Snoring Surgery

Obviously, snoring surgery is an invasive and dramatic approach to take to a snoring problem, and should not be the first treatment chosen.

A discussion with your doctor is necessary. Snoring can be treated, but only with proper medical assessment and advice. There are other snoring cures and snoring remedies that are worth exploring.

Nasal Surgery

Nasal snoring surgery aims to widen the nasal airway and may help people whose snoring is caused my nose problems. This can be achieved by straigtening the nasal septum, shrinking the tissue lining the nose, or removing nasal polyps. Sometimes, this sort of surgery corrects problems caused by old injuries.

Nasal surgery improves symptoms in 30% of nasal snoring patients. Supplementary snoring reduction measures may be needed too.

Nasal surgery is a little uncomfortable. The main concern is blockage of the nasal airway for the first few days after surgery, and the resulting dry mouth. Most discomfort is treatable with simple pain relief such as paracetamol.

Nasal breathing is generally better one to two weeks after the surgery.

Palatoplasty, or soft palate surgery, may help a flapping soft palate. This involves high frequency radio wave or laser surgery. Shrinking the back of the tongue with radio waves, as well as procedures that bring the tongue forward, may help some snorers.

Most people undergoing palate snoring surgery experience a significant improvement in snoring. Seventy to 80% of palatal surgery patients notice an improvement within two to three months of the procedure. Some people need additional surgery to control their snoring.

Palate surgery can be painful depending on the procedure, and on the individual's tolerance.

Laser palatoplasty is a more uncomfortable procedure, and the discomfort and painful swallowing can last up to a week. The operation is performed under local anasthetic. The pain is worst in the first days following the surgery, but ends within seven to ten days. Pain control with medication is usually needed. The pain is due to removal of the surface lining of the palate.

Nasal and palatal surgery are usually day procedures.

Radiowave or laser surgery to the soft palate generally takes two to three months before improvement is noticeable. Most people can expect substantial improvement in their snoring within two to four months. Any snoring after this may need extra treatment or snoring surgery.