return to normal daily activities with minimal to no downtime.
It is common to experience temporary congestion, increased sensitivity and crusting at the treatment site for 2 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:
- Use recommended nasal sprays and rinses as directed
- Avoid blowing nose for the first week
One of the benefits of RhinAer 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 RhinAer treatment can be conveniently and safely done right in a doctor’s office. Some physicians may also choose to use RhinAer in an outpatient surgical center or hospital setting.
Some patients respond well to over-the-counter relief measures (medications, nasal sprays, etc.) and some can benefit from surgery. However, over-the-counter relief measures might only offer temporary relief, and surgery isn’t the best option for every patient. With RhinAer, patients may achieve significant, lasting relief with a convenient, non-invasive treatment.
The temperature-controlled radiofrequency technology for the RhinAer and VivAer devices may be similar; however, they are used for treating different nasal conditions. RhinAer 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. VivAer is used to treat nasal airway obstruction that may be due to nasal valve collapse and inferior turbinate swelling or other nasal conditions.
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 RhinAer 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 RhinAer 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 nasal airway include mild bleeding, mucosal necrosis, sensory changes at treatment site, inflammation/generalized redness, temporary swelling/edema, blanching (generalized whiteness), temporary numbness/tingling, bruising including around the orbital area (black eyes), temporary soreness/pain, and disruption of mucosal flow/crusting.
Less common side effects include serious bleeding (nosebleed), scar formation with increased obstruction, external deformity, and infection. Serious nosebleed is rare, but a potential side effect, and may be increased if the patient has a clotting disorder, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or uses anticoagulants or blood thinners.
Serious bleeding requiring surgery or endovascular intervention may occur as late as 2 months following treatment with RhinAer Stylus.
RhinAer is not to be use in patients with:
- 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
RhinAer 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.
RhinAer 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 physician hear you, click here.
RhinAer 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.
WEB1323-11. D