Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Treatment in Sydney

Snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) surgery treats airway obstruction that causes disrupted breathing during sleep. At Central Sydney ENT, our surgeons use drug-induced sleep endoscopy to identify the exact sites of collapse, then perform targeted procedures including uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, tongue base reduction and multilevel sleep surgery to restore normal airflow.

Understanding Snoring and Sleep Apnoea

Snoring occurs when soft tissues in the upper airway vibrate during sleep. While snoring alone is common and often benign, it can indicate obstructive sleep apnoea: a condition where the airway repeatedly collapses during sleep, causing pauses in breathing that fragment sleep and reduce oxygen levels.

OSA affects approximately 10 to 25 percent of Australian adults and is associated with increased risks of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, daytime fatigue and motor vehicle accidents. Diagnosis requires an overnight sleep study (polysomnography) to measure the frequency and severity of breathing interruptions.

When Is Surgery Recommended?

CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) remains the first-line treatment for moderate to severe OSA. However, surgery may be recommended when:

• CPAP therapy cannot be tolerated despite adequate trials and mask adjustments
• There is a clear anatomical cause of obstruction such as large tonsils, an elongated soft palate, or tongue base collapse
• The patient has mild to moderate OSA and prefers a surgical solution over lifelong CPAP use
• Nasal obstruction prevents effective CPAP delivery and nasal surgery may improve compliance
• Social snoring significantly impacts the patient or their partner despite conservative measures

Surgical Procedures

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP)

UPPP is the most established sleep surgery procedure. It involves trimming and reshaping the soft palate, removing the uvula, and tightening the lateral pharyngeal tissues. This widens the airway behind the palate and reduces tissue vibration that causes snoring. The procedure is performed through the mouth under general anaesthesia with no external incisions.

Tongue Base Reduction

When the tongue base is identified as a site of obstruction on DISE, reduction procedures can be performed using coblation or radiofrequency energy to shrink the tongue tissue and prevent it from falling backward during sleep. These techniques are minimally invasive and can be combined with palate surgery in a single operation.

Nasal Surgery for Sleep-Disordered Breathing

Nasal obstruction from a deviated septum, turbinate hypertrophy or nasal valve collapse can worsen snoring, contribute to mouth breathing, and reduce CPAP effectiveness. Septoplasty, turbinate reduction and nasal valve repair can be performed as standalone procedures or combined with palate and tongue base surgery.

Tonsillectomy for Sleep Apnoea

In adults with enlarged tonsils contributing to airway narrowing, tonsillectomy can significantly improve or resolve OSA. It is frequently performed alongside UPPP. In children, adenotonsillectomy remains the first-line surgical treatment for paediatric OSA.

Non-Surgical Management

Not all patients with snoring or OSA require surgery. Non-surgical options managed or co-ordinated through Central Sydney ENT include:

• CPAP therapy: the gold standard for moderate to severe OSA, delivered via a mask worn during sleep
• Mandibular advancement splints: custom dental devices that hold the lower jaw forward to prevent tongue base collapse, suitable for mild to moderate OSA and snoring
• Weight management: even modest weight loss can reduce OSA severity, particularly in patients with a BMI above 30
• Positional therapy: strategies to avoid sleeping on the back, where airway collapse is typically worst

Our Surgeons

All six ENT surgeons at Central Sydney ENT are experienced in the assessment and surgical treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea. Our team includes Dr Arjuna Ananda, Dr Philip Yeung, Dr Rahuram Sivasubramaniam, Dr Alexander Zhang, Dr Sam Hwang, and Dr Jareen Ebenezer. Each surgeon performs drug-induced sleep endoscopy and offers the full range of sleep surgery procedures.

Related Conditions

Snoring and sleep apnoea are closely linked to several conditions treated at Central Sydney ENT:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: the underlying condition in patients with significant airway obstruction during sleep
• Snoring: may occur in isolation or as a symptom of underlying OSA
• Deviated Septum: nasal obstruction that can worsen sleep-disordered breathing
• Tonsillitis / Enlarged Tonsils: can contribute to airway narrowing in both adults and children