If you’ve been diagnosed withobstructive sleep apnea (OSA), you may be interested in learning aboutsurgical optionsto treat the condition.
A number of surgeries can change the anatomy of the soft palate and improve sleep apnea and snoring, the most common beinguvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). But what other treatment options are available?
Learn about the various procedures—collectively known as pharyngoplasty—and the risks related to these palate procedures.
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Soft Palate Procedures
Palate surgery includes a group of procedures that are typically performed under general anesthesia in the operating room. The various soft palate procedures include the following surgeries:
Palate surgery is combined withtonsillectomyin most patients who have tonsils that have not previously been removed. Palate surgery (with or without tonsillectomy) is principally used to treat obstructive sleep apnea, and the procedures can be performed alone or in combination with hypopharyngeal procedures.
These procedures involve a combination of tissue removal and tissue repositioning, which aims to increase the size of the airway without affecting normal functions such as breathing, speaking, and swallowing.
Specific features of the individual procedures include the following:
Risks of Palate Procedures
As with any surgical procedure, there are risks that should be considered.
Pain commonly occurs as part of soft palate surgery. Some of the other most common complications include the following:
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Woodson BT, and Toohill RJ.Transpalatal advancement pharyngoplasty for obstructive sleep apnea.Laryngoscope. 1993;103(3):269-276. doi:10.1288/00005537-199303000-00006Kezirian EJ, Maselli J, Vittinghoff E, Goldberg AN, Auerbach AD.Obstructive sleep apnea surgery practice patterns in the United States: 2000 to 2006.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2010;143(3):441-447. doi:10.1016/j.otohns.2010.05.009Pang KP, Woodson BT.Expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty: a new technique for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2007;137(1):110-114. doi:10.1016/j.otohns.2007.03.014Cahali MB.Lateral pharyngoplasty: a new treatment for obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome.Laryngoscope. 2003;113(11):1961-1968. doi:10.1097/00005537-200311000-00020Fujita S, Conway W, Zorick F, Roth T.Surgical correction of anatomic abnormalities in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1981;89(6):923-934. doi:10.1177/019459988108900609Woodson BT, Robinson S, Lim HJ.Transpalatal advancement pharyngoplasty outcomes compared with uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg.2005;133(2):211-217. doi:10.1016/j.otohns.2005.03.061Friedman M, Ibrahim HZ, Vidyasagar R, Pomeranz J, Joseph NJ.Z-palatoplasty (ZPP): a technique for patients without tonsils.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004;131(1):89-100. doi:10.1016/j.otohns.2004.02.051Li HY, Lee LA.Relocation pharyngoplasty for obstructive sleep apnea.Laryngoscope. 2009;119(12):2472-2477. doi:10.1002/lary.20634Kezirian EJ, Weaver EM, Yueh B, Khuri SF, Daley J, Henderson WG.Risk factors for serious complication after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2006;132(10):1091-1098. doi:10.1001/archotol.132.10.1091Additional ReadingKezirian EJ, Weaver EM, Yueh B, et al.Incidence of serious complications after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.Laryngoscope. 2004;114(3):450-453. doi:10.1097/00005537-200403000-00012Powell N, Riley R, Guilleminault C, Troell R.A reversible uvulopalatal flap for snoring and sleep apnea syndrome.Sleep. 1996;19:593-599. doi:10.1093/sleep/19.7.593Sher AE, Schechtman KB, Piccirillo JF.The efficacy of surgical modifications of the upper airway in adults with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.Sleep. 1996;19(2):156-177. doi:10.1093/sleep/19.2.156
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Woodson BT, and Toohill RJ.Transpalatal advancement pharyngoplasty for obstructive sleep apnea.Laryngoscope. 1993;103(3):269-276. doi:10.1288/00005537-199303000-00006Kezirian EJ, Maselli J, Vittinghoff E, Goldberg AN, Auerbach AD.Obstructive sleep apnea surgery practice patterns in the United States: 2000 to 2006.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2010;143(3):441-447. doi:10.1016/j.otohns.2010.05.009Pang KP, Woodson BT.Expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty: a new technique for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2007;137(1):110-114. doi:10.1016/j.otohns.2007.03.014Cahali MB.Lateral pharyngoplasty: a new treatment for obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome.Laryngoscope. 2003;113(11):1961-1968. doi:10.1097/00005537-200311000-00020Fujita S, Conway W, Zorick F, Roth T.Surgical correction of anatomic abnormalities in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1981;89(6):923-934. doi:10.1177/019459988108900609Woodson BT, Robinson S, Lim HJ.Transpalatal advancement pharyngoplasty outcomes compared with uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg.2005;133(2):211-217. doi:10.1016/j.otohns.2005.03.061Friedman M, Ibrahim HZ, Vidyasagar R, Pomeranz J, Joseph NJ.Z-palatoplasty (ZPP): a technique for patients without tonsils.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004;131(1):89-100. doi:10.1016/j.otohns.2004.02.051Li HY, Lee LA.Relocation pharyngoplasty for obstructive sleep apnea.Laryngoscope. 2009;119(12):2472-2477. doi:10.1002/lary.20634Kezirian EJ, Weaver EM, Yueh B, Khuri SF, Daley J, Henderson WG.Risk factors for serious complication after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2006;132(10):1091-1098. doi:10.1001/archotol.132.10.1091Additional ReadingKezirian EJ, Weaver EM, Yueh B, et al.Incidence of serious complications after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.Laryngoscope. 2004;114(3):450-453. doi:10.1097/00005537-200403000-00012Powell N, Riley R, Guilleminault C, Troell R.A reversible uvulopalatal flap for snoring and sleep apnea syndrome.Sleep. 1996;19:593-599. doi:10.1093/sleep/19.7.593Sher AE, Schechtman KB, Piccirillo JF.The efficacy of surgical modifications of the upper airway in adults with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.Sleep. 1996;19(2):156-177. doi:10.1093/sleep/19.2.156
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Woodson BT, and Toohill RJ.Transpalatal advancement pharyngoplasty for obstructive sleep apnea.Laryngoscope. 1993;103(3):269-276. doi:10.1288/00005537-199303000-00006Kezirian EJ, Maselli J, Vittinghoff E, Goldberg AN, Auerbach AD.Obstructive sleep apnea surgery practice patterns in the United States: 2000 to 2006.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2010;143(3):441-447. doi:10.1016/j.otohns.2010.05.009Pang KP, Woodson BT.Expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty: a new technique for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2007;137(1):110-114. doi:10.1016/j.otohns.2007.03.014Cahali MB.Lateral pharyngoplasty: a new treatment for obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome.Laryngoscope. 2003;113(11):1961-1968. doi:10.1097/00005537-200311000-00020Fujita S, Conway W, Zorick F, Roth T.Surgical correction of anatomic abnormalities in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1981;89(6):923-934. doi:10.1177/019459988108900609Woodson BT, Robinson S, Lim HJ.Transpalatal advancement pharyngoplasty outcomes compared with uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg.2005;133(2):211-217. doi:10.1016/j.otohns.2005.03.061Friedman M, Ibrahim HZ, Vidyasagar R, Pomeranz J, Joseph NJ.Z-palatoplasty (ZPP): a technique for patients without tonsils.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004;131(1):89-100. doi:10.1016/j.otohns.2004.02.051Li HY, Lee LA.Relocation pharyngoplasty for obstructive sleep apnea.Laryngoscope. 2009;119(12):2472-2477. doi:10.1002/lary.20634Kezirian EJ, Weaver EM, Yueh B, Khuri SF, Daley J, Henderson WG.Risk factors for serious complication after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2006;132(10):1091-1098. doi:10.1001/archotol.132.10.1091
Woodson BT, and Toohill RJ.Transpalatal advancement pharyngoplasty for obstructive sleep apnea.Laryngoscope. 1993;103(3):269-276. doi:10.1288/00005537-199303000-00006
Kezirian EJ, Maselli J, Vittinghoff E, Goldberg AN, Auerbach AD.Obstructive sleep apnea surgery practice patterns in the United States: 2000 to 2006.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2010;143(3):441-447. doi:10.1016/j.otohns.2010.05.009
Pang KP, Woodson BT.Expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty: a new technique for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2007;137(1):110-114. doi:10.1016/j.otohns.2007.03.014
Cahali MB.Lateral pharyngoplasty: a new treatment for obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome.Laryngoscope. 2003;113(11):1961-1968. doi:10.1097/00005537-200311000-00020
Fujita S, Conway W, Zorick F, Roth T.Surgical correction of anatomic abnormalities in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1981;89(6):923-934. doi:10.1177/019459988108900609
Woodson BT, Robinson S, Lim HJ.Transpalatal advancement pharyngoplasty outcomes compared with uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg.2005;133(2):211-217. doi:10.1016/j.otohns.2005.03.061
Friedman M, Ibrahim HZ, Vidyasagar R, Pomeranz J, Joseph NJ.Z-palatoplasty (ZPP): a technique for patients without tonsils.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004;131(1):89-100. doi:10.1016/j.otohns.2004.02.051
Li HY, Lee LA.Relocation pharyngoplasty for obstructive sleep apnea.Laryngoscope. 2009;119(12):2472-2477. doi:10.1002/lary.20634
Kezirian EJ, Weaver EM, Yueh B, Khuri SF, Daley J, Henderson WG.Risk factors for serious complication after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2006;132(10):1091-1098. doi:10.1001/archotol.132.10.1091
Kezirian EJ, Weaver EM, Yueh B, et al.Incidence of serious complications after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.Laryngoscope. 2004;114(3):450-453. doi:10.1097/00005537-200403000-00012Powell N, Riley R, Guilleminault C, Troell R.A reversible uvulopalatal flap for snoring and sleep apnea syndrome.Sleep. 1996;19:593-599. doi:10.1093/sleep/19.7.593Sher AE, Schechtman KB, Piccirillo JF.The efficacy of surgical modifications of the upper airway in adults with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.Sleep. 1996;19(2):156-177. doi:10.1093/sleep/19.2.156
Kezirian EJ, Weaver EM, Yueh B, et al.Incidence of serious complications after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.Laryngoscope. 2004;114(3):450-453. doi:10.1097/00005537-200403000-00012
Powell N, Riley R, Guilleminault C, Troell R.A reversible uvulopalatal flap for snoring and sleep apnea syndrome.Sleep. 1996;19:593-599. doi:10.1093/sleep/19.7.593
Sher AE, Schechtman KB, Piccirillo JF.The efficacy of surgical modifications of the upper airway in adults with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.Sleep. 1996;19(2):156-177. doi:10.1093/sleep/19.2.156
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