Minimize Snoring with Snoreplasty

Have you been told you snore loudly? Does your snoring keep your partner awake at night? If so, it’s important to get your snoring evaluated by a physician. If you don’t have sleep apnea but would like to reduce or eliminate your snoring, a simple procedure called snoreplasty may be right for you.

What is snoreplasty?

During sleep, throat muscles and tissues relax. Snoring is caused by the vibration of these throat tissues due to airflow as one breathes in and out. Snoreplasty, or injection snoreplasty, is a treatment that may reduce the loudness and incidence of primary snoring. Unlike other procedures that aim to reduce snoring, such as tonsillectomies and adenoidectomies, snoreplasty is non-surgical, safe, and effective.

How is snoreplasty done?

Injection snoreplasty is performed right in our office by your Iowa ENT Center physician. After numbing the upper palate with a topical anesthetic, a hardening agent is injected just under the skin on the top of the mouth in front of the uvula (upper palate), creating a small blister. Within a couple of days, the blister hardens, forms scar tissue, and pulls the floppy uvula forward to eliminate or reduce the palatal flutter that causes snoring.

Is snoreplasty effective?

In a clinical study, 92% of patients reported a significant decrease in snoring. There were no significant post-injection complications, and patients confirmed minimal discomfort. Most patients received more than one treatment (average of 1.8) in order to receive optimal palatal stiffening.

What is recovery time for snoreplasty?

Most patients can return to work the same day after the treatment, with full recovery after just a week or two. In some patients, the treatment needs to be repeated one time for optimum benefits.

Is snoreplasty covered by insurance?

Because treatment for “simple snoring” (snoring without sleep apnea) isn’t considered a medical condition by insurance companies, snoreplasty usually is not covered by insurance. However, because Iowa ENT Center can perform this procedure in our office, the cost is much lower than the cost of snoring treatments that require surgery.

See if you’re a candidate for snoreplasty

A thorough examination by an ear, nose, and throat specialist is recommended to diagnose the source and type of snoring and to determine whether snoreplasty may be helpful. To request a consultation, complete the form below, or call 515-223-4368.