Breathe easier by addressing chronic nasal congestion, runny nose, sinus pressure, and breathing problems. Dr. Ryan E. Stern, MD, our board-certified ENT, offers minimally invasive treatments to open airflow, reduce inflammation, and help you feel like yourself again.
Nasal Conditions
Chronic Nasal Congestion
Chronic nasal congestion can make it hard to breathe, sleep, or exercise comfortably. If your nose always feels blocked despite sprays or medications, structural issues or inflammation may be the cause, requiring targeted treatment to restore steady airflow.
Deviated Nasal Septum
A deviated septum happens when the cartilage dividing your nasal passages is off-center, limiting airflow. This can lead to constant congestion, frequent sinus infections, snoring, or trouble breathing through one or both sides of your nose.
Polyps
A nasal polypectomy removes nasal polyps that obstruct airflow and aggravate sinus problems. Removing these growths helps improve breathing, relieve sinus pressure, and allows medications to work more effectively—often decreasing infections and restoring comfort in the nose.
Post-nasal Drip
Post-nasal drip occurs when excess mucus builds up in the back of your throat, leading to coughing, throat clearing, or irritation. It’s commonly linked to nasal inflammation, sinus issues, or structural problems inside the nose.
Chronic Rhinitis
Ongoing nasal drainage can feel embarrassing and frustrating, especially when it’s constant. This condition is often caused by chronic rhinitis or sinus inflammation and may persist even when allergies or infections are no longer active.
Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD)
Eustachian tube dysfunction occurs when pressure cannot be properly equalized between your ears and nose. This can cause ear fullness, popping, muffled hearing, or discomfort, often linked to nasal inflammation, allergies, or sinus-related issues.
Sleep Apnea
Nasal obstruction can worsen sleep apnea by making it harder to breathe at night. Poor airflow through the nose may contribute to snoring, restless sleep, and daytime fatigue, especially when combined with other airway or sinus conditions.
Nasal Treatments
Turbinate Reduction
Turbinate reduction reduces enlarged nasal turbinates that restrict airflow and cause congestion. This minimally invasive procedure reshapes swollen tissue while preserving function, allowing more air to pass through your nose and helping you breathe comfortably day and night.
Septoplasty
Septoplasty straightens a deviated nasal septum to improve airflow through the nose. By correcting this structural issue, breathing becomes easier, congestion improves, and sinus infections or snoring may lessen, often making sleep far more comfortable.
Nasal Polypectomy
Nasal polypectomy removes nasal polyps that block airflow and worsen sinus symptoms. By clearing these growths, breathing improves, sinus pressure decreases, and medications can work more effectively, often reducing infections and restoring comfort to your nose.
VivAer® nasal airway obstruction treatment
VivAer treats airway obstruction by reshaping collapsed nasal valve tissue using radiofrequency energy. This in-office procedure strengthens airflow without cutting or packing, helping you breathe more freely through your nose with minimal downtime.
Radiofrequency ablation for chronic rhinitis
Radiofrequency ablation reduces chronic rhinitis symptoms by gently shrinking inflamed nasal tissue. This in-office treatment improves airflow and decreases runny nose and congestion with minimal discomfort, little downtime, and long-lasting relief.
RhinAer® chronic runny nose treatment
RhinAer targets the nerves responsible for chronic nasal drainage using radiofrequency energy. This quick, minimally invasive procedure helps calm excessive mucus production, offering lasting relief from constant runny nose without surgery or ongoing nasal sprays.
ClariFix® for chronic rhinitis
ClariFix treats chronic runny nose and congestion by calming overactive nasal nerves. This minimally invasive treatment uses targeted cold therapy to reduce constant drainage and congestion, helping you breathe easier without ongoing medications or surgery.
Sinuva® sinus implant
The Sinuva sinus implant delivers localized steroid medication directly to inflamed sinus tissue. Placed in-office, it helps shrink nasal polyps, reduce inflammation, and improve breathing over time, often preventing the need for repeat sinus surgery.
Why Choose Dr. Stern?
Dr. Ryan E. Stern is a board-certified ENT and subspecialty-trained rhinologist with nearly 30 years of caring for the Pacific Northwest community. He focuses on offering minimally invasive nasal treatments that reduce downtime while delivering meaningful, lasting relief. Dr. Stern follows the golden rule: you’re always treated like family. If nasal symptoms are holding you back, schedule a nasal consultation with Dr. Stern in Auburn or Federal Way, WA.
