SNORING AND SLEEP APNEA

Snoring and Sleep Apnea Surgery

At WaissHealth, we understand that snoring is more than a nightly nuisance—it can be a warning sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition where breathing repeatedly stops during sleep. Left untreated, OSA can raise the risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke, while also robbing you of energy and focus during the day.

That’s why our program combines advanced diagnostics, evidence-based therapies, and modern surgical options tailored to your unique anatomy. From non-invasive evaluations to cutting-edge surgical techniques, we offer a full spectrum of solutions—whether you need support to succeed with CPAP, or you’re searching for effective alternatives.

Snoring: More Than Noisy Breathing — Hidden Health Risks You Shouldn’t Ignore

Snoring is often dismissed as a harmless nuisance, a problem that disrupts a partner’s sleep more than the snorer’s own health. But research shows that persistent, loud snoring may be a warning sign of something much more serious: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

What’s Really Happening When You Snore

Snoring occurs when airflow is partially blocked during sleep, causing

throat tissues to vibrate. For many people, it’s simply a sign of relaxed

muscles. But in others, repeated airway blockages lead to OSA—pauses

in breathing that can last 10 seconds or more and occur dozens of times

a night.

The Hidden Dangers

Untreated sleep apnea does more than make you tired:

Metabolic stress: Johns Hopkins researchers found that OSA can trigger spikes in blood sugar, fatty acids, stress hormones, and blood pressure during sleep—changes that increase risks for diabetes and heart disease.
Cardiovascular strain: OSA contributes to irregular heart rhythms, high blood pressure, stroke, and heart failure.
Daytime impairment: Fatigue, brain fog, and mood changes can affect safety, productivity, and quality of life.

When Snoring Means It’s Time to Act

Not all snoring signals danger, but seek medical evaluation if:

Your snoring is loud and nightly.
Someone notices pauses, choking, or gasping in your sleep.
You wake with headaches, dry mouth, or daytime sleepiness.

What We Do Differently

We begin with non-surgical modalities such as CPAP and oral appliance therapy, recognizing CPAP remains first line for many. But for those who cannot tolerate CPAP (due to mask intolerance, discomfort, leaks, or other factors), we offer options to improve CPAP tolerance or move quickly toward advanced techniques.

We employ sleep studies (polysomnography), airway imaging, and drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) to locate precisely where your airway collapses during sleep. We makes use of these tools to inform whether palatal, tongue base, jaw or combined surgeries are appropriate.

What is Drug -induced sleep endoscopy (DISE)?

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) is a diagnostic procedure that allows us to see how your airway behaves while you sleep. Using mild sedation to safely mimic natural sleep, a small flexible camera is gently placed through the nose to examine the throat and airway in real time.

DISE helps identify the exact site and pattern of airway collapse that causes snoring or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). With this information, we can:

Pinpoint the cause of your obstruction and breathing problems

Decide whether CPAP, an oral device, or what type of surgery is the best treatment

Plan the most effective and personalized surgical approach if needed

The procedure is done in a controlled, monitored setting.

You’ll be given medication to relax into a light, sleep-like state.

The scope is placed comfortably through the nose while your breathing is observed.

The test is usually quick, and recovery is fast since only light sedation is used.

Bottom line: DISE gives us a “nighttime view” of your airway, helping ensure that any treatment or surgery is precisely tailored to you.

Surgical options for snoring and sleep apnea

Soft Tissue & Palatal Surgeries (e.g. uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, palate expansion)

For obstruction at the soft palate / tonsil areas; helps reduce snoring and some OSA cases where CPAP intolerance or specific anatomy is present.

Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation (HGNS) / Upper Airway Stimulation .

This is a procedure we offer patients in the US and hope to make available to patients at Waisshealth. HGNS is offered to patients with moderate-to-severe OSA who are CPAP-intolerant, favorable BMI criteria, and appropriate anatomy.

Jaw Advancement / Orthognathic Surgery (Maxillomandibular Advancement, MMA)

When anatomical jaw structure contributes significantly to airway collapse, jaw advancement surgery is a powerful and effective means of treating snoring and sleep apnea. Jaw advancement surgery as a strong cosmetic effect, improving the overall facial appearance and the same time improve sleep apnea.

Adjunct Surgeries / Combined Procedures

Nose surgeries, tissue reduction or radiofrequency ablation, tongue base reductions etc., often combined with main procedures when multi-level collapse is present.