Snoring
LAUP snoring procedure was invented by Professor Yves Kamami it addresses the root cause of snoring. He has treated 30,000 snorers at The Private Clinic.
Addresses the root cause of snoring
LAUP snoring procedure was invented by Professor Yves Kamami
He has treated 30,000 snorers at The Private Clinic
Minimally-invasive 15 minute treatment
What’s on this page
Medically reviewed by Lorcan Sheppard BSc MBBS FRCA, Chief Medical Officer and the Medical Advisory Committee for The Private Clinic.
Last Reviewed September 17th 2021
Related Cosmetic Surgery
The Private Clinic no longer offer the snoring Laser Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) procedure.
If you snore because of a deviated septum our Consultant Plastic Surgeons will be able to correct the positioning of the septum, via a minor rhinoplasty procedure, also called a Septo-Rhinoplasty, and get your breathing back on track.
The best way to find out what is causing your snoring is to come in and see us, we have been treating patients for snoring for over 40 years. Book a consultation here.
Snoring can have a devastating effect on relationships and can cause a number of problems for sufferers as a result of disturbed sleep. Recent research has shown that over 70% of people who try over-the-counter snoring cures do not get the relief they had hoped for.
The Private Clinic has been helping people with snoring and sleep problems for the past 30 years and have treated more patients than any other UK clinic. We offer the latest non-invasive laser and radio frequency procedures to tackle the most common causes of snoring, including blocked and stuffy nose and excess vibration of the soft palate and uvula. If you have tried over the counter treatments without success, this 15 minutes stop snoring procedure could be the solution you’ve been looking for.
If you don’t snore, you are more than likely to know someone who does – between 19% and 40% of adults snore when they sleep, and that percentage climbs even higher, particularly for men, as we age. It’s a nuisance for bed partners, but researchers say we shouldn’t be so quick to write off snoring or other forms of disrupted breathing while asleep as mere annoyances; instead, they could have other health effects.
Laser Assisted Uvuloplatoplasty (LAUP) for Snoring
Snoring is a form of sleep apnea, in which people stop breathing for a few seconds or several minutes dozens of times in an hour. Any disruption of breathing during sleep can affect the brain. Researchers have recently found that people with sleep apnea tended to develop memory problems and other signs of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), memory loss and dementia earlier than people without such sleep disorders.
Snoring can have a devastating effect on relationships and can cause a number of problems for sufferers as a result of disturbed sleep. Recent research has shown that over 70% of people who try over-the-counter snoring cures do not get the relief they had hoped for. This is because there is no one ‘cure’ for snoring. Some people sleep on their back and this causes their tongue to roll back, others have problems with stuffy or blocked noses, while other people snore because they’re overweight.
Snoring is caused on two levels:
- By the nose and throat
- By the tongue
The two areas generally make up 100% of the snoring noise. Dr Kamami can improve the top note noise from the nose and throat with the LAUP procedure. This however cannot take away the noise caused by the tongue.
At The Private Clinic our ENT specialist Dr Kamami often treats snoring patients with partial Nasal Turbinate if the tongue is a contributing factor to snoring. Laser Assisted partial turbinectomy is a minor procedure carried using the CO2 laser to improve air entry to the nose.
Combining both treatments often removes the very loud and disruptive snoring noise (the one that keeps partners awake!) and in effect reduces the noise made by the tongue. This will also, in most cases cease the snoring noise when sitting (for example on trains and planes). The best option is to come in an see Dr Kamami, he is an expert in his field and he will be able to access the best way forward for you.
The Advantages of our LAUP Laser Snoring Treatments include:
- Minimally invasive procedure
- Walk-in walk-out procedure
- No general anaesthetic needed and no hospital stay
- Treatment takes just 15 minutes under local anaesthetic
- Minimum downtime, normal activity can be resumed quickly
- Having LAUP allows you to breathe more easily, stop your snoring and improve your sleep.
- Featured in The Times
Consultant ENT Surgeon, Professor Yves Kamami, Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Specialist, GMC Number: 4145471 is the inventor of the LAUP (Laser Assisted Uvula Palatoplasty) procedure. Since then over 40,000 LAUP procedures have been performed in the UK. Our snoring procedure has been featured in The Times. Professor Yves Kamami is available at our Harley Street, London clinic
What to Expect
The Private Clinic has been treating patients for over 40 years with thousands of people placing their trust in us each year. We pride ourselves on being able to offer a personalised service. We have a team of friendly nurses and expert surgeons who understand the importance of this decision and will support you throughout your journey with us.
Snoring Consultation
The Private Clinic no longer offer the snoring Laser Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) procedure.
Your snoring procedure journey will start with a consultation with Consultant ENT Surgeon, Professor Yves Kamami.
During this consultation he will:
- Give detailed information about the snoring procedures available
- Review your medical history
- Examine your throat
- Discuss your expectations from surgery
- Detail the risks and complications of the snoring procedures
- Go through the aftercare and recovery process
You will then be allocated a dedicated patient coordinator who will be your point of contact should you wish to go ahead with snoring treatment.
Snoring Pre-Operative Appointment
In the interests of patient safety all our patients are assessed against our patient selection criteria. Following your snoring consultation your medical history will be reviewed and the pre-operative nurse will advise on pre-operative tests
They will also advise you of any precautions you need to take in the days or weeks leading up to your snoring procedure and advise on any medication that you should stop taking before your procedure.
Snoring Treatment
The Private Clinic no longer offer the snoring Laser Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) procedure.
Our snoring procedures are performed at our London Harley Street clinic where you would have had your original consultation. Treatment time is usually around 15-30 minutes.
We offer two types of in-house snoring treatments:
Laser Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP)
- This procedure is performed under local anaesthetic.
- A CO2 laser to reduce the vibrating surface of the soft palate and improve the breathing process.
- The soft tissues in the front of the throat are removed by shaving the uvula and sometimes part of the soft palate.
Laser Assisted Partial Turbinectomy
This is a variation of the LAUP procedure where the CO2 laser is instead used to improve air entry into the nose to reduce areas that are blocked within the nose or septum.
- This procedure is performed under local anaesthetic.
- A laser assisted septal reduction and reduction of the inferior turbinate is carried out.
In some cases, you may be referred to a plastic surgeon for deviated septum surgery if our Consultant ENT Surgeon feels it may be more effective for you.
Once the procedure is complete, you will be free to leave the clinic and return home. Your surgeon will provide you with aftercare advice and medication to take during your recovery.
After Your Snoring Procedure
A member of our nursing team will call you usually the day following your procedure to ensure you are well following your procedure. You will have information on how to contact your clinic or on-call nursing team should you have any worries or concerns at any point 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Following LAUP surgery, you should expect to experience moderate to severe pain or discomfort for 10 to 14 days. Alcohol and acidic substances should be avoided for 2 weeks after the procedure.
Following a Laser Assisted Partial Turbinectomy you can expect to experience discomfort following surgery with some mild pain. The nose may feel blocked for 8-10 days.
It’s usually recommended to take 1-2 days off work depending on the nature of your employment. Exercise should be avoided for at least a week following your treatment.
A 6-week follow-up appointment will have been arranged with your surgeon. You will be able to discuss the results of treatment and if any further procedures are required.
Reviews
FAQs
There are lots of solutions out there to help with snoring.
Being at an ideal weight, reducing alcohol consumption, stopping smoking and sleeping on your side are some of our best recommendations to help you at home.
However in some cases, a surgical treatment may be required to help solve nasal issues which may be contributing to your snoring.
Functional Rhinoplasty procedures focus on solving nasal issues such as a deviated septum (Septoplasty) or nasal blockage. This as a result can help reduce snoring once healed.
To find out more, book a consultation with our expert surgeon.
This depends largely on the reasons for your snoring.
Being overweight: if you have a collar size of 16½ inches or greater, you may not have the muscle tone needed to keep the airway open sufficiently at night to allow normal breathing. This is why a person with a short fat neck is at an increased risk of snoring. Men tend to get fat around their necks and waists, whereas women seem to put on weight around the thighs. However, this situation very often changes for women following menopause and by the time women have reached their 70s they are just as likely to be snorers as men of the same age. Weight loss with accompanying fat reduction around the neck area will certainly help to alleviate snoring.
Sleeping position: while sleeping on your back, your tongue, your chin and any excess fatty tissue under your chin may relax back and squash your airway. Sleeping on your side could prevent this.
Alcohol: alcohol slows the brain’s responses, causing the muscles to relax even more than during a normal night’s sleep. The added relaxation of the musculature causes the oropharynx to collapse causing snoring. Furthermore, alcohol may induce obstructive sleep apnoea (where breathing stops for short periods during sleep) in individuals who are otherwise just snorers. Additionally, alcohol causes nasal airway irritation and congestion that increases the airway resistance when breathing.
However, if you are not heavily overweight and snore at all times, regardless of your alcohol consumption, your snoring could be caused by a stuffy nose or a blocked nose.
If your snoring is caused by an enlarged uvula, we no longer offer LAUP treatment for this.
Functional Rhinoplasty
A functional rhinoplasty procedure focusses on treating nasal issues such as a blocked nose or deviated septum (Septoplasty). If your snoring is suspected to be caused by a nasal blockage or deviated septum then this surgical procedure can help to reduce your symptoms.
Prices for our Functional Rhinoplasty procedures such as Septoplasty which can help reduce snoring starts from £8,100.
A more accurate quote for your required treatment can be provided following a consultation with one of our Consultant Plastic Surgeons.
Consultations with our Consultant Plastic Surgeons are £100.
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