Cranial Facial Release

Cranial Facial Release, or CFR, is a specialized technique that uses a small balloon inside the nasal passage. The balloon is briefly inflated as part of an endonasal cranial adjustment. At Cohn Health Institute, CFR is among the services provided by Dr. Jon Gundlach. Because this procedure involves a part of the body that most people have never had treated this way, understanding the method before an appointment matters.

The Institute’s description identifies CFR as a development of an earlier approach called Bilateral Nasal Specific, or BNS. Dr. Adam Del Torto developed CFR from that approach. Its name describes the area and method of treatment: “cranial” refers to the cranium, and “endonasal” means that the procedure is performed through the nose. It is different from simply applying pressure to the outside of the face.

What happens during the procedure

The Institute describes the insertion of a tiny balloon followed by a quick inflation. Inflation takes seconds. That short action is one part of the procedure, and its duration should not be confused with the time needed for the whole appointment. There is also time needed to discuss your concern, assess suitability, and explain what will happen.

The existing description compares the sensation to water entering the nose when jumping into a swimming pool. That comparison may help you picture the location and brief intensity of the sensation, but it cannot tell you exactly how it will feel for you. Ask Dr. Jon to describe it before treatment and explain any concerns you have about nasal procedures.

The anatomy behind the terminology

The nasopharynx is the upper part of the throat behind the nose. This is the area named in the Institute’s description of balloon placement. The term helps distinguish the route used in CFR from hands-on treatment applied only to the outside of the head. The inflation is brief, but the location explains why patients may experience pressure within the face.

The sphenoid is a butterfly-shaped bone at the base of the skull behind the nose. It contributes to the eye sockets and contains sinuses. CFR’s description names this bone because the technique’s proposed rationale concerns mobility in the cranial system. Knowing where it is makes that description less abstract; it does not mean that a patient can determine the condition of the sphenoid from symptoms alone.

The balloon’s location and the technique’s intended target are different parts of the explanation. The balloon is introduced through the nose. The developer describes the purpose of inflation in terms of cranial mobility, particularly the sphenoid. A description of intended action should be distinguished from a measured result in an individual patient.

Where CFR came from

The Institute traces CFR to Bilateral Nasal Specific, pioneered by chiropractor Richard Stober in the 1960s and 1970s. Dr. Adam Del Torto subsequently developed Cranial Facial Release from that work. Both names therefore appear in descriptions of the technique, but CFR refers to the later method.

This history also explains the phrase balloon-assisted cranial adjusting. The balloon supplies pressure. Cranial adjusting describes the developer’s intended application. The Institute describes CFR as a specialized approach, rather than a routine part of every chiropractic visit. A patient considering it should receive an explanation specific to the procedure.

The purpose of the technique

CFR’s developer describes the method as an attempt to improve mobility within the cranial system, with particular attention to the sphenoid bone. This is the rationale used to explain the technique. It is separate from the individual question of what a practitioner expects it to address in your case.

The Institute’s description refers to neurological and structural concerns without making the procedure a substitute for an individual assessment. The same symptom can prompt different questions in different people. A recommendation needs to connect the examination findings with the proposed procedure and a way of assessing what happens afterward.

A series of visits and an individual plan

The Institute’s original CFR description refers to four individual treatment days within a seven-to-ten-day period. That describes the sequence presented in its service information. Before arranging treatment, ask Dr. Jon whether that sequence applies to your recommendation and what each appointment would involve. A description of a series is not a substitute for an individual plan.

The short inflation and the multi-day series describe two different time scales. The first concerns the physical action of the balloon. The second concerns how the Institute’s source description organizes treatments. Neither tells a patient how long their whole appointment will last, how many series might be recommended, or what result they will experience.

CFR’s developer publishes broader guidance about repeated series. Those figures should not be treated as the Institute’s prescription for every patient. The schedule and any decision to continue belong to the individual recommendation. A written plan should make the proposed sequence clear before treatment begins.

Before the procedure

Tell Dr. Jon about relevant medical history, previous procedures, and evaluations related to your concern. Ask about potential risks, reasons CFR may be unsuitable for you, and alternatives. Have the balloon placement and inflation sequence explained before deciding to proceed, including how to communicate that you need to pause.

CFR at the Institute

Dr. Jon’s biography and treatment specialties provide background on his practice. The broader chiropractic and kinesiology department describes other approaches available at the Institute. CFR is a distinct procedure within that setting, and its suitability requires a conversation about your circumstances.

To ask about a consultation, contact the office and mention Cranial Facial Release. You can review first-visit paperwork through the patient portal. Bring your questions about the balloon procedure so they can be answered before you decide on treatment.