Uvula Removal Surgery Cost:
The total cost of uvula removal surgery depends upon the type of procedure performed. A simple uvula removal surgery costs around $3,000-$5,000 depending upon your location. If you are located in a major city like New York or Los Angeles then it will cost much less than $2,500-$4,000. However if you live in a small town or rural area then the price could be much higher.
The average cost of uvula removal surgery is $8,000-$10,000. For some people the operation would take longer than a year while others may need to wait for years before they get their money back. There are many factors which influence the cost of uvula removal surgery including where you live and how expensive your insurance plan is. Some surgeons charge more than others so make sure you compare prices from several different doctors before making up your mind.
How Long Does It Take To Get Your Money Back?
There are two types of uvula removal surgery – open and closed. Open uvula removal surgery involves removing the whole uvula without cutting into any surrounding tissue. Closed uvula removal surgery involves cutting through the skin and surrounding tissues to remove the entire uvula. The former procedure is much quicker than the latter so it is no surprise that most professional surgeons perform the closed version of the surgery.
In most circumstances it should take only a few months before you get your money back. If you are not satisfied with your insurance plan or your surgeon then it could potentially take years to get your money back. Make sure you shop around and get several estimates before proceeding with the surgery.
What Is The Average Time Of Recovery?
The average time of recovery for open uvula removal surgery is between one and three weeks. Patients must stay in the hospital for at least five days after the operation with frequent visits from a medical professional. During this time you must rest as much as possible to give your body the chance to heal naturally. You may also be required to take antibiotics, pain medication, and drink plenty of water.
Closed uvula removal surgery takes about half the time to heal compared to open surgery. Patients usually leave the hospital one or two days after the procedure and do not require any further medical supervision. However, they must still take it easy for the first week after the operation. They are not allowed to drink anything except water and need to eat soft foods for at least a month after the operation.
How Much Does It Hurt To Get Your Uvula Removed?
The main reason most people hesitate to get their uvula removed is the fear of pain. While it is true that uvula removal surgery can be painful if you are unlucky, it does not typically hurt anywhere near as much as people think it does. Patients describe the pain experienced during the surgery as similar to getting your tongue cut with a knife or being stung by several bees at the same time.
Your surgeon will give you strong pain medication to help you during and after the operation. Some people take a few days off work after the surgery but this really depends on the type of job you have and how well your body heals. Most people only experience slight pain in their throat for a few days after the operation but this can be resolved by taking pain medication.
What Should I Expect In The Weeks After The Surgery?
Whether you undergo open or closed uvula removal surgery, the weeks immediately after the operation will be the same. You should expect to experience some pain in your throat which can be controlled with over-the-counter pain medication. Staying away from tobacco and alcohol is very important during this time as both can slow down the healing process. It is also very important that you do not strain yourself for at least a month after the operation.
You should also not engage in any sexual activity for at least a month after the operation. During this time, you may experience a runny nose, sore throat, and cough as your body attempts to get rid of any remaining tissue in your throat. You may notice white or yellow mucus in the mornings and you can expect your voice to be slightly hoarse for a few weeks after the operation.
Does It Cause Any Long-Term Issues?
While uvula removal surgery does not typically cause any long-term issues, there are some risks involved. Most of these risks are minor and can be treated with antibiotics, pain medication, regular checkups during the first few weeks after the surgery, etc. However, there is always a small risk that something major could go wrong which could lead to death or other long-lasting health complications.
As with all surgical procedures, there is always a slight risk of infection. The risk increases if you do not take proper care of the wound and do not complete your course of antibiotics. Your throat may also bleed a little after the operation and this can be resolved with a painkiller such as ibuprofen or a blood thinner such as warfarin. If you experience severe bleeding that won’t stop, you should seek immediate medical attention.
How Much Does It Cost?
The cost of having your uvula removed primarily depends on where you have the surgery and the type of anesthesia you get. For the most part, you can expect to pay between $1,800 and $5,000 to have your uvula removed from a clinic that offers payment plans. Those looking for cheaper alternatives may want to look into hospitals as these facilities offer a lower cost service.
These facilities are not as high-tech as private clinics so there is a risk that the surgery may not go as planned. This could lead to dangerous complications and more extensive treatment which will ultimately increase the overall cost of the procedure. Do take these risks into consideration before going down this route.
Conclusion
Should you get your uvula removed or not?
There is no easy answer to this question as it is a personal decision that each individual will have to make for themselves. If you do decide to have the procedure done, make sure you are aware of the risks involved as well as the potential complications.
Make sure the clinic or hospital you go to offers a good warranty on their uvula removal surgery as these procedures sometimes have a high chance of going wrong in some way. Having a solid medical facility to fall back on can help ease some of the stress that comes with major surgery.
Sources & references used in this article:
Revised uvulopalatopharyngoplasty with uvula preservation and its clinical study by D Han, J Ye, Z Lin, J Wang, J Wang, Y Zhang – ORL, 2005 – karger.com
Method for reducing snoring by RF ablation of the uvula by SD Edwards, DL Douglass – US Patent 5,456,662, 1995 – Google Patents
Uvula, tonsil, adenoid and sinus tissue treatment device and method by SD Edwards – US Patent 5,718,702, 1998 – Google Patents
Method for the ablation treatment of the uvula by SD Edwards, DL Douglass – US Patent 5,514,131, 1996 – Google Patents
Why do we have a uvula?: literature review and a new theory by GW Back, S Nadig, S Uppal… – … Otolaryngology & Allied …, 2004 – Wiley Online Library
The cerebellar nodulus and ventral uvula control the torsional vestibulo-ocular reflex by DE Angelaki, BJ Hess – Journal of neurophysiology, 1994 – journals.physiology.org
