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Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP)

Palate surgery; Uvulopalatal flap procedure; UPPP; Laser-assisted uvulopalaplasty; Radiofrequency palatoplasty; Velopharyngeal insufficiency - UPPP; Obstructive sleep apnea - uvulopalaplasty; OSA - uvulopalaplasty

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is surgery to open the upper airways by taking out extra tissue in the throat. It may be done alone to treat mild obstructive sleep apnea or snoring or with other procedures to treat moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

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Description

UPPP removes soft tissue at the back of the throat. This includes:

Why the Procedure Is Performed

Your health care provider may recommend this surgery if you have mild OSA.

Your provider may recommend this surgery to treat severe snoring, even if you do not have OSA. Before you decide about this surgery:

Sometimes, UPPP is done along with other more invasive surgeries to treat severe OSA.

Risks

Risks of anesthesia and surgery in general are:

Risks of this surgery are:

Before the Procedure

Be sure to tell your surgeon or nurse:

During the week before the surgery:

On the day of the surgery:

After the Procedure

This surgery most often requires an overnight stay in the hospital to make sure you can swallow. UPPP surgery can be painful and full recovery takes 2 or 3 weeks.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Sleep apnea improves at first for about half of the people who have this surgery. Over time, the benefit wears off for many people.

Some studies suggest that surgery is best suited only for people with abnormalities in the soft palate.

References

Katsantonis GP. Classic uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. In: Friedman M, Jacobowitz O, eds. Sleep Apnea and Snoring. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 32.

Qaseem A, Holty JE, Owens DK, et al; Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians. Management of obstructive sleep apnea in adults: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2013;159(7):471-483. PMID: 24061345 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24061345/.

Sarber KM, Lam DJ, Ishman SL. Sleep apnea and sleep disorders. In: Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 15.

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Review Date: 6/4/2023  

Reviewed By: Josef Shargorodsky, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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