How ENTs Perform Tonsil Surgery

Tonsil surgery, also known as a tonsillectomy, is a procedure to remove the tonsils.

Tonsils are the small glands found at the back of your throat. Their purpose is to help fight infection and they reduce in size around the ages of three.

However, your tonsils can occasionally do harm to your body. For instance, if you commonly have sore throats despite treatment or difficulty breathing due to enlarged tonsils, then you may want to consider tonsil surgery from an ENT surgeon to remove them. People that suffer from obstructive sleep or even bad breath may also consider having their tonsils removed.

Your body is still perfectly capable of fighting infections without your tonsils, so if they’re affecting you negatively more than doing you any good, then you may want to remove them.

How is Tonsil Surgery Performed?

First, you will be placed under general anesthesia. Your ENT surgeon will then being removing your tonsils through your mouth. This will cause bleeding that will be stopped, and then the procedure is completed. Tonsil surgery will usually last anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes and you will be able to go home once the anesthesia wears off.

Your ENT surgeon will then use one of many techniques to remove your tonsils. There are surgical instruments such as scalpels that can be used to cut your tonsils. This is the most common method that most ENT surgeons use. However, there are also more advanced techniques that utilize specialized machines. For instance, there is diathermy which uses heat that is generated via an electrical current. ENTs can also use lasers and coblation to remove your tonsils.

Some ENT surgeons will inform you of the different methods and may even offer you a choice. However, the most realistic scenario is that your surgeon will inform you of their preferred method due to their experience with it, or the best technique that suits your particular case. Don’t be afraid to speak to your specialist in order to learn more information regarding the procedure.

It’s a quick and safe procedure. However, as with all surgeries, there is always some inherent risk. For tonsil surgery, the main risk is extra bleeding post-surgery. However, there is only a very slim chance for this to happen and it can be solved by calling your doctor and notifying them as soon as possible.

After the surgery, you may still experience symptoms like a sore throat, but it will likely be the result of something that is unrelated to your tonsils.