Sleep apnea is a condition which causes the sleep being disrupted by breathing pauses. If this condition is untreated, it can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, depression, and other potential diseases.
One of the most popular treatments is Continuous Positive Airways Pressure (CPAP): cpap machine/mask or mouthpiece. It is very effective but unfortunately most of them do not use it. Bulky masks make the patients hard to sleep. So, sleep apnea surgery can be a good option to consider.
Sleep apnea surgery is available in some different options. They are Balloon Sinuplasty, Palate Coblation, Coblation Turbinate Reduction, The Pillar Procedure, Laser-Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP), &Endoscopic Sinus Surgery.
The Procedures Available for Sleep Apnea Surgery
As the technology is more and more sophisticated, sleep apnea surgery treatment is available. There are some different procedures related to this treatment:
Balloon Sinuplasty
This procedure opens the blocked sinus cavities & takes no more than 30 minutes under local anesthesia.
Palate Coblation
This sleep apnea surgery procedure uses radio frequency energy that functions to stiffen soft palate. Usually, it takes around 30 minutes. It belongs to in-office procedure of surgery treatment.
The Pillar Procedure
It inserts small implants to stiffen soft palate. This is conducted in office. If you are interested in this surgery procedure, it usually takes 30 minutes or less under local anesthesia.
Coblation Turbinate Reduction
This is minimally invasive. Besides, it uses radio frequency energy due to lower the nasal turbinate size. Similar to the previous procedures, this in-office surgery takes around 30 minutes or faster.
Laser-Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP)
It shrinks enlarged / elongated uvula size using laser technology. This surgery procedure also takes no more than 30 minutes.
Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
Different from the previous procedures, it belongs to outpatient surgical procedure. It uses a small fiber optic telescope which is inserted into your sinus. This opens & removes the small amounts of bone or tissue which blocks the nasal passages. It outpatient procedure is performed under general anesthesia.
Which Procedure Is Best for You?
All of those procedures are effective to cure your sleep apnea problem condition. However, the procedure cannot be chosen carelessly. It will be better if you consult to a certified otolaryngologist so that he or she can give the wise advices related to the surgery procedures you should choose. The procedures of surgery should depend on the condition or type of your sleep apnea. Besides that, it also relates to your own lifestyle.
So, you can start by scheduling to make an appointment with the otolaryngologist. Make sure that you meet a professional otolaryngologist who has good experience to handle other people with similar conditions to you. He or she will evaluate your sleep apnea condition before deciding the surgery procedure you should take.
Actually, there are some other alternatives of treatment that you can consider to heal your sleep apnea. However, if your condition of sleep apnea is too serious, you need to meet the professional as soon as possible before everything getting worse. Anyway, sleep apnea surgical treatment can be considered as the best options for you who experience sleep apnea.