As you may know, snoring can be a very difficult problem to deal with, and many people perhaps like yourself can’t find a working solution for the problem – even after trying natural methods such as losing weight, changing sleeping postures, etc. Sometimes snoring surgery seems the best, and now you can find procedures done with laser.
Laser snoring surgery has advantages over traditional surgery methods: the procedure lasts much shorter, you will have less chances of complications from excessive bleeding and risk of infection, and the recovery time will be greatly reduced – with many patients returning to work the day after the procedure. But on the other side, you should also know that surgery is not the “ultimate” solution for this problem, it can reduce snoring greatly in a short term, but testimonials point out that in the long term, the effectiveness will reduce. The cost can be also a factor that can play against your decision to undergo surgery, especially when you take into account that most patients will need more than one treatment for it to be considered a success.
There are two options for laser snoring surgery: Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) and Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP).
LAUP is a procedure that involves a partial resection of the uvula and the soft palate. Using a CO2 laser, the palate is gently and slowly scarred and tightened so in the end you will have a much better flow of air. This is the most affordable laser snoring surgery option and the one that causes less discomfort. This perhaps has lead to a generalized use of LAUP for treating snoring and sleep apnea problems. The whole surgery can be performed in as little as 10 minutes in the doctor’s office, with the patient fully conscious thanks to the use of anesthesia. Usually a patient will need 1 – 5 LAUP treatments.
UPPP is a laser snoring surgery that will enlarge the throat and allow a better flow of air. This method is more “aggressive”, involving the removal of tonsils as well as parts of the uvula and the soft palate. This method is considered painful and thus requires the application of generalized anesthesia. Despite being more expensive and painful, it also fails in providing a 100% solution for snoring, however in some cases this can be the only option left.
These are your two options for laser snoring surgery, choosing one will depend on your specific case and your previous success/failure with natural options. In order to have one of these you will need to have a series of consultations with the doctor to assess if you are apt for the treatments.