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Medical Author:

Siamak T. Nabili, MD, MPH

Siamak T. Nabili, MD, MPH

Dr. Nabili received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), majoring in chemistry and biochemistry. He then completed his graduate degree at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His graduate training included a specialized fellowship in public health where his research focused on environmental health and health-care delivery and management.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Surgery is sometimes recommended to treat sleep apnea. There are several types of surgery available depending upon the individual situation and the airway anatomy. Surgery may be recommended in cases in which other non-surgical treatments (CPAP or oral appliances for sleep apnea) have been tried without success or when they are not feasible.

Most surgical procedures involve the reduction of airway obstruction by removing some of the tissues in the airways (soft palate, uvula, tongue reduction, etc.). Similar to any procedure, sleep apnea surgeries are associated with some degree of risk and possible permanent side effects. The risks and benefits of the procedure need to be thoroughly discussed with the surgeon and the sleep specialist before proceeding.

It is generally recommended to try the non-surgical options initially before contemplating a surgical option. It is also essential to have a complete sleep study done to clearly diagnose the condition before considering surgical options. There are two main reasons for this.

1. To prevent an unnecessary surgery if sleep apnea is not the correct diagnosis.
   
   
2. Once the surgery is performed, it may mask the signs of sleep apnea, such as snoring, and this can lead to ongoing sleep apnea without being adequately recognized, diagnosed, and treated.

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