Snoring surgery treatments
Our specialist ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeons have performed thousands of snoring treatments.
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What is it for?
Surgery to reduce the impact of snoring and sleep apnoea
Treatment overview
Snoring, a form of sleep-disordered breathing, is very common.
Approximately 42% of men snore on most nights, and around 4% of the UK’s population have a more severe condition known as obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
Sleep apnoea is when a blockage in your airways causes you to stop breathing for a few seconds.
This results in a fall in oxygen levels in your blood, which wakes you up many times during the night.
The condition can lead to personality changes, impotence and increased risk of road traffic accidents.
A significant decrease in oxygen levels in the body can also put pressure on the heart, increasing the risk of conditions such as high blood pressure and heart problems.
The London Clinic offers treatment for simple snorers and sleep apnoea, using the very latest equipment.
Snoring surgery is performed by our world-renowned ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeons, with a multidisciplinary team of specialists to help you recover.
Why choose The London Clinic
Excellence in one place
We operate as teams of experts with world-class resources dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of medical care. You are surrounded by the latest treatments and advice with everything you need to get back to your best health.
Personal care, every time
Exceptional patient care is a way of life for us. Our nurses, clinicians and support teams are dedicated to the care of a very small number of patients, so have more time for you. They’ll be with you every step of the way, tailoring your care around you and giving the peace-of-mind that comes with knowing you’re in the best hands.
Effortlessly simple
We work together as one to guide you through each step of your experience, with complexities unravelled and answers readily to hand. Your personal treatment plan will be laid out for you, with all the details taken care of so you can focus on you.
What's included in your package?
Choosing The London Clinic means your treatment plan will be laid out for you, with all the details taken care of so you can focus on you.
Your treatment package will include:
- Enhanced pre-admission assessment
- Your treatment with our complete care team at your fingertips
- Personalised aftercare and follow-up
We want you to be in control of your health. That’s why we also offer optional services such as comprehensive recovery packages and extra touches for you to choose from during your stay with us.
How to pay
- You can use private medical insurance (PMI) to access this treatment. We work with all major PMI providers in the UK and many internationally
- You can pay for yourself (self-pay)
- If you’re paying for yourself, we have finance options available with Chrysalis
FAQs
Here at The London Clinic, we offer three different forms of snoring surgery:
Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP)
Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) is typically performed in milder cases of snoring.
Your surgeon will use a laser to make cuts (incisions) on portions of your soft palate and may also remove your uvula.
These incisions are usually done over time rather than in a single procedure.
LAUP is performed with a local anaesthetic so you can go home straight afterwards. In most cases, LAUP will require three to five treatments around four to six weeks apart.ENT specialists at The London Clinic perform LAUP in order to:
- Decrease the size of your uvula
- Lessen the loudness of snoring
- Reduce uvula vibration during breathing
- Manage mild to moderate sleep apnoea
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP)
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is usually performed in more severe cases of snoring.
Using surgical instruments, your surgeon will remove parts of your throat tissue including your tonsils and uvula.
They may cut away parts of your tongue and soft palate. Since UPPP is performed while you’re asleep (under general anaesthetic), you’ll need to stay in hospital to recover for at least one to two nights afterwards.
ENT specialists at The London Clinic perform UPPP to treat:
- An enlarged or elongated uvula
- Excess soft tissue in the palate and throat
- Loud snoring caused by uvula and soft tissue vibrations
Tonsillectomy
If your snoring is caused by enlarged tonsils or adenoids, these can be removed in an operation called a tonsillectomy.
Your surgeon will discuss this with you as this operation may be performed at the same time as the UPPP.
Snoring surgery treatments can be more effective than non-surgical treatments.
Using surgery, The London Clinic’s ENT team will remove tissue in your throat.
With less tissue, you have a wider airway, which means that the vibrations in your throat will decrease and your snoring will be less pronounced.
Any form of surgery only occurs after a thorough ENT assessment by a specialist consultant at The London Clinic.
To recover from snoring surgery treatments, you will be taken into our dedicated recovery area, where the expert theatre staff will be on hand to monitor you as you wake up.
For shorter procedures you can go home on the same day. For longer or more complex procedures you’ll need to stay in for a day or two.
Your care team will advise you about your recovery and arrange a follow-up to assess your progress.It's essential to take time to rest and recover.
Avoid work, exercise, hot baths, and bending down for around two weeks.
It is also sensible to avoid crowds because getting a cold can increase the risk of infection. After this time, you can gradually get back to your normal activities.
Your surgeon and the team at The London Clinic are always available to offer support and guidance.
We will be a helping hand during your recovery.
In most cases snoring surgery, such as LAUP, doesn’t have many side effects apart from a sore throat, so you can continue life as normal straight after treatment.
LAUP provides results with less discomfort than traditional uvula removal surgery (UPPP).
In contrast, UPPP is a more invasive type of surgery. The pain may be more pronounced and recovery will take longer – usually around two weeks.
However, the advantage of UPPP is that it can be done all at once with no need for repeat treatments.