Some sleep apnea patients may need surgery to remove excess tissue from the nose or throat (removal of adenoids and tonsils, nasal polyps or other growth) and to straighten a deviated septum. Although surgery is an excellent way of treating symptomatic sleep apnea, its success rate is low. Therefore, surgery should be reserved for those patients who have not responded to other therapeutic interventions. Usually, more than one surgical procedure is attempted to realize the benefits.

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is the most common surgery to treat sleep apnea. It intends to enlarge the airways by removing all redundant tissue (tonsils, adenoids, uvula) from the pharynx. The overall success rate is 30 to 50 percent.

Laser-assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) can be performed in a specialist