One is to shorten the uvula by 'vaporizing' it with the laser. The other is to tighten the floppy soft palate by making small laser cuts. The body's own healing process draws the soft palate up and tightens it. Too little tissue removal won't stop snoring. Too much can cause a hyper-nasal voice or nasal regurgitation.
Most people are able to go back to work the same day and eat normally right away.
But just because the procedure is fast and relatively simple doesn't mean it should be taken lightly, warns Pinczower. Snoring could be a warning sign of a potentially dangerous condition called sleep apnea, in which a person doesn't breathe right at night either because of an airway obstruction or a lack of 'messages' from the brain telling them to breathe regularly. They never get enough sleep. Constant sleep deprivation can reduce a person's ability to concentrate and react quickly, putting them at greater risk for accidents.