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The Modern Day UPPP

The Modern Day UPPP | Sinus & Snoring Specialists

Patients have heard about this procedure for snoring and sleep apnea and have many questions.

The purpose of this procedure is to elevate and stiffen the soft palate. The soft palate is the structure in the back of your throat that includes the uvula (the little thing that hangs in the back of your throat).

The soft palate in many patients produces vibration during sleep as the air passes from the nose to the lungs.

The old UPPP procedure was a very aggressive surgical procedure done under general anesthesia. It involved removing the uvula and a large part of the soft palate along with a tonsillectomy. There was weeks of downtime and misery with unpredictable results.

The UPPP Procedure

The modern UPPP procedure that Dr. Slaughter performs is done in the office under IV sedation. It is frequently combined with balloon sinuplasty as the two together can significantly improve snoring and sleep apnea. Dr. Slaughter trims the uvula to it’s base and does a stiffening injection to the soft palate. There is no removal of soft palate tissue. The stiffening injection is a special alcohol mixture that stimulates the soft palate to elevate and stiffen itself as it lays down scar tissue. There is 9 weeks of improvement as it heals and the results are permanent. Patients do have a sore throat for about 2 weeks but nothing like the old procedure. The vast majority of patients are able to work the next day.

Schedule a Consultation

If you or your loved one has a snoring or sleep apnea issue, balloon sinuplasty and our special UPPP procedure may be the answer for you. Contact our office at 512.601.0303 to schedule a consultation today!

Posted in: Sleep Apnea, Snoring

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