Abstract: An external nasal dilator formed as a single body truss member, the truss member comprising (1) an upper and lower surface; (2) a first end region with an engagement means to engage the alar facial groove and a second end region with an engagement means to engage the area anterior to the tragus of the ear; and (3) an intermediate segment connecting the first and second regions and configured to traverse the cheek located between the alar facial groove and area anterior to the tragus of the ear. The external dilators may be used in a pair to form a system for dilating nasal passages on opposite sides of the face.