Recovery guide
Injection Snoreplasty Recovery Guide
Worried about a symptom? See when to call usQuick answer: After injection snoreplasty, expect a sore palate for 3 to 5 days, sometimes up to a week, and a small raw spot on the palate that heals in 1 to 2 weeks. Snoring often gets louder for 1 to 2 weeks while the palate is swollen. You can go back to work and normal activities the same day, and the full effect comes 6 to 8 weeks after the procedure.
Recovery at a glance
- Same dayBack to work and normal activities.
- Days 3 to 5A sore palate, sometimes up to a week.
- Weeks 1 to 2Snoring is often louder while the palate is swollen.
- Weeks 4 to 6A second injection is often done.
- Weeks 6 to 8The full effect comes as the palate firms up.
What should I expect?
- A sore palate, usually for 3 to 5 days and sometimes up to a week. Pain is usually mild to moderate; in some cases stronger pain medicine is needed.
- A raw spot (ulcer) on the soft palate. This is expected and heals within 1 to 2 weeks.
- Louder snoring for 1 to 2 weeks, from swelling of the palate. This is temporary.
How do I take care of myself?
- Start with soft foods and move back to regular food as you feel ready. There are no strict diet rules.
- Drink plenty of fluids: aim for about 60 ounces (7 to 8 cups) a day unless you have been told to limit fluids.
- You may go back to work or school and your normal activities the same day.
How should I manage pain?
Most people have mild to moderate pain that over-the-counter medicine controls well. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen together work better than either one alone.
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol): 1,000 mg every 6 hours, no more than 4,000 mg in 24 hours (or 3,000 mg if your package says so, or if you have liver problems or drink alcohol regularly).
- Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin): 400 mg every 8 hours with food, or naproxen (Aleve): 1 tablet (220 mg) every 8 to 12 hours with food, no more than 3 tablets in 24 hours. Skip them if you have a stomach ulcer or kidney disease, or if we told you not to take them.
- If we prescribed medicine, take it exactly as directed.
- If you take aspirin or a blood thinner, follow your surgeon’s instructions on when to restart it.
When will I see results?
- The full effect comes 6 to 8 weeks after the procedure, as the palate firms up.
- A second injection is often done 4 to 6 weeks after the first.
- In studies, most people (about 6 to 9 in 10) had quieter snoring, often after more than one injection. The effect can fade over time, and a repeat treatment is sometimes needed. Results vary from person to person, and study numbers cannot predict your own result.
- Snoreplasty treats snoring from the soft palate. It does not treat sleep apnea.
When should I call?
Call us for
- A temperature of 101°F (38.3°C) or higher that lasts more than 24 hours or starts 3 or more days after the procedure, or any temperature of 102°F (38.9°C) or higher. Use a thermometer, and check it just before the next dose of acetaminophen or ibuprofen, because both lower fever.
- Severe pain that pain medicine does not control
- Bleeding from the mouth that does not stop
- A small hole in the roof of your mouth, or liquid coming up into your nose when you swallow. This is usually temporary, but tell us.
- Signs of not drinking enough: peeing less than every 8 hours, dark yellow pee, a dry, sticky mouth, dizziness when standing, or being unusually sleepy or hard to wake. Call us the same day if you notice these, or if pain keeps you from drinking.
Call 911 or go to the ER for
Swelling in the throat or any trouble breathing.
Austin 512-339-4040 · Lakeway 512-682-4798 · Marble Falls 830-992-2830 · Dripping Springs 512-339-4040
Questions patients ask
Swelling of the palate often makes snoring louder for 1 to 2 weeks. It is temporary, and the full effect comes 6 to 8 weeks after the procedure.
Yes. A small raw spot (ulcer) on the soft palate is expected and heals within 1 to 2 weeks.
The same day. You can return to work or school and your normal activities right away.
Often, yes. A second injection is commonly done 4 to 6 weeks after the first.
In studies, most people (about 6 to 9 in 10) had quieter snoring, often after more than one injection. The effect can fade over time, and a repeat treatment is sometimes needed. Results vary from person to person, and study numbers cannot predict your own result. Snoreplasty treats snoring from the soft palate; it does not treat sleep apnea.
This guide is for educational purposes only and does not replace an in-person evaluation. If your surgeon gave you different instructions, follow theirs.
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Sources
- Brietzke SE, Mair EA. Injection snoreplasty: how to treat snoring without all the pain and expense. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 2001;124(5):503-510. PubMed
- Brietzke SE, Mair EA. Injection snoreplasty: extended follow-up and new objective data. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 2003;128(5):605-615. PubMed
- Brietzke SE, Mair EA. Injection snoreplasty: investigation of alternative sclerotherapy agents. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 2004;130(1):47-57. PubMed
- Al-Jassim AH, Lesser TH. Single dose injection snoreplasty: investigation or treatment? The Journal of Laryngology & Otology. 2008;122(11):1190-1193. PubMed