Tonsillectomy refers to the surgery to remove your tonsils (two small, soft glands located at the back of your throat). It’s common in children, but some adults also have their tonsils surgically removed.
Tonsillectomy can be recommended as part of your snoring treatment in Navi Mumbai, or simply to relieve recurring throat infections. The recovery timeline varies for children and adults, but overall, it’s considered a safe surgical procedure when recommended by an ENT specialist.
Reasons Adults Need Tonsillectomy
These small glands act as the protective layer that traps germs and prevents them from entering your body through your nose or mouth. Occasionally, infections, such as strep throat, can make your tonsils red and swollen.
Let’s understand a few common reasons when tonsillectomy for adults might be the best decision.
1. Chronic Throat Infection
The most common reason for getting a tonsillectomy is recurring throat infections. If you have a throat infection that leads to swollen lymph nodes, difficulty swallowing, or a severely sore throat that won’t heal for weeks or months, a surgery to remove the tonsils might sound like the most reasonable treatment option.
2. Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Normally, your tonsils shrink when you grow older, but they can also remain enlarged in adulthood. Enlarged tonsils take up significant space in your throat and can cause partial or complete blockage of the airway, leading to reduced breathing during sleep.
If you experience restless sleep, frequent waking at night, pauses in breathing, choking, or mouth breathing, see an ENT specialist in Navi Mumbai.
3. Cancer
Although uncommon, tonsil cancer is another possible reason why you may need tonsillectomy. If one of your tonsils appears larger than the other, you have a painless lump or a sore throat that doesn’t respond to medication, or you experience pain when swallowing foods and liquids constantly, an ENT specialist may want to rule out tonsil cancer.
Tonsillectomy Procedure for Adults
It’s performed under general anesthesia and through your mouth, so you won’t have any surgical scars. The surgery can be performed using different techniques, depending on the surgeon’s preference or the patient’s condition.
Harmonic scalpel involves ultrasonic vibrations that separate your tonsil glands from the surrounding tissues, while sealing the blood vessels off to prevent bleeding. Other techniques used to precisely cut your tonsils include electrocautery and coblation. The surgery may take 30-60 minutes, and most patients are discharged on the same day.
Recovery after Tonsillectomy
Recovery can take 10-15 days or longer. As your surgical site begins to heal, you might experience mild pain in the throat and ear, bad breath, swelling, or difficulty swallowing for the first few days.
Call an ENT doctor immediately if you notice these signs:
- You feel dizzy, lightheaded, or weak
- You have a high-grade fever
- You are vomiting continuously
- You have trouble breathing
- You notice bright red blood in the surgical site
Consider eating soft foods, such as smoothies, soups, yogurt, and mashed potatoes initially. Hydration is key to a quick recovery. Make sure you drink plenty of water and other fluids even if you have trouble swallowing.
