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Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is a procedure used to remove excess tissue in the throat to widen the airway. This sometimes can allow air to move through the throat more easily when you breathe, reducing snoring. The tissues removed may include:-
The small finger-shaped piece of tissue (uvula) that hangs down from the back of the roof of the mouth into the throat
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Part of the roof of the mouth (soft palate)
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Excess throat tissue, tonsils and adenoids, and the pharynx
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty is sometimes used to treat snoring in people so that their bed partner can sleep better. It is rarely used and only considered in cases of very severe snoring when other treatments have failed. It may be used in people who:
- Have excess tissue in the nose, mouth, or throat that blocks the airway.
- Do not stop snoring after making lifestyle changes such as losing weight and sleeping on their sides.
UPPP is often effective in reducing snoring initially. Over the long term, it cures snoring in 46% to 73% of those who have had this surgery. 1 The recovery period is typically 3 weeks.
Sources
1. Kashima ML (2007). Selected disorders of the nose and throat: Epistaxis, snoring, anosmia, hoarseness, and hiccups. In NH Fiebach et al., eds., Principles of Ambulatory Medicine, 7th ed., pp. 1849-1864. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
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“Snoring left me feeling sluggish and tired all the time. I called The Atlanta Snoring Institute and after a quick 20 minute procedure, I was back to sleeping like when I was in College. ”