Want more iVillage? Sign up for our
Newsletters
Other surgical procedures for obstructive sleep apnea
The first treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or not drinking alcohol before bed, and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). If these do not work, or if an obvious tissue or bone problem is causing your sleep apnea, surgery is an option.
Common surgeries for sleep apnea
include uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), which is removal of excess tissue
from the throat. Other common surgeries are tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, which are removal of the
tonsils and/or the adenoids 
.
You may consider the following surgeries if a specific bone or tissue problem is causing your sleep apnea.
- Nasal septoplasty. Nasal septoplasty repairs and straightens the bone and tissues (septum) that separate the two passages in the nose. You may have this surgery if a deformity in your nose affects your breathing.
- Nasal polypectomy. Nasal polypectomy removes soft, round growths (polyps) that can project into the nasal passages and block airflow.
Several procedures have been developed to correct bony deformities of the mouth and throat that can cause sleep apnea. They include:
- Adjustments in the jaw, facial structure, or both.
- Removal of part of the tongue (glossectomy) along with structures in the throat.
- Jaw advancement (for life-threatening situations only, when other treatments have failed).
A new procedure has been developed to prevent the tongue from collapsing into the airway. The surgery, which is called tongue suspension, involves placing a small screw in the front of the jaw. Surgical thread is looped through the base of the tongue and attached to the screw. The long-term effectiveness of this procedure is not yet known.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: July 9, 2009 |
| Medical Review: | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Mark A. Rasmus, MD - Pulmonology, Critical Care Medicine, Sleep Medicine | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
from
- Facebook is now fueling organ donations
- Military women and suicide: Home safe but not sound
- Still in gear: Injuries don’t stop veterans on 100-day bike trek
- Ask Jenna: I've hit a weight loss plateau. What do I do?
- He poses in a tutu to laugh in face of wife's cancer
- After chemo hair loss, 'henna crowns' help heal
The iVillage Network