Multiple treatments are often necessary, and it may be performed in conjunction with other therapies as well. RFTA is still viewed as a new procedure, and relatively little published data on the procedure are currently available. A different surgical system designed to treat OSA was approved by the FDA in February 1998. Usually performed in conjunction with other procedures, this surgery is potentially reversible. In general, when weighing surgery, consider whether data on the safety and efficacy of the procedure have met the key standard of being published in a peer-reviewed medical journal and whether the cases studied are similar to yours.
Surgery helps many, but effectiveness varies from person to person.
If unsure about proceeding, you can get a second opinion. Only a doctor who has examined you and your airway can advise you on having surgery. There are additional treatment options for OSA that do not require surgery, including devices to keep the airway open. As mentioned, some surgeries are performed to make using them more comfortable. Which treatment is right for you depends upon the severity of your OSA and other aspects of your medical condition.