Is Surgery for Sleep Apnea Necessary?

Treatments for sleep apnea vary from implementing simple self-help tips like weight loss to surgery performed in a hospital setting. Our expert in surgery for sleep apnea in Thousand Oaks tends to only recommend surgery after other treatments have failed to provide symptomatic relief. Surgery for sleep apnea still poses risks and is not always effective. As of now, there have been no long-term medical studies conducted on the results of sleep apnea surgeries. 

 

 

Types of Sleep Apnea Surgery

 

The goal of nearly every sleep apnea surgery is to widen the breathing passages and clear the airway. This can be done a number of different ways. These include:

 

• Tissue Removal

Your doctor will remove tissue from the back of the mouth and the top of the throat. Often the adenoids and tonsils are removed as well. When extra tissue is removed, less throat vibration occurs, and snoring often stops. 

 

• Implants 

If the soft palate is collapsing and obstructing the airway, your doctor can implant plastic rods to stiffen the structure. Those who cannot tolerate breathing therapy like CPAP may benefit from this procedure. 

 

• Jaw repositioning

During this surgery, the jaw is pulled forward, lessening the chance of obstruction. The help of an oral surgeon or orthodontist may be necessary to successfully complete this procedure. 

 

For more information on sleep apnea surgery, schedule a consultation with our Thousand Oaks sleep apnea expert.