Surgery

Surgery: Roof of mouth

Surgery on the roof of the mouth (with lasers, microwave rays, or injections) can be used to stiffen the soft tissues and hence reduce the vibration, associated with snoring. Surgery is painful, unpredictable, and can only be carried out by an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) surgeon.

Surgery: Back of the throat

Where the throat is considered too thin, it can be widened with a type of surgery called uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), where the surgeon operates on the back of the throat to make it wider. The procedure’s long-term success rate is quite low, and its popularity is reduced due to its unpredictable outcome and morbidity (discomfort after the treatment).

Surgery: Tonsillectomy

A tonsillectomy may help in those with inflamed/ enlarged tonsils, especially in cases where another treatment has not worked or there is a tonsil infection.

Surgery: Nose / Nasal Passages

Nose anatomy can cause it to be partially / fully blocked. Surgery in the nose (again carried out by an ear nose and throat (ENT) surgeon) can sometimes help. Nasal dilators can open the nasal entrance, but the vibration associated with snoring is rarely in this location, so these are unlikely to reduce snoring. Other nasal clearing treatments (herbal and enzyme-based) may help clear the nasal passages, but long-term use may not be recommended as they can cause polyp formation.

Positional therapies

Positional therapies can help to keep the patient on their side (i.e. not on their back, which is associated with increased snoring); although they have varied success.