| For sleep apnea sufferers, tongue base collapse is | | | | as the tissues heal and tighten, patients begin to |
| a common reason for obstruction, in addition to | | | | sleep better. Most people need anywhere from |
| the soft palate. Studies have shown that by | | | | 3-5 total treatments for maximum results. The |
| addressing all the different levels of obstruction (in | | | | first treatment is typically performed along with a |
| addition to the soft palate), surgical success rates | | | | palatal procedure (the UPPP) in the operating |
| can be as high as 80%. In contrast, only treating | | | | room. Follow-up treatments are done in the office |
| one area (the soft palate with the UPPP | | | | about 4-6 weeks apart. It can take many months |
| procedure) has a 40% success rate. | | | | before you begin to see any results. |
| Somnoplasty is the brand name of a device that | | | | Success rates vary with percentages ranging |
| uses radio frequency energy to scar and shrink | | | | from the 60s to the 70s. It's difficult to compare |
| soft tissues in the upper airway area including the | | | | all the results since everyone uses a different |
| nose, the soft palate and the tongue. There are | | | | protocol and patients underwent different |
| other various manufacturers of similar equipment | | | | combination of procedures. Follow-up studies using |
| that's used for similar purposes. | | | | MRIs showed that on average, there was about a |
| This procedure involves using a thin needle probe | | | | 10-15% volume shrinkage of the tongue. |
| which is placed in the central back part of the | | | | One thing that many of the surgeons report is |
| tongue and electro frequency energy is applied, | | | | that patients are reluctant to undergo the full 4-5 |
| essentially causing a slight, controlled burn of the | | | | treatments for optimal results. I've had a similar |
| deep muscle layer. A certain preset amount of | | | | experience with my patients too when I first |
| total energy is applied to multiple areas. With time, | | | | began to perform this procedure. |