If you’re one of the estimated 30 million Americans living with sleep apnea, you might have been prescribed a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. While CPAP therapy is highly effective for keeping your airways open during sleep, many people find the machine uncomfortable, noisy, or difficult to maintain long term.
At Memorial Village Sinus and Hearing in Houston, Texas, Conrad Kyle McCutcheon, MD, FACS, understands that CPAP isn’t the right fit for everyone. That’s why we offer other options, including somnoplasty.
Take a moment as we explain this procedure and its benefits.
Somnoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure designed to treat snoring and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) without surgery and without a CPAP machine.
Dr. McCutcheon uses targeted radiofrequency energy to shrink tissues in your throat — excess tissue that can block your airway while you sleep. Depending on the severity of your sleep apnea and how much excess tissue you have, you may need anywhere from one to four treatments.
Somnoplasty helps prevent airway collapse and improves your airflow without oral appliances or bulky machines with masks.
When comparing your various sleep apnea treatments, there are many reasons to consider somnoplasty over other options.
There’s no cutting, no stitches, and no incisions to worry about. Dr. McCutcheon uses a small, handheld device, and the whole process usually takes around 30 minutes from start to finish.
While a CPAP machine isn’t invasive, other advanced sleep apnea treatments like uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) are. Invasive surgeries tend to have longer and more painful recoveries with increased risks of complications.
Dr. McCutcheon performs somnoplasty in the office so you don’t need to go to the hospital or another surgery center. Because you just need local anesthesia, you don’t have to worry about nausea and brain fog — two common side effects of general anesthesia.
After your somnoplasty, you can return to work or other daily tasks. Be aware that you may feel slight tenderness and discomfort, but this typically subsides within 48 hours. You may also experience excess mucus production for 48 hours.
Taking care of your CPAP machine is one of the biggest drawbacks of using this sleep apnea treatment method. You have to clean your machine regularly, and if you travel regularly, you have to bring your machine. In fact, it’s so cumbersome that only 50% of people who are prescribed a CPAP stick with it.
And if you like to camp — your CPAP machine just adds another layer of complication — finding a plug for your machine when you want to go off the grid isn’t always easy.
Somnoplasty doesn’t come with any of these disadvantages. There’s no machine to clean, no plugs to worry about, and no extra devices that you need to pack.
Somnoplasty frees you from CPAP machine maintenance, but it also frees you from using the machine. Many people complain about wearing the mask, having a dry nose, or feeling claustrophobic in their mask.
While somnoplasty can be highly effective for mild to moderate sleep apnea or disruptive snoring, it may not be appropriate for everyone — particularly those with severe obstructive sleep apnea.
At Memorial Village Sinus and Hearing, Dr. McCutcheon thoroughly evaluates your condition, discusses your symptoms, and helps you determine whether somnoplasty or another treatment approach is the best next step.
Ready to learn more about somnoplasty? Give us a call at 281-822-3777 or use our online scheduling system to request an appointment.
