Finding a stop snoring remedy may save a life or a relationship. It is very difficult to sleep with a person who snores loudly throughout the night, and this person is most likely not getting good rest either. If they have obstructive sleep apnea, their health may be in danger. When natural remedies and over the counter remedies have no effect, it is time to consider surgery to stop snoring.
Snoring and Sleep Apnea Surgeries
Uvuloplatopharyngoplasty (UPPP or UP3) is a surgical treatment that restructures the loose tissue in the palate and throat. It also tightens the tissue, so it does not vibrate during sleep or obstruct the air passages. It is mainly prescribed for people with moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea.
Laser-assisted uvula palatoplasty (LAUP) is a simpler procedure than UPPP and is done in a doctor’s office with a local anesthesia. It will stiffen a floppy palate and takes one to two weeks to completely heal. It is a suggested remedy for snorers and people with mild obstructive sleep apnea, but it is not approved by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine as a treatment for sleep apnea.
Somnoplasty is a minimally invasive surgery to stop snoring. It is also an outpatient procedure. It uses low-intensity radio frequency energy to shrink floppy tissue in the tongue, uvula and palate. It is often also used to relieve nasal congestion. This procedure is one of the less painful surgical remedies to stop snoring, but its effectiveness needs further study.
Geniogiossus and hyoid advancement is surgery to treat sleep apnea by pulling the tongue forward and preventing the collapse of the lower throat.
Septoplasty and turbinate surgery removes blockages in the nose, so the air can pass smoothly and quietly during sleep.
Tonsillectomy surgery removes the adenoids and tonsils that may be the cause of snoring. They are the main reason for snoring in children.
Palatal implants, also known as the Pillar procedure, are a procedure in which implants made from Dacron are placed into the palate. The tissue grows into the implants which stiffen the palate and reduce vibration. Dacron is a non-reactive material which has been used for decades for heart valve surgery and hernia repair. There is a risk of infection, but this usually leads to scarring which also stiffens the palate. It has much the same results as radio-frequency treatments.
A Stop Snoring Remedy Machine
Though not surgery, a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine forces air through the upper air passages and is a stop snoring remedy for some. The pressure can be adjusted to the lowest level needed to keep the upper airway tissue from collapsing during sleep. The air pressure delivered by the CPAP is constant and continuous.