SURGERY as PRIMARY or ADJUNCTIVE THERAPY

Surgery can be used to remove or reposition redundant tissue to reduce the noise of snoring and the potential for obstructions. Resulting airway volume increases may increase air pressure. Radio-frequency ablation (“Somnoplasy”) of the soft palate may reduce the volume of tissue while preserving its anatomy.

Surgery is invasive and irreversible. The proper case selection and work up are essential to decrease your risks, and to increase your chances of improvement. Surgical interventions now also include implants to stiffen the soft palate, permanent advancements of the upper and lower jaws, stomach alteration surgeries to reduce weight in the very obese, and even tracheostomies to bypass the obstructions during sleep. All of these procedures have significant risks, and understanding those risks as they apply in individual cases is necessary for proper informed consent. It is recommended that patients request documentation from peer reviewed medical journals describing outcomes for any of the surgical procedures that are contemplated.