Surgery
Surgical treatment for sleep apnea involves removing soft tissue from the back of the throat. The most commonly performed procedure is called uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). This is a very invasive surgical procedure performed in the operating room, under general anesthesia, and typically requires an overnight stay in the hospital, and a very painful two week recovery period. Studies consistently show that UPPP is only effective in about 50 - 60% of patients.
