Somnoplasty and Snoring: Everything You Need to Know in 2 Minutes

The air that we breathe in follows a specific route before it reaches the lungs. The tongue, soft palate, uvula and our tonsils are part of this route. The tight throat muscles do not vibrate or get relaxed when we are awake. This changes when we fall asleep, when the muscles of these areas relax, which causes the uvula, as well as the soft palate, to vibrate or collapse. This vibration causes a distinctive sound that is known as snoring.

Of all the various types of sleep disorders, the snoring problem is perhaps one of the most common afflictions troubling people globally.

Somnoplasty and Snoring: What’s the Relationship?

Somnoplasty and snoring have a close association in the sense that somnoplasty is one of the most effective snore surgery procedures for the treatment of habitual snoring. This type of surgery to stop snoring essentially involves removal of the obstructing tissues that are present in the uvula and the soft palate that collapse and create the snoring sound.

What is so special about somnoplasty and snoring? The uniqueness of this type of snoring treatment is what makes somnoplasty so special.

Thermal energy with very low level radiofrequency is used in the procedure, unlike laser-based surgeries. This heat creates very tiny burn areas that focus primarily on the throat tissues, which the body re-absorbs over time. This results in shrinkage of volume of tissues.

This is the reason why somnoplasty and snoring are so closely related, as by using only local anesthetics, the air passage is freed from any obstruction, allowing cessation of snoring.

The Success Rate of Somnoplasty for Snoring

What kind of success rate can I expect from this procedure of treating snoring? Though instances are rare, you have to remember that any kind of surgical intervention is bound to entail some amount of negative post-operative after-effects. One of the factors you have to remember about somnoplasty and snoring is that the procedure may not cure the problem completely.

A majority of somnoplasty surgeons feel that the procedure can provide substantial – or at times full – relief from snoring for about 80% of patients. For others, there can be some reduction in snoring expected.

As you go along learning more about somnoplasty and snoring, you will also learn that this procedure is incapable of treating sleep apnea and other types of sleep disorders that have a pathological origin. These are more serious and complicated health issues and the efficacy of somnoplasty has not yet been tried on such situations.

What are the After Effects of Somnoplasty?

The following after effects have been reported after somnoplasty and snoring surgery is completed:

• Nasal regurgitation
• Alteration of tone of voice
• Though rare, liquids sometimes flow into the nasal cavity while you are trying to swallow.
• The healing process may be delayed and some amount of pain and blood loss can be expected.
• Since the procedure involves using energies from heat and electricity, some adjoining tissues may suffer injury.

Your knowledge about somnoplasty and snoring would not be complete unless you are fully aware about what happens after the procedure. Because of the localized inflammation, your snoring may seem to get worse during the period immediately after the surgery. However, you can expect to see improvements within a couple of weeks and the improvement continues for several months.

You may also experience sore throat for several days after the surgery. This can be taken care of by taking some acetaminophen or ibuprofen tablets or a throat lozenge that soothes the throat.

And do not forget to go for a check up after 7 to 10 days after the surgery!