What Snoring Laser Surgery Options Exist?

Snoring Laser Surgery should be considered a last resort for snorers, being used only after other avenues have been exhausted. If you have been told that snoring laser surgery is necessary, this article will look at some of the snoring cures procedures on offer.

Before You Contemplate Snoring Laser Surgery

There are so many possible strategies and snoring solutions on the market these days, that many people jump around between a range of snoring aids, desperate to find a solution. For many, a snoring mouth guard or snoring pillow is all that is needed. But for some, more invasive action like snoring laser surgery is called for when their snoring is having a profound effect on their health.

Due to medical complications like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), some people have no option but to resort to laser surgery for snoring. There are a number of procedures available, but these are the most common. Most other procedures are a variation on these themes.

Snoring Laser Surgery - Laser Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP)

This is the cheaper of the options of laser surgery for snoring. The procedure is quite simple, and involves removing sections from the uvula with laser cutting technology. There is usually no need for general anaesthesia, and the patient can be fully conscious throughout the procedure, which takes only a matter of minutes. A local anaesthetic numbs the area in question. It is often not possible to remove all the tissue in one sitting, and 3 or 4 visits are usually scheduled with a gap of a month or so in between.

Does It Work?

An Israel based study found that after 12 months of post stop snoring surgery relief, the benefits declined with a small group showing a worsening of their snoring. Another study showed that many people were satisfied with the outcome of their snoring laser surgery.

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP)

Developed in 1964 by the Japanese surgeon Ikematsu as the first surgery for snoring, this particular procedure is more costly. This type of laser surgery for snoring necessitates tonsil removal and a portion of the soft palate and the uvula, as well as the pharyngeal arches. The aim is to increase the size of the throat opening to prevent the soft tissues from restricting the airway. As this is a more in depth surgical procedure, hospital admission is generally required.

Does It Work?

The early trials showed the procedure to be very effective, but the jury is out long on the long term effectiveness. Removal of suck large amounts of tissue from the throat area generally have a very good short term effect on the snorer, with many people reporting that their snoring is markedly improved or eliminated after the snoring surgery laser treatment. The long term prognosis is not quite so clear, with a large group of post operative subjects saying their snoring returns over the nest few years.

Conclusion

Surgery to stop snoring should not be undertaken lightly, due in part to the invasive nature of the treatment, and also because of the indefinable and uncertain success rates. There are plenty of other options to consider before moving to surgery. Consult with your doctor to see what areyour causes of snoring, and what viable alternatives there may be to snoring laser surgery.

Sources: Article - Snoring Surgery: Which One Is Best For You?