Snoring occurs when air does not flow smoothly through the mouth and/or nose.  The person who is snoring does not hear it.  Snoring frequently disrupts the quality of sleep for other household members. The person who snores may be unpopular because a roommate’s rest may be disturbed.  The person who snores may feel embarrassment, and may be the subject of mild ridicule. Treatment for snoring is done primarily to relieve disturbance of sleep for other household members. 

Snoring has not been shown to cause any medical problems. However, snoring may be a symptom of an underlying medical problem.  Medical problems, such as a nasal allergy or obstructive sleep apnea (heavy snoring with occasional pauses in breathing), may need to be ruled out as the cause of snoring.

Behavior modification approaches, which may decrease or eliminate snoring, include weight loss and the avoidance of alcohol and sedatives.  Other behavior modifications include changes in sleep position and the establishment of regular sleeping patterns.  These behavioral modifications may also improve the health of the person. 

Different surgical techniques are offered in an attempt to decrease or eliminate snoring. It is difficult to predict who will benefit from surgery. Evidence-based quality studies have not been done to evaluate whether these surgical techniques are effective.  Surgical treatment may have to be repeated in an effort to obtain the desired outcome.  

• This assessment will address surgical treatments for socially disruptive snoring only.
• 45% of adults snore at least occasionally and 25% snore habitually.
• Males snore more frequently than females.
• Snoring has not been shown to cause any medical problems.
• Surgical techniques to treat snoring include:

-     Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP)

-     Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP)

-     Somnoplasty

• Behavior modification approaches may lead to a reduction in snoring.  Unlike surgery, behavior modification does not have the risks of side effects

Will I live longer if I have a surgical procedure to prevent socially disruptive snoring?

No.  Socially disruptive snoring is not known to have an impact on length of life.

Will surgery improve my quality of life?

No.  Socially disruptive snoring is not known to cause medical problems that impact quality of life.

Will surgery stop my snoring completely?

No. It is unlikely that socially disruptive snoring will completely stop after surgery.

How safe is this for me?

How safe is this surgery for me?

Surgery is an invasive procedure that involves the potential for complications.

Minor reported complications:

• Pain and discomfort associated with the procedure
• Change in voice
• A small amount of bleeding after the procedure

Major reported complications:

• Numbness of the tongue
• Loss of taste
• Regurgitation of food or fluid into the nose
• Infection
• An allergic reaction to the medication used for sedation, which could result in death

Alternative treatment (behavioral modification) includes:

• Weight loss
• Avoidance of alcohol and sedatives
• Positional therapy
• Sleep on the side, instead of on the back
• Elevate the head of the bed on blocks
• Establishment of regular sleeping patterns
• Go to bed at the same time each night, even on weekends
• Keep a constant room temperature

Evidence-based quality studies have not been done to evaluate whether these surgical techniques are effective.  The average cost for surgical treatment of snoring may range from $5,000 to $25,000.  Cost could run over $100,000, depending on the amount of surgery performed.

The cost may or may not be covered by insurance.

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