Treatments for Snoring

Here are a few snoring treatments that the ENT doctors at Central Texas ENT Associates may consider.

• CPAP – Continuous Positive Airway Pressure is a fancy name for a simple mask attached to a pump. Using the CPAP machine allows the wearer to sleep normally while the forced air keeps their airways open. While this is a very effective treatment, some people find it uncomfortable to wear a mask while trying to sleep.
• Pillar procedure – During this fairly simple procedure, a doctor injects strands of polyester filament into the soft palate area. The strands stiffen the soft palate so it is less likely to sag into the airway and vibrate.
• Somnoplasty – This outpatient procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia. Using low-intensity radio waves, a doctor can shrink the excess tissue in the soft palate area.
• Traditional surgery – The Mayo Clinic refers to this surgery as a “facelift for your throat.” During the procedure, while you are under general anesthesia, your doctor will remove and tighten the excess tissue in your throat that is causing you to snore. While this procedure is very effective, it does have, as with any surgery, side effects. These include pain, bleeding, and the risk of infection.
• Laser surgery – Laser surgery also removes excess throat tissue, but the doctor uses a hand-held laser instead of a scalpel. This surgery has the benefit of being an outpatient procedure, though more than one session may be required to reach the desired effects.