Snoring and Sleep Apnea
Snore no More

Serving Albany, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, and Troy, New York

Is snoring interfering with the quality of you life and love life.  Tired of sleeping in the guest room in your own home.  Dr. Arthur Falk, at University Ear Nose and Throat and The Center for Facial Plastic Surgery, specializes in the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea using the latest minimally invasive techniques such as the Pillar Procedure, Somnoplasty, Coblation, and Laser Assisted uvulopharyngopalatoplaty (LAUPP).

 If you suffer from snoring rest assured, you are not alone.  Millions of people like yourself struggle with the same condition every night.  Snoring, while for some a mere nuisance, it can be a sign of a more serious condition, called obstructive sleep apnea. Untreated, these conditions not only contribute to daytime fatigue, but  also they can place you at greater risk for heart attacks and strokes. The only way to know the seriousness of your condition is to undergo an over night comprehensive sleep study, which is interpreted by Dr. Falk.

Positive airway pressure or CPAP is a proven therapy for snoring and sleep apnea. The problem is that the treatment only works, however, if you are wearing your mask. It does you no good if half the time you have it off. Many people go untreated because they simply can’t tolerate CPAP.  Why, because it substitutes one kind of noise for another. Partners who are bothered by snoring are likely to be disturbed by the sound of the CPAP compressor.  Additionally, the mask clearly interferes with intimacy.   Travel can be another obstacle. Traveling with a CPAP machine is cumbersome.  For these reasons, many people who really need treatment, go untreated.   Fortunately, there are new minimally invasive treatments, performed in our office, at University Ear Nose and Throat and The Center for Facial Plastic Surgery, which might be a solution for you.

When it comes to snoring and sleep apnea treatment, people trust University Ear, Nose and Throat, and The Center for Facial Plastic Surgery as an academic teaching practice of Albany Medical Center.

The Pillar procedure is indicated for snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea. This technique, performed in the office by inserting small fibrous implants into the soft palate with local anesthesia. The implants get incorporated into the tissues and over time stiffen the palate. The increased rigidity of the palate results in less vibration which reduces snoring.

Turbinate Reduction with radiofrequency can be done with a number of machines including Coblation or Somnoplasty, both available at University Ear Nose and Throat and the Center for Facial Plastic Surgery.   Turbinates are bony fins that project from the side of the nasal cavity. When they are enlarged, they contribute to nasal obstruction. Blockage of this sort contributes to snoring.  A radiofrequency probe which is a fine needle is inserted into the substance of the turbinate to deliver energy that results  in   shrinkage of the tissues and thus opening of the nasal passage.  This procedure is performed by Dr. Falk in the office with local anesthesia.

Laser Assisted Uvulopharyngopalatoplasty (LAUPP) is an in office procedure that is designed to shorten and tighten the soft palate. Using local anesthesia, a laser is used to make precision cuts in the soft palate that result in elevation much along the lines of a curtain being raised on a stage. As the palate contracts, it is less likely to vibrate, reducing snoring.

Please refer to our web page on sleep apnea for a description of additional treatments for snoring and sleep apnea including tonsillectomy and septoplasty.

If you would like more information on the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea, please  contact  Dr. Falk at the Center for Facial Plastic Surgery and Laser Skin Care. Schedule your consultation for an in-depth evaluation and treatment recommendations.