Radiofrequency Ablative Therapy of the Soft Palate

Radiofrequency Ablative Therapy of the Soft Palate is an office procedure that is performed under local anesthesia. This minimally invasive procedure addresses primarily snoring disorders and select cases of sleep apnea. The most common source of snoring is from the fluttering of the soft palate (the soft part of the top of the mouth) as well as the uvula (the “bell” at the back of the throat). This technique lessens snoring by stiffening the soft palate thereby reducing the vibration of the soft palate.
The technique is done in the office under local anesthesia (“freezing” the throat using sprays, gels, and Lidocaine). Small needle electrodes are introduced into the soft palate. Radiofrequency energy (high frequency, low temperature) causes an inflammatory reaction that results in the production of palatal scarring. This procedure stiffens the palate and thereby reduces the vibrations and noise created during sleeping.