About Uvulopharyngoplasty
Key Highlights
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Effectively reduces or eliminates loud, disruptive snoring.Significantly decreases the number of apnea events in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.Can improve daytime alertness, mood, and cognitive function by promoting restful sleep.May reduce long-term cardiovascular risks associated with untreated sleep apnea.Often performed as a single procedure with lasting results.
Who is this surgery for?
- Moderate to severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) diagnosed by a sleep study (polysomnography).
- Severe, socially disruptive snoring that does not respond to lifestyle changes.
- Excessive daytime sleepiness or fatigue due to poor sleep quality.
- Failure or intolerance of CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy.
- Presence of specific anatomical factors like a long uvula, large tonsils, or excess soft palate tissue contributing to airway obstruction.
How to prepare
- Undergo a comprehensive evaluation, including a sleep study and a detailed ENT examination.
- Inform your surgeon about all medications, supplements, and allergies.
- May need to stop certain medications like blood thinners (aspirin, warfarin) as advised by the doctor.
- Complete any required pre-operative blood tests or imaging.
- Fast (no food or drink) for a specified period, typically 8-12 hours before the surgery.
- Arrange for transportation home and for post-operative assistance.
Risks & possible complications
- Bleeding during or after the procedure.
- Infection at the surgical site.
- Reaction to anesthesia.
- Temporary or permanent changes in voice quality (nasal speech).
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), especially with liquids, which usually improves over weeks.
- Persistent throat pain or a sensation of a lump in the throat.
- Regurgitation of fluids into the nose (velopharyngeal insufficiency), which is often temporary.
- Incomplete resolution of sleep apnea symptoms, potentially requiring further treatment.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Hospital stay is typically required for 1-2 nights for monitoring.
- Expect significant throat pain for 1-2 weeks, managed with prescribed pain medication and ice packs.
- A soft or liquid diet (e.g., broths, yogurt, mashed potatoes) is necessary for the first 1-2 weeks.
- Drink plenty of cool fluids to stay hydrated and soothe the throat.
- Avoid strenuous activity, heavy lifting, and bending over for at least 2 weeks.
- Follow-up appointments are crucial to monitor healing and assess surgical outcomes.
- Full recovery and final assessment of sleep apnea improvement may take several weeks to months.
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Typical hospital stay: 1-2 days
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Expected recovery time: 2-3 weeks
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering uvulopharyngoplasty in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Popular choices for uvulopharyngoplasty in India include Manipal Hospital Dwarka, Manipal Hospital Jayanagar, Manipal Hospital Malleshwaram, Manipal Hospital Hebbal, Manipal Hospital Hebbal, KMC Hospital Mangalore, known for experienced specialists and advanced surgical infrastructure.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform uvulopharyngoplasty. MediFyr helps you compare ent specialists and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for uvulopharyngoplasty compare across other countries where we have data.
Top hospitals for Uvulopharyngoplasty in India
These partner hospitals in India have dedicated ent teams and experience managing patients undergoing uvulopharyngoplasty.
Arjun Nair, a 42-year-old software engineer...
Arjun Nair, a 42-year-old software engineer and father of two, had struggled for over a decade with severe, disruptive snoring. His wife, Priya, had moved to a separate bedroom years ago, and Arjun woke up every morning feeling exhausted, with a dry mouth and a sore throat. Despite trying various nasal strips, positional therapy, and weight loss, his symptoms only worsened. A sleep study ordered by his ENT specialist, Dr. Sharma, revealed severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) with an AHI of 45. Dr. Sharma explained that Arjun's elongated uvula and bulky soft palate were causing the airway collapse. He recommended a Uvulopharyngoplasty (UPPP) as the most effective surgical intervention to reduce the tissue and open his airway. Arjun was anxious about the surgery and the recovery pain, fearing it might not work. The procedure itself went smoothly under general anesthesia. The first week of recovery was challenging, with significant throat pain managed by medication and a liquid diet. However, by the third week, the pain subsided. The outcome was transformative. Within two months, a follow-up sleep study showed his AHI had dropped to 5. Arjun now sleeps soundly, his snoring is virtually gone, and his energy levels have skyrocketed. Emotionally, he feels reconnected to his wife, who has moved back to their shared bedroom, and he is profoundly grateful for the return of restful sleep and daytime vitality.
ENT Specialists for Uvulopharyngoplasty
Explore experienced ent specialists who regularly perform uvulopharyngoplasty and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.
- 16 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Miot Hospital Chennai, Chennai
- 21 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Yeshwanthpur, Bangalore
- 14 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road, Bangalore
- 9 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
- 26 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Whitefield, Bangalore
- 24 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Whitefield, Bangalore
- 21 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Whitefield, Bangalore
- 18 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Whitefield, Bangalore
- 43 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 38 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 36 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 24 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 29 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 20 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Patiala, Patiala
- 10 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Patiala, Patiala
- 14 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Mysore, Mysore
- 14 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Mysore, Mysore
- 19 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Malleshwaram, Bangalore
- 8 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Kharadi, Pune
- 26 Years Experience
- ENT Specialist
Manipal Hospital Jayanagar, Bangalore