For many patients, allergy immunotherapy — commonly known as allergy shots or allergy drops — can be life changing. Over time, immunotherapy helps reduce sensitivity to allergens and improves symptoms like sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes, and runny nose.
However, some patients continue to struggle with chronic nasal symptoms even while actively receiving allergy treatment.
If you still experience ongoing nasal congestion, difficulty breathing through your nose, postnasal drip, or a constant runny nose despite allergy immunotherapy, you are not alone — and additional treatment options may be available.
At our office, we offer several minimally invasive in-office procedures that can help improve nasal airflow and reduce chronic nasal drainage without traditional surgery.
Why Do Symptoms Continue Even After Allergy Treatment?
Allergy immunotherapy is designed to reduce your immune system’s reaction to allergens, but allergies are not always the only cause of chronic nasal symptoms.
Some patients also have:
- Structural narrowing inside the nose
- Enlarged nasal tissues (turbinates)
- Nasal valve collapse
- Overactive nasal nerves that trigger drainage and postnasal drip
- Chronic inflammation from long-standing allergies
When these issues are present, medications and allergy shots alone may not completely relieve symptoms.
That is where in-office nasal procedures can help.
In-Office Procedures That May Improve Nasal Symptoms
VivAer® Nasal Airway Remodeling
VivAer is a non-surgical treatment designed to improve nasal breathing by reshaping the tissues inside the nose using gentle radiofrequency energy.
Many patients with chronic congestion actually have narrowing or collapse of the nasal valve area — the narrowest part of the nasal airway. VivAer helps open this area to improve airflow.
VivAer may help if you have:
- Chronic nasal congestion
- Difficulty breathing through your nose
- Nasal obstruction that does not improve with medications
- Trouble sleeping due to nasal blockage
- A feeling that your nose is “always stuffy”
Benefits of VivAer:
- Performed conveniently in the office
- No cutting or incisions
- Minimally invasive
- Little downtime
- Most patients return to normal activities quickly
RhinAer® Treatment for Chronic Runny Nose and Postnasal Drip
If your biggest complaint is constant drainage, RhinAer may be an excellent option.
RhinAer is an in-office procedure that targets overactive nasal nerves that contribute to chronic runny nose, postnasal drip, and throat clearing.
RhinAer may help patients with:
- Chronic runny nose
- Persistent postnasal drip
- Constant throat clearing
- Nasal drainage despite allergy medications
- Symptoms that continue year-round
Benefits of RhinAer:
- Minimally invasive
- Performed in the office
- No incisions
- Quick recovery
- May reduce the need for nasal sprays and medications
Turbinate Reduction with Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
Inside the nose are structures called turbinates that help warm and humidify the air you breathe. In many allergy patients, these tissues become chronically enlarged and swollen, leading to ongoing congestion and nasal blockage.
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the turbinates uses controlled energy to shrink this tissue and improve airflow.
Turbinate RFA may help if you have:
- Persistent nasal congestion
- Chronic nasal obstruction
- Difficulty breathing through the nose
- Enlarged turbinates seen on nasal examination
Benefits of Turbinate RFA:
- In-office procedure
- Minimally invasive
- Little downtime
- Improved nasal breathing and airflow
- Reduced congestion symptoms
How Do You Know If You Are a Candidate?
You may benefit from one of these procedures if:
- You are already receiving allergy immunotherapy
- You still struggle with congestion or runny nose
- Nasal sprays and medications are not enough
- Your symptoms affect sleep, exercise, breathing, or daily life
- You want alternatives to long-term medication use
A consultation and nasal examination with your ENT or allergy provider can help determine which treatment may be most appropriate for your symptoms.
You Do Not Have to Live With Chronic Nasal Symptoms
Even if allergy shots have helped, lingering nasal congestion and drainage can still significantly affect quality of life.
The good news is that newer minimally invasive treatments like VivAer®, RhinAer®, and turbinate RFA offer additional options for patients who want better symptom relief without traditional surgery.
If you continue to struggle with chronic nasal symptoms despite allergy treatment, our team would be happy to discuss whether one of these in-office procedures may be right for you.
Contact our office to schedule an evaluation or speak with your provider about your options today.
