Laser-Assisted Uvuloplatoplasty (LAUP)
Dr.K.O.Paulose FRCS DLO, Consultant ENT Surgeon, Jubilee Hospital, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
www.drpaulose.com www.snorefreesleep.com
Laser surgery for Snoring is a safe treatment that is an effective treatment carried out using local anaesthetic. The patient remains fully awake and sitting upright on a comfortable chair. After the area has been treated with local anesthetic, the specially designed CO2 laser is used to ablate the uvula, trim and reshape the excessive tissue. It involves vaporising the free edge of the soft palate and uvula using a laser.My own technique renders the need of only one session to achieve the goal of the treatment in the great majority of patients. However, occasionally, a second treatment may be required after 6-12 weeks. The treatment takes approximately 10-15 minutes. One disadvantage of LAUP is that it is difficult to perform on patients who have a strong gag reflex.
The advantages of Laser treatment include:
- Walk-in walk-out procedures
- No general anaesthetic needed and no hospital stay
- Treatment takes just 15 minutes under local anaesthetic
- Minimum cost
