Do You Need To Have Surgery To Stop Your Snoring?

by Thomas Wilson

In some cases, common remedies for snoring are just not going to solve the problem. There are cases where the only way to stop snoring is to undergo surgery.

There are a number of types of surgery to stop snoring and the right one will depend on your body and the underlying reason for your snoring.

To find out what option is best for you, you’ll want to consult with a otolaryngologist, a surgeon who specializes in nose, throat and ears. Unfortunately, snoring surgery is often considered a cosmetic procedure by insurance companies and is not always covered.

LAUP

One of the most common types of surgery for snoring is uvulopalatoplasty, otherwise known as LAUP. In an LAUP procedure, a laser is used to cut away the uvula (the dangling tissue at the back of your mouth) to reduce its contact with the throat.

If your snoring is caused by the uvula partially blocking your airway, this surgery will often help.

Somnoplasty

Somnoplasty is another fairly common type of snoring surgery. This is a trade name for radio frequency ablation, or RFTA and is a relatively recent form of surgery.

RFTA is another method for reducing the size of the uvula, helping to minimize its contact with your throat. With RFTA, you may need multiple sessions before you see results, and because it is a fairly new procedure, there is not a lot of data published on it yet.

Another recent procedure is known as Coblation-Channeling. This methods uses radio frequencies to reduce the size of tissue in the airway, which may be obstructing your breathing. This is even newer that RFTA, however, so there is not much data published on it yet either.

Repose

Another fairly recent procedure for dealing with snoring problems is called tongue suspension which goes under the tradename Repose. This type of surgery helps to keep your tongue from blocking your airways while you sleep.

A small screw gets inserted into your lower jawbone and stitches are placed underneath your tongue, helping to keep your tongue in place during the night.

The final procedure we’ll discuss is nasal deviation surgery. Blockages in your nose or a deviated septum can both restrict your breathing, leading to snoring. This type of surgery helps to remove those blockages and free up your airflow.

An interesting side-effect of deviation surgery is that it can also help you breathe easier during waking hours. For that reason, many medical insurance plans will cover this one.

As with any type of serious treatment, you should always consult with a medical professional before considering any surgery. Talk to your doctor about your snoring to get their informed opinion of what treatment would be best suited for your situation.

About the Author:
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