Is Laser Surgery For Snoring Right For You

More and more patients are considering laser surgery for snoring. Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP), a relatively new safe and effective surgical procedure for alleviating snoring in the healthy adult, is highlighted. LAUP techniques may be performed in the office setting using a local anesthetic or in theatre under general anesthesia. It is continuing to receive wider recognition and application by the otolaryngology community as the surgical method of choice for alleviating snoring.

Snoring, a problem which afflicts millions of people and their partners occurs when there is obstruction of the free flow of air through the passages of the back of the mouth and nose. This is most often caused by excessive tissue in the uvula and soft palate. Since snoring can be a sign of a more serious condition such as sleep apnea, patients should be fully evaluated by a qualified physician prior to any treatment.

Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is caused by a combination of a floppy uvula and soft palate and the tongue falling back to shut off the postnasal space. Laser surgery for snoring to correct this involves removal of the excess soft palate and uvula with the UPPP or one stage LAUP. Since the tongue is part of the problem, not all apneas are cured by removing the extra palatal tissue. However, this type of surgery is the only alternative treatment to using a CPAP (Continuous Airway Pressure) machine for the rest of your life.

About one-third of all our procedures have been done on sleep apnea patients. In most cases there is a significant postoperative improvement in daytime sleepiness and feeling of fatigue. Patients must have sleep studies done to establish an accurate diagnosis of sleep apnea.

Other Options

There are other options you can consider but if you have tried everything and nothing seems to work you may want to try laser surgery for snoring. There are other products on the market such as nasal dilators, nose strips, nasal sprays and herbal remedies. Certain remedies may only work for some people. You can also visit a sleep clinic where your sleep can be monitored to see if there are any underlying conditions that you and your doctor need to know about.

Talk to your doctor and see what options are available. Snoring is not only annoying to you it affects others in your home and snoring can be alleviated with the right product or procedure.

By: David Faulkner

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