If you suffer from snoring or sleep apnea, you know how badly it can affect your quality of life. When conservative measures don’t help, the pillar procedure is an option. This procedure can address snoring or mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.
Snoring/sleep apnea and sleep quality
Getting high-quality sleep is just as important as getting enough sleep. Poor-quality sleep can lead to the same issues that lack of sleep can, including trouble concentrating, daytime drowsiness, irritability, mood changes, and more. Snoring also affects the quality of sleep of bed partners and sometimes even those who are just in the same house! This can put a strain on relationships and be a big source of self-consciousness for some.
Sleep apnea also has far-reaching consequences and can affect your health in many ways, including your blood oxygen levels and your heart.
Who is a candidate for the pillar procedure?
The procedure is ideal for those who have tried other methods but still experience snoring or sleep apnea. It can provide much-needed relief and better quality sleep.
Snoring and the soft palate
The pillar procedure targets the soft palate, which plays a role in snoring and sleep apnea. When it becomes lax during sleep, the soft palate and the tongue make contact, and the resulting vibration as you breathe in is what creates the sound of snoring. This airway obstruction can also lead to obstructive sleep apnea.
How does the pillar procedure work?
We mentioned that the procedure targets the soft palate. It does this through three tiny woven rods that are placed in the soft palate in order to provide structure to the area and prevent it from collapsing and essentially colliding with the tongue and other structures.
Pillar procedure
This is a minimally invasive procedure and is done using local anesthesia. Expect it to take about 20 minutes. There is no downtime. It can take up to three weeks to experience the full benefits of the procedure as the tissue needs some time to heal around the implants.
What kind of doctor can perform a pillar procedure?
You will need to see an ENT (ear, nose, and throat specialist) who has been trained in performing the pillar procedure. If you are looking to get the pillar procedure in Bakersfield, Dr. Edmund Fisher has been trained in and has successfully performed the pillar procedure on many satisfied patients. Contact us here in order to schedule a consultation to find out whether this procedure can help you!
