About Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP)
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) or sometimes referred to as (UP3), is a surgical procedure that may be indicated for some patients with obstructive sleep apnea or severe snoring. UPPP typically involves the removal of the tonsils, the anterior surface of the soft palate at the back of the throat, and the uvula, in order to create a wider airway passage. This can allow more air to move through the throat while sleeping, reducing snoring.
In some patients, UPPP may reduce snoring but not eliminate the need for CPAP as a sleep apnea treatment. Those who are medically obese may not have as high a success rate with UPPP surgery.
UPPP surgery is done in a hospital, under a general anesthesia. UPPP recovery is typically longer than radiofrequency ablation (RFA), another treatment option for sleep apnea and snoring, and may take longer, up to 3 weeks. During that time, it may be difficult or painful to swallow after the UPPP procedure.
If you have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, your provider at the National Sinus Institute will recommend sleep apnea treatment protocols that would likely involve several other options before UPPP surgery is considered. To learn more about the surgical treatment of sleep apnea, please call for an appointment to discuss your symptoms with one of our ENT specialists. Sleep apnea treatments can provide improved sleep and decrease the likelihood of other serious illnesses that can result from sleep-disordered breathing.
