Does Somnoplasty Work

Snoring is a very common complaint and in very severe cases surgery can be a consideration. One procedure that can be successful is somnoplasty. What is is somnoplasty and does somnoplasty work?

Well it's a method of treating very severe snoring and sleep apnea using radio frequency energy. Although it can give relief to suffers there is no real guarantee that it will work and complications could develop after surgery.

Obesity is a major cause of snoring as excess tissue in the neck and throat causes a narrowing in the airways and during sleep when air is inhaled down the narrowed passages it causes the soft tissue in the throat such as the uvula,tonsils and adenoids to knock against each other and bang against the tongue creating the sound associated with snoring.

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Somnoplasty is a surgical treatment that reduces the size of tissues in the throat or nose using temperature controlled radiofrequency (RF) energy. It's carried out using a local anaesthetic so recovery is quick.The result is that breathing should become a lot easier as the airways are widened and the snoring problem is cured.

Tissue is burned with very low levels of radio frequency which is then reabsorbed by the skin. The whole procedure usually takes about half an hour, and painkillers may be required afterwards. Occasionally more than one treatment is required which is usually if snoring or sleep apnea is very severe, and there is a lot of excess tissue to get rid of.

Patients are advised not to take any asprin at least 10 days before the somnoplasty treatment, however if you do need to take related products consult your doctor first. If you are a smoker you are strongly advised to ideally stop altogether or at least cut back. Smoke could aggravate the tissues in the throat and make recovery take longer.

Aim to get to the clinic early to give yourself time to prepare both mentally and physically. Wear what you feel comfortable in, but don't wear anything tight or restrictive as you need to relax. Before the somnoplasty treatment starts you will be given a local anaesthetic.

First an oral spray will be used to numb the throat and then you will be given an injection in the roof of the mouth. This may cause some initial discomfort as this is a very sensitive area of the mouth.

You will be sitting upright throughout the somnoplasty procedure and be fully awake. Before he starts, the surgeon will explain what will happen and demonstrate the equipment to you. This will help eliminate fears as you will know exactly what to expect.

The equipment used is a gun type device attached to a generator which emits the low level radio frequency that burns the tissue. You won't feel any pain as the area will be numb, just as if you were having a tooth filled. The radio frequency is emitted through an electrode in the gun. This is insulated to protect the delicate surface of the tissue. The surgeon will control delivery of the radio frequency very carefully and only treat a limited area surrounding the electrode.

You will be able to go home after treatment as soon as you feel well enough and will be able to drive as you have only had a local anaesthetic. You will be advised to prop yourself up with extra pillows at night for the first few nights until the swelling goes down completely.

This is to help breathing as your airways may be blocked. This is quite normal and until the swelling does go down you may find that your snoring is worse. However gradually as the swelling reduces you will start to notice a definite improvement. This may take a few weeks, so be patient.

You will be asked to visit your doctor after about 7 to 10 days, but if you experience bleeding, difficulty swallowing or breathing you must contact him immediately.

Complications can arise with any medical procedure and the following risks are to inform you of what could go wrong with somnoplasty, and not intended to make you afraid. The possibility of such complications occurring are very rare but must be taken into account before making any decisions. You should talk over these risks with your doctor and evaluate whether or not your snoring is bad enough to justify somnoplasty.

*There is a possibility that you may need more than one treatment. This usually occurs if the amount of excess tissue is very large.

*You may experience prolonged pain afterwards, bleeding, or infection.

*It's possible that somnoplasty won't be successful and you will still have your snoring or sleep apnea problem

*You may notice that your voice has changed

Somnoplasty is a non invasive procedure that doesn't involve the use of a knife. It's carried out under a local anaesthetic and so doesn't require an overnight stay in hospital. It can be performed at the doctor's surgery and the whole procedure only takes about half an hour. It's used for treating severe cases of snoring and sleep apnea, the latter of which could prove fatal if not treated.

Although somnoplasty can cure snoring very effectively it's still a surgical procedure, and does carry certain risks that I have just mentioned in this article. It is therefore worth considering natural remedies before thinking about somnoplasty.