Ear, Nose & Throat Treatment Print UPPP Surgery How a Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty Procedure Can Help Sleep Apnea By Kristin Hayes, RN facebook twitter Kristin Hayes, RN, is a registered nurse specializing in ear, nose, and throat disorders for both adults and children. Learn about our editorial process Kristin Hayes, RN Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Susan Olender, MD on August 05, 2016 Susan Olender, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine. She is an assistant professor at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, where she is also on staff in the Division of Infectious Disease. Learn about our Medical Review Board Susan Olender, MD Updated on January 19, 2020 Jan Otto/Getty Images More in Ear, Nose & Throat Treatment Diagnosis Coping ENT Disorders Pediatric ENT Disorders UPPP is a medical abbreviation for uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, a surgery that involves removing the soft tissue at the back of the throat, including the uvula, soft palate, and sometimes additional soft tissue at the back of the throat. A tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are sometimes performed at the same time. This surgery is aimed at treating obstructive sleep apnea, a condition where these structures can block the airway and cause cessation of breathing while you are asleep. Due to potential complications involved in this surgery, most doctors recommend other treatment measures for sleep apnea, particularly C-PAP. If other treatment measures fail, a UPPP may be recommended. However, the success rate of this surgery is highly variable and depends upon factors such as the patient's BMI and anatomical characteristics. Complications and Recovery Complications of the surgery are similar to any procedure under anesthesia and also include bleeding, infection, difficulty swallowing after the surgery, a decreased sense of smell, and voice changes. These risks and the benefit of potentially curing obstructive sleep apnea must be carefully considered. Sleep apnea, if left untreated, can itself cause potentially life-threatening complications. Most sources claim that the recovery time of this surgery is about 2 to 3 weeks or more and that the surgery can be rather painful. This information may not be particularly helpful when considering UPPP, however, because every person's recovery time and perception of pain will vary. Bottom Line Before having UPPP, you may want to talk to your doctor about the possibility of having a "toned down" version of this surgery. For example, removing the tonsils and adenoids has been considered helpful in treating snoring and sleep apnea, as has uvulectomy. Keep in mind, however, that any surgery used to treat sleep apnea has not been well-studied long term, and there is no guarantee that surgery will cure your problem or that you will not have to use a C-PAP after the surgery. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Browaldh N, Nerfeldt P, Lysdahl M, Bring J, Friberg D. SKUP3 randomised controlled trial: polysomnographic results after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty in selected patients with obstructive sleep apnoea. Thorax. 2013;68(9):846-53. doi:10.1136/thoraxjnl-2012-202610 Spicuzza L, Caruso D, Di Maria G. Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and its management. Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 2015;6(5):273-85. doi:10.1177/2040622315590318 Carvalho B, Hsia J, Capasso R. Surgical therapy of obstructive sleep apnea: a review. Neurotherapeutics. 2012;9(4):710-6. doi:10.1007/s13311-012-0141-x University of Wisconsin Health. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty for obstructive sleep apnea. Updated June 9, 2019. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Sleep apnea. MedlinePlus. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). Updated May 22, 2019. Reckley LK, Fernandez-salvador C, Camacho M. The effect of tonsillectomy on obstructive sleep apnea: an overview of systematic reviews. Nat Sci Sleep. 2018;10:105-110. doi:10.2147/NSS.S127816 Caples SM, Rowley JA, Prinsell JR, et al. Surgical modifications of the upper airway for obstructive sleep apnea in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep. 2010;33(10):1396-407. doi:10.1093/sleep/33.10.1396 Additional Reading University of Maryland Medical Center. Obstructive Sleep Apnea - Surgery.