Surgical Treatment for Sleep Apnea in Maryland
Sleep Apnea Surgery at Will Surgical Arts
If you've been told you have sleep apnea, or if you suspect you might, it's worth taking seriously. Sleep apnea isn't just about snoring loudly or feeling tired in the morning. When left untreated, it can put real strain on your heart, lungs and cardiovascular system over time, and it can affect your ability to concentrate, your mood, and your overall quality of life.
Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, happens when the tongue falls back against the throat during sleep and blocks the airway. When that blockage cuts off airflow, oxygen levels in the blood drop. The brain senses the problem and jolts the body just enough to clear the airway and start breathing again, usually with a loud gasp. This cycle can repeat many times throughout the night without the person ever fully waking up or realizing it's happening. The result is fragmented, poor-quality sleep and the health consequences that come with it.
Some patients have a milder version of this called Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS), which causes many of the same symptoms even though the airway doesn't fully collapse.
At Will Surgical Arts in Ijamsville, MD, Dr. Michael Will and Dr. Brian Will are oral and maxillofacial surgeons with the training to evaluate and surgically treat sleep apnea. If you're struggling with sleep apnea symptoms, request a consultation at Will Surgical Arts today.
From Diagnosis to Treatment, We Can Help
Understanding Sleep Apnea & Your Surgical Options
There are several ways to approach sleep apnea treatment, and surgery isn't always the first step. Here's a look at how we evaluate the condition and what treatment options are available.
Getting the Right Diagnosis
Before any treatment can begin, it's important to understand what's actually causing the obstruction and how severe it is. Our surgeons start by reviewing your medical history and taking a close look at the anatomy of your jaw and airway. Skull X-rays, called cephalometric analysis, help identify where in the airway the obstruction is occurring. In some cases, a flexible fiber-optic camera is used to examine the nasal passage and throat directly.
To get a clear picture of how much your oxygen levels are being affected overnight, a sleep study may be recommended, called polysynography. A sleep study monitors your breathing, oxygen levels, and sleep patterns through the night and gives our team the information they need to determine the best treatment path for you.
Non-Surgical Treatment First
For many patients, the first line of treatment is a CPAP machine, which stands for continuous positive airway pressure. CPAP delivers a steady stream of pressurized air through a mask worn during sleep, which keeps the airway open and prevents the obstruction from occurring. It's a non-surgical option that works well for a lot of people, and it's often the starting point before surgical options are considered. Compliance with using the mask and machine tends to be limited due to its inconvenience and movement during sleep.
Surgical Treatment Options
When surgery is appropriate, there are a few different approaches depending on where the obstruction is and how complex the case is.
One option is a procedure called uvulo-palato-pharyngo-plasty, or UPPP. This surgery is performed at the back of the soft palate and throat to remove or reshape tissue that's contributing to the blockage. A similar procedure can be done using a laser, called a laser-assisted uvulo-palato-plasty (LAUP). In some cases, a radio-frequency probe is used instead to tighten the soft palate without removing tissue. These office-based procedures are typically performed under light IV sedation. These soft tissue surgical procedures have proven to have limited success and surgical advancement of the jaws may be a more definitive and a successful approach to treating OSAS.
Our surgeons will help you understand which approach makes the most sense based on your anatomy, the severity of your condition, and your overall health.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between obstructive sleep apnea and Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) happens when the airway becomes fully blocked during sleep, causing breathing to stop repeatedly throughout the night. Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS) is a milder condition where the airway doesn't fully collapse, but it narrows enough to create increased resistance to airflow. Both conditions disrupt sleep quality and can cause similar symptoms, including daytime fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and low energy. The key difference is the degree of obstruction. A sleep study and a thorough evaluation are the best ways to determine which condition you have and what kind of treatment makes sense for your situation.
How do I know if I need surgery for sleep apnea, or if a CPAP machine will be enough?
The right treatment depends on what's causing your sleep apnea and how severe it is. For many people, a CPAP machine is an effective first-line solution that keeps the airway open during sleep without any surgical intervention. Surgery tends to be considered when CPAP isn't well-tolerated, when the anatomy of the jaw or throat is contributing significantly to the problem, or when conservative treatments haven't provided enough relief. Our surgeons will do a thorough evaluation and help you understand all of your options so you can make an informed decision about the approach that fits your life and your needs.
Is jaw repositioning surgery a common treatment for sleep apnea?
It's not the first option for most patients, but it's an important one for people whose sleep apnea is connected to the position of their jaws. When the upper or lower jaw sits in a position that narrows the airway, moving those bones forward can significantly increase the amount of space available for airflow during sleep. This type of orthognathic surgery is typically reserved for more complex cases where soft tissue procedures haven't been sufficient or aren't indicated. It's done in our surgery center or a hospital setting under general anesthesia and may involve overnight stay in the hospital for inpatient recovery.
How do I book with a sleep apnea surgery specialist?
Getting started is easy. You can request an appointment online or give us a call at (301) 874-1707, and our team will find a time that works for you. At your consultation, our surgeons will review your symptoms, evaluate your airway anatomy, and help you understand what your options are. We look forward to seeing you!