Cranial Facial Release (CFR)

CFR is a balloon-assisted endonasal technique developed from earlier nasal-specific chiropractic techniques.

During the procedure, a small balloon is carefully positioned within a nasal passage and briefly inflated according to the CFR protocol.

The procedure itself is brief, although CFR is generally performed as a series of applications rather than as a single treatment. The official CFR organization describes the technique as an endonasal, balloon-assisted cranial adjusting procedure.

Patients may seek an evaluation for CFR because they are experiencing concerns involving:

An evaluation is important because these symptoms can have many different causes, and CFR is not appropriate for every patient or every condition.

Some patients interested in CFR have previously been told that they have a deviated septum or other structural nasal problem.

CFR should not be represented as a replacement for appropriate ENT evaluation or surgical correction when those are medically indicated.

Our role is to evaluate whether CFR may be a reasonable conservative option for the individual patient and recommend referral when appropriate.

This distinction is particularly important. Snoring and difficulty breathing through the nose can have many causes. Obstructive sleep apnea is a medical condition that requires appropriate diagnosis and management.

CFR should not be presented as a treatment or cure for sleep apnea or as a replacement for CPAP, oral-appliance therapy, ENT care or other medically indicated treatment.

Patients with known or suspected sleep apnea should remain under appropriate medical management.

CFR is a specialized technique and is not appropriate for everyone.

If you're experiencing persistent nasal breathing difficulties, sinus or facial pressure, snoring or other related complaints, an evaluation can help determine whether CFR — or another approach — should be considered.