Sleep Apnea Surgery
Sleep apnea surgery treats obstructive sleep apnea — repeated blockage of the upper airway during sleep — by removing or repositioning the tissue that collapses and obstructs breathing. It is considered when CPAP therapy and other measures are not tolerated or not enough, and the procedure is chosen to address the specific site of obstruction identified in each patient.
Medically reviewed by the Florence Healthcare medical team · Last reviewed June 2026
Overview
In obstructive sleep apnea, the muscles and soft tissues at the back of the throat relax and collapse during sleep, repeatedly blocking the airway, interrupting breathing and disturbing sleep. This causes loud snoring, daytime sleepiness and, over time, strain on the heart and circulation. The first-line treatment for most people is CPAP — a mask that keeps the airway open with gentle air pressure — along with weight loss and lifestyle changes. Surgery is considered when these are not tolerated or do not control the condition.
There is no single sleep apnea operation; the right procedure depends on where the airway is obstructing, which is identified with a sleep study and an examination of the nose, palate, tonsils and tongue base. Options include surgery on the soft palate and throat (such as UPPP), removing enlarged tonsils, procedures to address the tongue base, and correcting nasal obstruction. In selected patients, newer approaches such as an implanted nerve stimulator that keeps the airway open may be considered.
Surgery is part of a broader plan that includes weight and lifestyle management, and not everyone is a candidate. International patients receive a coordinator who arranges assessment, the procedure and follow-up, and our specialists can review your sleep study and history remotely to advise on whether surgery is appropriate and which approach fits.
Who is a candidate?
- People with obstructive sleep apnea confirmed on a sleep study
- Patients who cannot tolerate or do not benefit enough from CPAP therapy
- Those with a clear, treatable site of obstruction such as enlarged tonsils or palate tissue
- People with nasal obstruction contributing to disturbed breathing in sleep
- Patients seeking an expert opinion on whether surgery could help their sleep apnea
What happens
- 1
Assessment
A sleep study confirms and grades the sleep apnea, and an examination of the nose, palate, tonsils and tongue base identifies where the airway is obstructing.
- 2
Planning the right procedure
Because the obstruction site varies, your surgeon recommends the procedure — or combination — that targets your anatomy, alongside weight and lifestyle measures.
- 3
The procedure
Under general anesthesia, the surgeon removes or repositions the obstructing tissue — for example soft-palate and throat surgery, tonsil removal, tongue-base or nasal procedures.
- 4
Early recovery
Throat procedures cause a sore throat for one to two weeks. You stay one to two nights and follow advice on diet, pain relief and activity as you heal.
- 5
Follow-up
A repeat sleep study later confirms the effect on your breathing. International patients receive a recovery and follow-up plan, with weight and lifestyle support continuing at home.
Benefits
- Can relieve airway obstruction when CPAP is not tolerated or sufficient
- The procedure is targeted to your specific site of obstruction
- Can reduce snoring and daytime sleepiness and improve sleep quality
- May lessen the long-term strain that untreated sleep apnea places on the heart
- Combined with weight and lifestyle measures for the best, lasting result
Risks & considerations
- A sore throat and discomfort for one to two weeks after throat procedures
- Bleeding, infection and the general risks of a general anesthetic
- Surgery may not fully resolve the apnea, and CPAP or further treatment can still be needed
- Changes to swallowing or voice, usually temporary, after some throat operations
- Results vary with anatomy, weight and the severity of the apnea
Conditions this treats
Where it is performed
This procedure is delivered by our Obesity Center.
Learn more before you decide
Provider-reviewed guides on the related conditions, symptoms and tests in our Health Library.
Sleep Apnea Surgery — frequently asked questions
Surgery is considered when CPAP therapy and measures such as weight loss are not tolerated or do not control obstructive sleep apnea, and when there is a clear, treatable site of airway obstruction identified on examination.
No. The right procedure depends on where your airway obstructs — the palate, tonsils, tongue base or nose. A sleep study and examination identify the site so the surgery can be targeted, sometimes combining more than one procedure.
Surgery can improve or resolve obstruction in well-selected patients, but it does not always cure sleep apnea completely, and CPAP or further treatment may still be needed. It works best alongside weight and lifestyle management.
Yes. Share your sleep study and history and our specialists advise on whether surgery is appropriate and which approach fits your anatomy, before you commit to travel.
Sleep apnea surgery usually means around one to two nights in hospital, plus a recovery of about two weeks for throat procedures before flying — your coordinator confirms the plan. We provide a transparent, itemized estimate after reviewing your case rather than a fixed online price.
Related treatments
Considering sleep apnea surgery?
Share your reports for a medical second opinion and a transparent, itemized cost estimate — usually within 48 hours.