Should You Have Snoring Surgery

Snoring is not uncommon as about 45% of adults in the entire world do snore and 25% of the entire adult population are chronic snorers. Though even women and children do snore at times, the majority of snorers are men and this habit worsens as they get older. snoring is nothing but the vibratory sound that is caused due to a blockade to free air passage in the throat area.

Snoring is caused when the air vibrates against the soft muscle tissues of the throat area. In the past, snoring was only considered to be an embarrassment and nuisance, but recent research and study has proved that snoring is related to health conditions like Obstructive Sleep Apnea(OSA) and Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome(UARS).

These conditions have also been diagnosed to promote other physical ailments like high blood pressure, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. As a result of these researches and studies, people who snore have become aware of the hazards and are desperate to get rid of the habit of snoring.

Many remedies like home remedies, orthodontic appliances and Continuous Positive Airway Pressure(CPAP) were tried by people who were snoring, until they got frustrated. Finally in 1990, Laser-Assisted Uvula Palatoplasty(LAUP) was introduced and many people willingly accepted to undergo this surgery.

LAUP is a laser surgery to reduce snoring and curing mild obstructive sleep apnea. Using a series of non-invasive procedures, the uvula and a portion of the soft palate in the throat area are vaporized. Before undergoing this surgery, patients are subjected to local anesthesia to numb the entire throat area.

Once this is done, CO2 laser is administered by the doctor who makes two vertical incisions on each side of the uvula on the soft palate. The obstruction is eliminated by shortening the uvula. For the procedure to be complete and the patient to be totally rid of snoring, it takes five such sittings, each spaced four to eight weeks apart.

Though most patients can get back to their routine activities the same day after the laser surgery, they do experience a sore throat like feeling that could be persistent for even up to ten days after the surgery. Of course, the doctor who performed the surgery will certainly put the patients on analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs, to provide relief from this condition.

LAUP treatment as a snoring solution has proved to improve snoring and sleep apnea condition by 90% or more. But the scars left on the soft tissues tend to result in causing more obstruction and hence obstructive sleep apnea is reportedly worsened after a year or so. Only one third of the total number of patients who have undergone the laser surgery have been able to successfully remain free from snoring.

After trying out every other possible remedy to cure yourself and still remain unsatisfied with the results, you should be considered an apt candidate for the laser surgery. An otoralaryngologist will conduct the necessary examinations to evaluate the cause of your snoring before performing the surgery.

Laser surgery to eliminate snoring has not become too popular as most doctors feel the laser surgery should be considered only as a last resort after every other remedy is tried and proved unsuccessful, including the continuous positive airway pressure(CPAP). If laser treatment is finally decided the only resort, you should be mentally prepared to accept whatever the result may be.