Skeletal Surgery
If sleep apnea is caused by the malformation of your maxillofacial skeleton, skeletal surgery would be done to deal with the problem. In this procedure, the jaw is enlarged by approximately 10 to 12 mm and then stabilized with titanium plates. Compared to other surgical treatments, this method is quite complicated because the surgeon has to cut your bones very accurately and then align the teeth perfectly. During recovery, your teeth should be wired shut. You may have to stay in the hospital for a couple of nights. While the success rate is very high, up to 90 percent, not many doctors recommend skeletal surgery due to the risk of complications. [7]
Possible Risks of Surgery for Sleep Apnea
Most surgical procedures for treating sleep apnea may pose certain risks, particularly related to anesthesia. Surgeons may use anesthesia medications to make your throat muscles relaxed. This would worsen sleep apnea during surgery. As a result, extra support is needed to help with breathing. You would have to stay in the hospital for a few days to make sure no serious complications would happen. Other potential risks of surgical treatments for sleep apnea may include excessive bleeding, deep vein thrombosis, infection, allergic reaction, urinary retention, or breathing issues. [8]
