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Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Surgery

Advanced surgical options to improve breathing during sleep, reduce snoring, and treat obstructive sleep apnoea in adults and children.

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What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea Surgery and When Is It Recommended?

Sleep apnea surgery focuses on addressing physical structures in the upper airway that contribute to upper airway obstruction during sleep. When non-surgical sleep apnea treatments do not provide adequate relief or are difficult to tolerate, upper airway surgery for obstructive sleep apnea may offer targeted solutions to enlarge or stabilise the airway and improve breathing during sleep.

Sleep Apnea Surgery Options

A range of surgical procedures may be considered depending on the location and cause of airway obstruction.

Midline Glossectomy

Surgical removal of tongue base tissue to treat snoring or obstructive sleep apnoea by reducing airway collapse during sleep.
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Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) & Coblation Tongue Channelling

UPPP and coblation tongue channelling are surgical procedures that help treat snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea by opening and stabilising the airway.
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Drug Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE)

A specialised test that assesses airway collapse during sleep to guide personalised treatment for snoring and sleep apnoea.
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Tonsillectomy

Removal of chronically infected or enlarged tonsils in adults to relieve throat pain, improve sleep, and reduce infection recurrence.
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Intracapsular Tonsillotomy

Minimally invasive tonsil surgery for childhood sleep apnoea with quicker recovery and less pain or bleeding.
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Paediatric Tonsillectomy

Surgical removal of enlarged tonsils to improve breathing, reduce infections, and improve sleep in children.
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Paediatric Nasal Turbinate Cautery/Coblation

A gentle treatment to reduce nasal swelling in children, improving breathing, sleep, and comfort when medications fall short.
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Adenoidectomy

Surgical removal of enlarged adenoids to improve breathing, reduce infections, and support better sleep in children.
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Choosing the Right Sleep Apnoea Surgery

Every patient’s upper airway anatomy is different, meaning there is no single surgical approach that works for everyone. Severe obstructive sleep apnea surgery may involve different surgical approaches depending on the location and cause of airway obstruction.

  • Comprehensive Airway Assessment: A detailed physical examination evaluates the nasal passages, nasal septum, soft palate, as well as the tonsils, tongue and epiglottis, for anatomical factors that may contribute to airway obstruction. A drug-induced sleep endoscopy may also be used to assess airway collapse during sleep and help guide treatment.
  • Overnight Sleep Study: A sleep study helps assess snoring and sleep-disordered breathing, determine the severity of obstructive sleep apnea, and distinguish obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) from central sleep apnea.Adults presenting with snoring are generally recommended to complete a sleep study, ideally before their consultation. For many patients, this can be an ambulatory study completed at home using equipment provided by a reputable sleep study provider. If you have not had a sleep study or your previous results are several years old, Dr Phillips can arrange one if needed.
  • Individualised Treatment Planning: Your treatment plan is customised to your medical history and goals. This may include nasal surgery to address nasal obstruction, soft tissue surgery around the palate, or multilevel OSA surgery, depending on your individual needs.

Dr Nicholas Phillips' Expertise

Finding an experienced obstructive sleep apnea surgeon is important when considering surgical treatment. Dr Nicholas Phillips is an ENT surgeon with expertise in the surgical management of obstructive sleep apnea. He is one of two ENT surgeons in Queensland and one of ten in Australia to have completed additional training in snoring and sleep surgery.

His approach includes:

  • Specialist Training: Advanced training in snoring and sleep apnoea surgery, with a focus on upper airway surgery for obstructive sleep apnea and complex airway evaluation.
  • Extensive Clinical Experience: Comprehensive expertise performing targeted ENT surgery for sleep apnea, ranging from targeted nasal procedures to complex soft tissue reconstructions.
  • A Collaborative Shared-Care Approach: Working alongside GPs, sleep physicians, CPAP providers, and dentists offering oral appliance therapy to ensure surgery fits into a complete, multidisciplinary care model.
  • Gold Coast Location: Providing sleep apnoea surgery and personalised airway care to patients at his Gold Coast clinical facilities.

Sleep Apnea Surgery - Frequently Asked Questions

When is sleep apnea surgery recommended?

Obstructive sleep apnea surgery is generally considered when other obstructive sleep apnea treatment options, such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP therapy) or oral appliances (mandibular advancement splints), have not provided sufficient relief, or when a patient cannot tolerate CPAP machines. It may also be recommended as a primary treatment in some patients when a clear anatomical obstruction, such as significantly enlarged tonsils, is contributing to obstructive sleep apnoea.

Surgical options target different levels of the airway:

  • Nasal Surgery: Procedures to straighten a deviated nasal septum or reduce enlarged turbinates to improve airflow.
  • Palatal and Throat Procedures: Soft tissue surgery like UPPP surgery to reshape the soft palate and enlarge the throat passage.
  • Tongue Base Procedures: Targeted procedures such as Midline Glossectomy or coblation tongue channelling to reduce tongue tissue volume.
  • Multilevel Surgery: Combining techniques across the nose, palate, and tongue for patients with multi-site airway collapse.

No. Surgery is not a universal solution for every common sleep disorder. It is not indicated for central sleep apnea, where breathing interruptions are caused by reduced or absent respiratory effort rather than physical blockage of the upper airway. Patients with a high body mass index or complex medical conditions may require additional medical management or other sleep apnea treatment approaches alongside, or instead of, surgery. A thorough evaluation determines whether obstructive sleep apnoea surgery or a targeted soft-tissue procedure is appropriate for you.

Yes. Snoring occurs when tissues in the upper airway vibrate as air moves through the airway during sleep. By removing or reshaping obstructing tissue and stabilising the airway, surgery for obstructive sleep apnea may reduce snoring and improve nighttime breathing in appropriately selected patients.

Yes. Surgery is one of several approaches to managing obstructive sleep apnoea. Other sleep apnoea treatments may include CPAP therapy, oral appliances, positional therapy and weight loss. Depending on your individual circumstances, bariatric surgery or other specialist procedures may also be considered. Alcohol and sedative medications can worsen snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea, so reducing or avoiding these where appropriate may help improve symptoms.

Book a Consultation

If you struggle with loud snoring, experience daytime sleepiness, or cannot tolerate CPAP, contact us today to arrange a consultation with Dr Nicholas Phillips at his Gold Coast practice to discuss whether sleep apnea surgery is right for you. 

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To book with Dr Phillips, you’ll need a referral from your GP or specialist. Questions? Call our team — we’re happy to help.