The goal of most types of surgery for sleep is to widen the airways so you can breathe more easily. Surgery is performed by taking out or shrinking excess tissue where the mouth meets the pharynx. Nose and jaw surgery can help correct nose or jaw problems that lead to snoring and apnea. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several types of surgery for sleep apnea. Talk to your healthcare provider to understand your options. The information below describes procedures that may be recommended for you.
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP)
This is the most common surgery for sleep apnea. It trims the soft palate and uvula and removes the tonsils and other tissue. It is a major operation performed in a hospital. Most go home within 24 hours.
Risks of UPPP
Problems are not common with this operation. But risks include:
Laser assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP)
This operation helps relieve snoring. It can also be used in some cases of mild apnea. The provider uses a laser or electric current to remove some of the soft palate and part or all of the uvula. This operation can be performed over several sessions at the provider’s office.
Risks of LAUP
The risks are the same as for UPPP, but less likely.
radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
This procedure helps relieve snoring. The provider uses radio waves to reduce the size of the turbinates or uvula, nearby tissue and sometimes the back of the tongue.
Nose surgery
Problems in the nose can make snoring or sleep apnea worse and also make a CPAP machine more difficult to use. A CPAP is a machine that sends mild compressed air through a face mask to keep the breathing airways open while you sleep. If blockages in your nose are severe, surgery can improve airflow by reducing the size of the turbinates, correcting a deviated (deviant) septum, and removing any polyps. Polyps are overgrowths of the sinus lining.
Jaw surgery
If your jaw is too far back, your tongue may also be too far back. This makes your tongue more likely to block your airways when you sleep. When you move your jaw forward, you move your tongue forward and generally widen the airway.
Risks of jaw surgery
In some cases, the jaw does not heal in the desired position. Your provider can tell you more about this. Other risks include:
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Loss of teeth
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Need for orthodontic treatment to align the teeth
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Loss of feeling in the jaw or teeth
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Change in facial appearance
More serious cases
If your apnea is severe and no other treatment is helping, other types of surgery may help. Your provider can tell you about them. One is hypoglossal nerve stimulator technology. This procedure implants a pacemaker that stiffens and projects the tongue forward during sleep. Other surgery may focus on tongue muscles or bones in the midface.
Talk to your healthcare providers so you understand the risks and benefits of all snoring and sleep apnea procedures.
