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Testimonial for Dr. Barrera on Kens5

New nasal implant aims to eliminate snoring and improve sleep

A new treatment that just arrived in San Antonio that aims to help people that struggle with snoring, which can cause major health problems. Robert Demel, 54, has been singing for over 30 years and he’s been snoring even longer. “I was hit with a baseball when I was younger and just always had trouble.

Latera Absorbable Nasal Implant Patient Testimonial: Robert Demel

ROBERT’S STORY

My name is Robert Demel. I’m a musician and performer, and have been playing the South Texas honk-tonk circuit for more than 30 years. Singing and being on stage is my passion.

For the past few years, I had trouble breathing through my nose and found myself having difficulty sleeping. I read reviews online about Dr. Barrera, which were impressive – so I decided to make an appointment at the Texas Center for Facial Plastic and Laser Surgery & Endormir Sleep and Sinus Institute.

I explained to Dr. Barrera that when I was exercising or even sitting on the couch, I felt like I had a clothespin on my nose. He diagnosed me with nasal obstruction and told me about an innovative technology he offered – LATERA®

Since my LATERA nasal implants, I am breathing better and having less trouble sleeping..

LIFE BEFORE LATERA
When I was younger, I underwent rhinoplasty to fix my broken dose due to a baseball accident; ever since then I’ve had breathing problems. Despite my difficulty breathing, I tried to keep myself active. Whether playing with my band, working out or spending time outdoors, I always pushed on and tried to ignore my symptoms. My lifestyle changed considerably, and it was difficult to stay active and do the things I loved.

I tried a number of home remedies to improve my symptoms, including saline nasal sprays, nasal irrigation devices and breathing in steam from a pot of warm water. Nothing seemed to work, or it only provided temporary relief. It was so frustrating having nasal congestion all the time. Some days, I would only be able to breathe through my mouth.

For singers, breathing and singing go hand in hand so needless to say, it was very disheartening to perform subpar because of my difficulty breathing – holding notes left me winded and gasping for air. I also understood the importance of a healthy lifestyle, and it was frustrating that my breathing issues prevented me from being as active as I would have liked. I knew I needed to find a permanent solution.

Dr. Barrera explained that the cause of my nasal obstruction was due to nasal valve collapse (NVC), which occurs when the lateral (side) wall collapses when you inhale. He told me about LATERA absorbable nasal implants, which have been placed in thousands of patients who had difficulty breathing through their nose due to NVC. He told me that the LATERA implant would be inserted through a small incision in my nose with little risk of changes to appearance – this was really appealing.

LIFE AFTER LATERA
It’s amazing how much better I am feeling after my LATERA nasal implant procedure. I wake up in the morning feeling refreshed and no longer feel winded when I perform. It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you are able to breathe better! LATERA has exceeded my expectations.

I hope my story encourages people living with nasal obstruction to take action – talk to your doctor about LATERA!

Disclaimer: Patient experiences will vary, depending on individual factors. Talk to your physician to learn if LATERA is right for you.