Sleep apnea obstructive: Laser Snoring Surgery

Laser Snoring Surgery

Laser Snoring Surgery For Fast Relief from Snoring

Laser technology brings the benefit of speed to snoring surgery but at a cost. Here’s your guide to laser snoring surgery.

Snoring surgery involves trimming various tissues in the mouth, nose and throat so that they don’t vibrate during sleep and cause the typical snoring sound.

The major culprits are the uvula – the flap of tissue that hangs down at the back of the mouth and the soft palate.

It used to be difficult to deal with this area of the mouth but technology has changed all that.

The advent of the laser has brought speed and accuracy to the procedure to the extent that you can now get it done as an outpatient.

Previously the only alternative was the Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) done under general anaesthetic and requiring a hospital stay of several days.

The use of lasers has streamlined and made the whole process more efficient.

Laser snoring surgery can take many forms depending on what part of your anatomy is responsible for the snoring.

Nasal surgery can be carried out to remove blockages in the nose. These can take the form of a deviated septum (the septum is the area that divides the two nostrils) or nasal polyps which are growths in the nasal cavity.

The most common procedure is known as laser assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) which can take several forms.

In one, a laser is used to vaporize part of uvula; in the another no tissue is actually removed. Rather the area is scarred and tightened by the laser.

Laser surgery for snoring is usually carried out over a four or five treatments with four-week intervals in between. The procedure is carried out under local anesthetic with the patient sitting up.

Each treatment session is quite brief, lasting just 10-20 minutes in most cases. You can have it done in a clinic near your home; there’s no need to attend a hospital.

The surgeon begins by spraying a local anaesthetic into the back of the throat and the tonsils, uvula and soft palate. The he injects another anaesthetic into the uvula itself.

When this has kicked in, he removes the tip of the uvula with a carbon dioxide laser. He may also remove part of the soft palate if he thinks it necessary.

You can expect a reduction in snoring starting with the first session and things will improve over time as the area heals.

Expect to feel some pain and discomfort for around two weeks after the procedure. Basic painkillers and a liquid diet can make things easier for the first few days. A sore throat is common but speech is usually unimpaired.

Another reported symptom is dryness of the throat which can be alleviated with sprays. Also some patients have reported an increase in phlegm following LAUP though this tends to disappear after a few months.

Any kind of surgery is a drastic step which should only be taken after all other options have been tried and in close consultation with your doctor.

You also need to consider the costs; laser snoring surgery is an expensive procedure that probably won’t be covered by insurance.

But be assured that laser snoring surgery is fast, safe and effective with minimal pain and discomfort. It surely beats those noisy nights.