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Best ENT Hospital in Los Angeles - UC Irvine Department of Otolaryngology

Best ENT Hospital in Los Angeles

Snoring and sleep apnea pose a serious risk to your health.

Along with being inconvenient and annoying for both you and your bed partner, both conditions also put you at a higher risk of illnesses like high blood pressure and heart disease. When you want to overcome snoring and sleep apnea, you may undergo an operation called the Pillar Procedure at the best ENT hospital in Los Angeles.

What is the Pillar Procedure?

The Pillar Procedure is a relatively new operation designed to alleviate both snoring and sleep apnea. It involves the implantation of two rods that measure 18 millimeters in length and 1.5 millimeters in diameter into the soft palate in the back of the mouth. The implants prevent the soft palate from relaxing while you are asleep, thus preventing both snoring and sleep apnea.

The entire procedure takes less than 30 minutes and is performed at the best ENT hospital in Los Angeles or your doctor's office. It is done under local anesthesia, allowing you to remain awake during the surgery. You also are allowed to go home to recuperate the same day, saving you an overnight stay in the hospital.

While the Pillar Procedure is safe and has high success rates, it is not designed for everyone. Primarily, people with obstructive sleep apnea are discouraged from going through this surgery. Likewise, people who are significantly overweight or obese are not allowed to undergo the Pillar Procedure.

How is the Pillar Procedure Performed?

The Pillar Procedure is performed while you are awake but numb so you do not feel any sensation during the operation. It begins with the doctor using a topical anesthetic to numb your palate. He or she will then inject another local anesthetic into the tissue of your soft palate to prevent you from feeling the implant process.

Once you are numb, the doctor will then insert two rods into your soft palate. Your soft palate tissue will grow over the implants, preventing the back of your throat from relaxing while you are asleep.

After the procedure is finished, you will remain under observation for a few minutes longer to ensure you are not bleeding or experiencing an allergic reaction. If you are stable and not in significant pain, you will be allowed to go home to recover.

Recovery from the Pillar Procedure

When you get home, you may notice that your throat is sore. Your doctor may prescribe you anti-inflammatory medicine to take to ease the pain and swelling in the back of your throat.

You can go back to your normal routine the same day as long as you feel good and are not in pain. You also can resume your normal diet.

The Pillar Procedure helps up to 80 percent of the people who go through it stop snoring and suffering from sleep apnea. This operation is highly safe and effective. When you want to overcome both snoring and sleep apnea yourself, you may ask your doctor at the best ENT hospital in Los Angeles about your options.