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- 1175 Park Avenue, Suite 1B,
New York, NY 10128
- working hours
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Currently the most common surgery for adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the United States, UPPP is an outpatient procedure that removes the uvula and excess soft tissue of the palate or throat, subsequently reducing snoring and other symptoms and side effects of sleep apnea. Candidates for UPPP include those with an enlarged or elongated uvula or excess soft tissue in the palate and throat.
Although not a cure unto itself, UPPP is known to provide important benefits related to sleep apnea including:
While UPPP is not always an effective procedure on its own to treat obstructive sleep apnea, it is commonly done at the same time with hyoid suspension and genioglossus advancement , which significantly increases the chances of successfully treating sleep apnea.
Typically done under IV sedation or general anesthesia, your surgeon will use a special low energy electric instrument to remove parts of the soft palate and tissue at the sides of your throat and all or part of the uvula (the soft flap of tissue that hangs down at the back of the mouth). Tonsils and adenoids will also be removed if still there. The entire UPPP procedure takes an hour or less and patients can leave our office soon after. The risks of a UPPP are very limited, but the patient can expect to have a sore throat and difficulty swallowing for up to two weeks. Following the UPPP, our team will provide detailed instructions on post-surgical care and follow-up.
UPPP for the treatment of sleep apnea may be covered by health insurance if it is medically prescribed specifically for the treatment of sleep apnea. The only way to receive coverage for any sleep apnea treatment is to have a sleep test conducted by a recognized sleep center and board certified physicians like those at NYC SleepWell. That’s why it’s important to schedule an appointment with NYC SleepWell. Based on a medical history and physical exam, we’ll determine if further testing is required. Our financial specialists are always available to help gather your insurance information and contact your insurance provider in order to determine your coverage. Please feel free to call us to schedule your appointment and answer any questions you may have.
Led by Dr. Ruben Cohen, a Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, our skilled team of sleep specialists, dentists, ENT surgeons, and anaesthesiologists have extensive experience in UPPP — in addition to other surgical treatments for a wide array of conditions related to sleep apnea. For your added peace-of-mind, our facility is accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF), the Gold Standard in Accreditation. Our goal at NYC SleepWell, plain and simple, is to help you sleep well – and be healthy!