Learn more about UPPP surgery for sleep apnea and snoring.

By Michael Larkin


The most common surgery for sleep apnea is call Uvulopalatpharngoplasty or UPPP. This surgery for sleep apnea can get rid of sleep apnea for many cases, but it's not a guarantee and can be risky.

Simply put, UPPP is the removal of tissue from the throat and mouth to help open up the airway passage. The removal of excess tissues helps with the blockage of the airway which causes OSA and snoring.

Some of the reason to have UPPP surgery for obstructive sleep apnea done are you cannot get use to the CPAP or the CPAP doesn't work for you. The CPAP and UPPP are not the only sleep apnea treatment options out there, but they are two of the most common.

What tissues of the throat and mouth are taken out with UPPP? A section of the soft palate, the uvula, adenoids, tonsils and other tissues may be removed during the procedure.

If an enlarged tongue is a major cause of sleep apnea, there is a different procedure called uvulopalatopharyngoglossoplasty. This surgery removes part of the enlarged tongue. This helps from the tongue blocking the whole airway.

There are several side effects that can come with having UPPP. A nasally sound from the voice; speech issues; bleeding; infection; bleeding; residual pain; may not work on all cases; long periods of pain medication; may still have to use the CPAP after; complications during surgery and can actually make Obstructive sleep apnea symptoms worse.

UPPP surgery can have mixed results depending on the person. In some cases it works completely and others it doesn't. Some of the complications that can come with this surgery may actually make sleep apnea worse.

UPPP surgery may correct snoring issues, but may not treat sleep apnea. This can cause an issue because sleep apnea's biggest warning sign is snoring. If you are no longer snoring it can mask the fact you still have obstructive sleep apnea. This can cause major health issues associated with sleep apnea because it is still not treated even though you may think so. Have someone monitor sleep after the surgery has been done to be safe.

UPPP surgery for obstructive sleep apnea can be a successful option and may not always be bad. Every surgery can be a risk and have major side effects. It is important to consult with a sleep doctor to make sure this option is ideal for you. There are several other safe treatments of OSA and snoring. This surgery is not for everyone. It has a lot of upside if successful and has some side effects if it is not.




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