Ear, Nose & Throat Treatment 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 John Carew, MD on September 14, 2020 twitter linkedin John Carew, MD, is board-certified in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. He is an adjunct assistant professor at Mount Sinai Medical Center and NYU Medical Center. Learn about our Medical Review Board John Carew, MD on September 14, 2020 Print 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 continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Additionally, UPPP sometimes will not completely cure the sleep apnea. 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. Jan Otto / Getty Images 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. 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. Additional Reading University of Maryland Medical Center. Obstructive Sleep Apnea - Surgery.