3 Surgical Treatment Options for Snoring Is your snoring so bad that you are keeping the person next to you up all night? Have you tried every anti-snoring remedy or device and still regularly snore? Snoring is a sound by vibration of the soft tissues of the upper airway during sleep and is indicative of increased upper airway resistance. Studies estimate that 45% of men and 30% of women snore on a regular basis. Snoring may cause your bed partner to have sleepless nights but it can also cause major health issues as well. While for some light snorers, they can easily stop snoring by simply changing sleeping positions, exercising or even avoiding dehydrated substances – however for others, who snore more frequently and heavily, these small tips might not help at all. Luckily, if that’s the case, another long-term solution can be surgery. Meet with your snoring specialist to figure out what is causing the snoring and they will be able to come up with a plan that best matches the person who snores. Below are the most common snoring procedures that involve the nose or the soft palate: ●
Nasal Surgery Blockage in breathing through the nose can be an important part of snoring. Nasal obstruction may result from many causes including allergies, polyps, septal deviation, and turbinate hypertrophy. Non-surgical options to nasal blockage start with something as basic as salt water spray (nasal saline) twice a day and can include medications such as nasal steroids or nasal dilator strips. Surgical options can include correction of enlarged inferior turbinates or a deviated septum (with septoplasty).
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Palatal Stiffening Procedures ●
Palatial Implants: Also known as the Pillar procedure, involves the placement of three polyester implants into the soft palate under local anesthesia in the office. Each implant is 18 mm long and is made of a polyester material that has been used in other medical implants for decades. Potential benefits of this method include ease of application, minimal discomfort, fast recovery, and potentially more long-term benefit.
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Injection Snoreplasty: This method is done under local anesthesia in the office. A chemical is injected into the soft palate. The subsequent inflammation and scar tissue stiffen the palate, therefore, decreasing vibration and snoring.
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Radiofrequency: Uses heat to stiffen portions of the soft palate. The idea behind radiofrequency is to create some damage in the soft palate with the procedure. Multiple treatment sessions may be required to achieve the desired results.
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Tonsillectomy/Adenoidectomy Enlarged tonsils and adenoids are a common cause of snoring and sleep disruption in children. The tonsils are clusters of lymphoid tissue in the back of the throat while the adenoids are a similar mound of tissue in the back of the nose. This procedure is performed in the operating room under general anesthesia. Most patients require a recovery at home of approximately one week but may continue to experience a sore throat for two weeks.
These are the top three common procedures for snoring; there are also other available treatments such as oral appliances, nasal devices, positional therapy, and a variety of over-thecounter products. Consult your doctor if you would like to learn more about your surgical treatment options.