Surgery to Stop Snoring – Laser Assisted Uvula Palatoplasty (LAUP)

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Surgery to stop snoring? For real? Yes, for real indeed! Surgical treatment for snoring does exist. Laser assisted uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (LAUP) is the most well known surgical procedure for correcting one’s snoring problem. This particular procedure is also used to treat mild obstructive sleep apnea or (OPA)   

How does it work? 

Laser surgery is used to remove some tissues located in the back of your throat. These include the pharynx as well as uvula. Of course, anesthesia is administered prior to surgical procedure and once the effect begins, a C02 laser is utilized for creating precise incisions.  

Now, each side of the uvula has a soft palate and that’s where the incisions are made. See, the idea is to increase the size of your airway thus preventing blockage which causes snoring. 

So a single laser surgery is all it takes to stop my snoring problem for good? 

Well, not really. After completing the surgery, you still have to check up with the doctor several times. It could be once a month or once every fortnight for up to 8 to 10 weeks. 

Any side effects? 

You would feel a massive pain in your throat which would take several days to subside. Of course, your surgeon will provide the appropriate medication to combat the pain. 

The possible formation of scar tissue (from the incisions) is definitely the biggest problem. It could develop another blockage within the throat, potentially much worse than the one before surgery. 

At the moment, laser surgery on pharynx or uvula has not been approved by the American Medical Association.