Understanding Snoring Surgery
Snoring surgery is used only when everything else has been tried and failed. It is used in cases of severe snoring. Snoring surgery is used to,
- Remove excess soft tissue from the throat to widen the upper airway. This may involve removing the tonsils and adenoids and other tissues in the back of the throat (uvulopalatopharyngoplasty).
- Correct an abnormally shaped wall (septum) between the nostrils or nasal polyps that block airflow through the nose.
- Change the position of the bony structures in the upper airway, allowing air to flow more freely, especially during sleep. More than one surgery may be needed to make these changes.
- The choices of snoring surgery are as follows.
- Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty which removed excess tissues in the throat. This widens the air way which leads to a smoother air flow.
- Laser-Assisted Uvuloplatoplasty also removes excess tissues but with the use of a laser.
- Radiofrequency Palatoplasty is a new procedure that used electrical current to shrink and stiffen the back tissues of the mouth in order to stop the vibrations.
- Removing the tonsils and adenoids can also be done to remove any tissues that block the air ways.
- Nasal septoplasty repairs and straightens the bone and tissues (septum) separating the two passages in the nose. This procedure is done if a nasal deformity interferes with breathing.
- Nasal polypectomy removes soft, round tissues (polyps) that can project into the nasal passages.
There is no guarantee that these procedures will stop snoring. These are used as a last hope if none of the other products you have tried have worked. If nothing has worked then you are exhausted as well as other members of your household from not getting a good night sleep.
Things To Consider
You will want to talk to your doctor about all of the options available. Snoring surgery is a last hope and is not widely used or recommend for everyone. You may also wan to consider a visit to the sleep specialist or sleep clinic to have your sleep evaluated and monitored.
Research for snoring and the affects of snoring surgery are still being studied and there are new findings about snoring every day. Snoring can also be an indication of a more serious medical condition such as sleep apnea, which will need to be looked at and treated. Talk to your doctor and see what the options may be.