Snoring Surgery, Laser Snoring Surgery, Stop Snoring Surgery, Snoring Surgery Reviews, Laser Snoring Treatment, Non-Surgical Remedies

Laser Snoring Surgery

Snoring affects millions of people and their partners every day. It is caused by an obstruction of airflow through the passages of the mouth and nose. In many cases, excessive tissue in the uvula and soft palate are responsible for the obstruction. Since snoring can be a sign of a more serious condition such as sleep apnea, patients should be fully evaluated by a qualified physician prior to any treatment.

Until now the only surgical alternative to Laser Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) was the more extensive and painful procedure (Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty - UPPP) performed under general anaesthetic in the operating room. The hospital stay could be one to three days, with a recuperative period of at least one or two weeks. Some patients have been reluctant to undergo UPPP solely to treat snoring because it involves significant pain and it is their partner and not them who suffers.

Standard LAUP treatment done in most centers requires three to five treatments to slowly shrink the floppy palate. No tissue specimen is actually removed; the palate is slowly scarred and tightened. Our one step method involves removal of the same amount of tissue as with standard UPPP. The amount of the palate left for normal function is determined by a palatal dimple easily seen in every patient. This dimple corresponds to the lower level of the palatal muscle elevators which are needed for complete closure on swallowing. Preserving these muscles prevents nasal speech or liquid back flow. Our procedure is succesful in one session in over 95% of cases.

One step laser treatment is performed under topical and local anaesthetic, with the patient sitting upright and fully awake. The C02 laser is used to remove the uvula and trim the soft palate, with the treatment taking 20-30 minutes. The average patient will experience a sore throat while eating for seven to ten days, but speaking is not affected. These patients generally return to normal activities immediately afterwards. Snoring is eliminated or significantly reduced in most patients after one session. A second treatment may be required in 5% of patients. Patients usually report a noticeable reduction in their snoring immediately. Further improvement occurs with healing 3-4 weeks postoperatively.

This extremely safe method is based on the individual palatal anatomy, so the patient is always left with normal speech and swallowing. Patients rarely report temporary back flow of water into the nose while bending over a water fountain. The only negative complaint from a few patients has been a prolonged feeling of increased phlegm which usually disappears over 2-3 months. 90% of our patients miss no work after having the surgery done.

Sleep apnea is caused by a combination of a floppy uvula and soft palate and the tongue falling back to shut off the postnasal space. Surgery to correct this involves removal of the excess soft palate and uvula with the UPPP or one stage LAUP. Since the tongue is part of the problem, not all apneas are cured by removing the extra palatal tissue. However, this type of surgery is the only alternative treatment to using a CPAP (Continuous Airway Pressure) machine for the rest of your life. About one-third of all our procedures have been done on sleep apnea patients. In most cases there is a significant postoperative improvement in daytime sleepiness and feeling of fatigue. Patients must have sleep studies done to establish an accurate diagnosis of sleep apnea.

More info about snoring surgery, please visit Body By Kotoske.

Snoring Surgery

Some people snore only in certain situations, for example, when they have nasal congestion and cannot breathe through their mouth (people who breathe through their mouth are more prone to snore). Likewise, people who have deviated nasal septums or blocked nasal passages from other causes are more likely to snore. Sleeping flat on the back or drinking alcoholic beverages close to bedtime also induces snoring. (Such situations may induce apneas as well.) A thorough evaluation and sleep study can determine whether the snoring is associated with apneas and, if so, the severity of the sleep apnea.

A relatively new surgical procedure for snoring, typically done in the doctor's office, is radio frequency tissue ablation (RFTA) with the trade name Somnoplasty. Like LAUP, more than one session may be needed.

Another surgical system designed to treat snoring (as well as obstructive sleep apnea). Known as the tongue suspension procedure (with the trade name Repose), it is intended to keep the tongue from falling back over the airway during sleep with a small screw inserted into the lower jaw bone and stitches below the tongue. Usually performed in conjunction with other procedures, this surgery is potentially reversible.

Nasal surgery to remove obstructions in the nose or to correct a deviated septum may also be done. These are likely to treat snoring successfully when there is significant blockage in the nose and nowhere else. Other surgeries for snoring include major ones such as that to advance the jaw.

More info about snoring surgery, please visit Sleep Surgery Centre.

Stop Snoring Surgery

Insurance companies usually consider surgical procedures for snoring to be elective and cosmetic. Surgery for snoring is generally recommended in only the most severe cases. An otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist) provides a thorough examination of the nose, mouth, throat, palate, and neck. The specialist may also recommend a sleep study to determine the severity of the problem and if it effects the patient’s overall health. Depending on diagnosis, the physician may recommend one of several types of surgical procedures.

Traditionally, uvulopalatoharyngoplasty (UPPP) was performed for snoring. UPPP removes excess tissues in the throat such as excess uvula tissue, tonsils, adenoids, and tissues within the pharynx. UPPP widens the airway, which usually results in a decrease in snoring. Although the inpatient stay is only a day or two, full recovery can take up to three weeks. During recovery, swallowing is extremely difficult. In addition, although UPPP is quite effective in decreasing snoring, over the long term it cures only 46% to 73% of cases.

A modification of UPPP is laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP). In this procedure, the surgeon uses a laser to shorten the soft palate and cut away the uvula. LAUP may involve from two to five outpatient sessions, spaced from four to six weeks apart and each lasting for about 30 minutes. This procedure isn’t recommended for sleep apnea patients or light snorers but those whose snoring is loud and disruptive.

Nasal surgery to remove obstructions in the nose or correct a deviated septum is recommended when the cause of snoring is only significant blocking of the nose.

Genioglossus and hyoid advancement prevents collapse of the lower throat by pulling tongue muscles forward. The genioglossus is a major tongue muscle that advances, retracts and depresses the tongue. The hyoid is a u-shaped bone at the base of the tongue that supports the tongue muscles. This procedure is used in treating OSA (obstructive sleep apnea).

The tongue suspension procedure keeps the tongue from falling back over the airway during sleep. A small screw is inserted into the lower jawbone and stitches below the tongue. This procedure is usually performed along with others and is potentially reversible.

Although currently in use, all aspects of new radio frequency procedures are still under study as to their effects on health and their effectiveness.

Radio frequency tissue ablation (RFTA) also known as Somnoplasty, uses a needle electrode that emits energy to shrink excess tissue. The tissue is then naturally reabsorbed by the body. Performed under local anesthesia it's an outpatient procedure designed to minimize the bleeding and pain associated with other techniques. Like LAUP, more than one session may be needed.

An even newer type of procedure using radiofrequency energy is called coblation channeling. Unlike somnoplasty and other procedures that shrink tissue, coblation channeling both shrinks and removes excess tissue.

More info about snoring surgery, please visit Stop Snoring Tips.

Snoring Surgery Reviews

It’s necessary and well-worth repeating (sorry, but it is…) that, overall, surgery is often a truly wondrous means of solving, or at least alleviating, some serious health problems.

Nobody wants to return to a pre-surgical world, where procedures that are swiftly addressed today would otherwise render a sufferer in agony for years; or perhaps even hasten an early death.

So it should not be surmised that the view in this guide is that surgery is inherently bad; because it’s not. But surgery is simply a tool, and one that should be used only when necessary (not unlike any other tool).

The problem is that some people rely on surgery as an automatic fix. What’s that old saying: if all you have is a hammer in your hand, then everything looks like a nail? For some people, this is regrettably true when it comes to surgery; every health ailment that they see is worthy of surgery.

Yet these same people would probably seriously reconsider their views when faced with the substantiated evidence that surgery is not often working for snorers (and their loved ones).

Overall, then, while snoring surgery can be useful and effective for some sufferers (and their families, roommates, neighbors, heck, even their pets!), it’s clear that surgery has not proven to a panacea, offering risk-free cures for this dangerous, and potentially life-affecting condition.

Fortunately, however, there are some proven non-surgical remedies – some quite old and some rather new – that are helping hundreds of millions of people deal effectively, responsibly, and safely with their snoring problem. We now look at several of those non-surgical remedies in Section 4 of this online guide.

More info about snoring surgery, please visit Solve Your Problem.