When to Consider Snoring Surgery

Why do people get surgery for snoring? 

“Surgery also has a role in those with snoring, sleep‐disordered breathing and mild OSA and for patients who have failed using CPAP and other non‐surgical appliances.” This tends to be a last resort for those who experience snoring, but is appealing as a potential permanent solution who have tried many options that have not been effective [1].   

A surgical solution is also only considered for those with a surgically correctable abnormality, and other methods have been used without success. [2]

There are many different types of surgeries that aim to combat snoring, so we won’t get into them all, but discussing the options with a doctor is the best source for information on these options. Below are some general statistics based on studies on the most common types of snoring surgeries performed.

 

Facts to consider

• Some surgeries to combat snoring or obstructed breathing can be performed in one stage, and others “require multiple procedures to complete the treatment” [3].
• Like any surgery, they also have side effects and there are always risks and chances of it not resulting as intended.

A study based on the responses of 193 patients who underwent surgery to aid heavy snoring yielded these results [4]:

• 26% of patients reported postoperative infections
• 76% scored postoperative pain as moderate or severe
• 37% perceived an improvement in their sleep quality
• 24% reported no improvement in their sleep quality
• 43% reported an initial improvement that was not sustained for 2 years
• In hindsight, only 47% would have undergone the surgery

 

Alternatives

• As a first-line of treatment, doctors highly recommend behavioural modifications to relieve snoring that is not related to sleep apnea [3].
• Trying alternatives before considering surgery can have many benefits, as they are [5]:
• • Less invasive
  • Cost effective
  • More comfortable
  • Have less side effects
  • Are safer
  • Are not permanent

Also, if you do end up going for a consultation for surgery that will help resolve your snoring, a doctor will recommend trying other solutions beforehand, so if you have tried many before, this would help them assess why they haven't been working for you.

One of the alternatives health professionals tend to recommend is something less invasive, such as a nightly mouthpiece which prevent breathing obstructions that cause snoring. A recommended, tested and science-based mouthpiece like Good Morning Snore Solution has helped many avoid surgery and sleep well by using a gentle and safe approach.

“Such a great alternative for me to a CPAP machine, or a dental appliance, both of which I've tried. Easy to use, easy to travel with, so simple in design!” -Margaret R, after trying Good Morning Snore Solution.

Sources

1 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/coa.12245

2 https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/868770-overview

3 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0011502911001477

4 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1097/01.mlg.0000180178.12972.81

5 https://www.healthline.com/health/surgery-for-snoring#Takeaway

source https://goodmorningsnoresolution.com/blogs/news/when-to-consider-snoring-surgery