A good night's sleep is important to all of us. For people with snoring problems or sleep apnea, their quality of sleep may suffer and may even affect others. These two conditions are similar since they are both marked by snoring, but there are significant and medically important differences.

Snoring occurs when the flow of air through the upper airway and mouth is blocked by excess tissue. While snoring is a detriment to the sleepers and those around them, it is not considered a health threat. Nevertheless, it is an important issue for many.

The solution is to surgically remove the excess tissue in a procedure called a LAUP (laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty - pronounced lay-up). This can be done in our surgical suite. Patients will experience a sore throat and discomfort when swallowing during the recovery period. Many patients are able to return to work four or five days after surgery. Generally, insurance companies do not cover this procedure.

Sleep apnea is a much more severe condition, which not only affects quality of sleep but also impairs the flow of oxygen to the brain. Patients with sleep apnea may feel that they never get enough sleep. They are often sleepy during the day and may have other symptoms as well.

The surgical treatment for sleep apnea is called a UPPP (uvulopalatopharyngoplasty), which entails removing excess tissue from the uvula and soft palate and removing the tonsils if they are present. This more extensive surgery may take two weeks recovery time. During part of that time, patients need to be on a modified diet and cannot exert themselves. Most patients should plan on being away from work for as long as two weeks.