In-Office Temperature-Controlled Radiofrequency Remodeling of the Nasal Airway
Julio Avelar suffered from severe nasal congestion on the left side and had difficulty breathing, particularly at night. “To be honest, I’d had the problem for almost 10 years,” he says. “Some time before that, I saw a doctor who helped me, but after three or four years, I was back to where I started, unable to breathe properly.”
Avelar’s family medicine physician referred him to rhinologist Martin J. Citardi, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. “Mr. Avelar had a deviated septum that partially blocked his left nostril,” Dr. Citardi says. “We performed a septoplasty to open the nasal cavity and removed excess tissue from the turbinates to help improve airflow.”
Avelar underwent the procedure in March 2024. “When he returned for his follow-up appointment at the end of April, his symptoms had improved, but he still had some residual congestion, so we did temperature-controlled radiofrequency remodeling,” Dr. Citardi says. “This simple procedure further refined the results of the surgery.” Because radiofrequency remodeling is less invasive and can be done in an office setting, it is ideally suited to the clinical situation in which small improvements to the nasal airway are desirable. “In short, we can use this technology to “sculpt” a better nasal airway for improved nasal airflow.”
His patient was pleased with the results. “I can breathe again! Dr. Citardi and his staff are pleasant, professional, and very helpful,” Avelar says. “I gave him five stars and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him to my family and friends.”