ACENT Alaska Center for Ear Nose and Throat
3841 Piper Street T-230
Anchorage, AK 99508
Phone: (907) 279-8800
Fax: (907) 279-8810
Monday–Thursday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m.–4 p.m.

Sleep Apnea Surgery

Many myths surround sleep apnea, one being that snoring and sleep apnea are the same condition. While snoring is a common symptom of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), most people who snore do not have sleep apnea. Sufferers of sleep apnea who visit our center in Anchorage, Alaska, from Wasilla, Palmer, and surrounding areas, may experience recurrent sleep disruptions that include waking up gasping and coughing, morning headaches, and excessive sleepiness during the day. Left untreated, sleep apnea increases your risk for other serious medical conditions. If we suspect you are suffering from sleep apnea, we will refer you to a sleep clinic for tests.

Let's

Connect

Our highly-trained providers look forward to meeting you and answering all of your questions.

Request My Consultation

Models

Treatments

Septoplasty – A deviated, or crooked, septum can obstruct the airway and make breathing difficult. Septoplasty is a surgical procedure that straightens the septum. By opening the airway, it can help alleviate snoring.

Turbinate reduction surgery – The turbinate is a bony structure inside the nose that helps humidify the air you breathe. Sometimes, however, it becomes enlarged and causes nasal congestion. Surgery may be necessary for patients diagnosed with sleep apnea and who are having difficulty breathing.

Adenoidectomy – Adenoids, like tonsils, are lymphoid tissue. They are located behind the nose and only visible using an endoscope. Enlarged adenoids obstructing breathing could disrupt sleep. An adenoidectomy is performed with a general anesthetic but usually takes only about 10 minutes.

Words cannot describe how thankful I am to have met [you]. [Your] knowledge, competence, and patience in describing a procedure and humble demeanor all added up to a very positive overall experience surrounding my surgery. The staff was outstanding as well — always polite, responsive and informative. Thank you all for helping me to breathe through my nose better than I have been able to for the past 10 years, and for giving reason to believe that there really still are some patient, caring people left in the medical industry.
Mitch 45-year-old, nasal obstruction surgery patient

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) – This is an effective treatment for people with moderate to severe sleep apnea. It is a long-term treatment which involves wearing a specially fitted mask when you go to sleep each night. The mask is hooked to a small machine which pumps a continuous stream of air at a pressure deemed effective by your physician. Although CPAP is prescribed by a sleep center’s medical director, some patients benefit from the surgical procedures described above, which can open the nasal airway and make it easier to use CPAP.

Uvulopalatalpharyngoplasty (UPPP) – This surgical procedure is an alternative for some patients who are uncomfortable wearing the CPAP mask. During surgery, soft tissue on the back of the throat is removed. Such tissue includes all or part of the uvula (the soft flap of tissue that hangs down at the back of the mouth) and parts of the soft palate and throat tissue.

Inspire – Inspire is an FDA-approved device that treats moderate to severe OSA without the need for a mask or hose. The device is implanted in your chest to monitor your breathing and keep your airway clear while you sleep. It does this by sending signals to the hypoglossal nerve, preventing the tongue and other airway muscles from obstructing your breathing.

At Alaska Center for Ear, Nose, and Throat (ACENT) in Anchorage, an ENT specialist can help treat your sleep apnea. Request a consultation online, or call our office at (907) 279-8800 to make an appointment to speak to a member of our team. For our Homer and surrounding patients, please call (907) 235-0310.

Read reviews from

Our Patients

A Reputation Built on Results

Dr. Andrew's was absolutely amazing !! My daughter has been really sick for quite sometime now and I...

thank you dr

Listened to my concerns. Described my condition in a way that makes sense (no pun intended). I am excited...

Dr. Lorenz was able to help me understand what was causing my symtoms and helped come up with a clear...