Can surgery fix sleep apnea?

For some kinds of sleep apnea, especially obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), surgery can help when other treatments like CPAP or changes to your lifestyle haven't worked. Surgical methods try to get rid of or move the tissue in the throat that is blocking the airway. Some common surgeries are uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), which removes extra tissue from the throat, and maxillomandibular advancement, which moves the jaw to make the mouth bigger. Sometimes, surgery may also involve fixing structural problems with the body that cause sleep apnea, like stuffy noses or swollen lips.

Surgery, on the other hand, isn't always the best option and is usually only suggested after a full evaluation. It can work very differently for each person, depending on things like how bad their sleep apnea is, their body structure, and their general health. A lot of people may feel a lot better after surgery, while others may not notice a big difference. So, it's important to talk to a doctor who specializes in sleep disorders to find out if surgery is the best choice and to look into all of the other treatment options that are out there.