Your uvula will be removed by your doctor using radio frequency radiation or an electric current. The entire treatment takes between 15 and 20 minutes. Small incisions will be used to remove excess tissue from the back of your throat during UPPP. The uvula is a small fleshy piece of tissue that hangs down from the back of your tongue to the floor of your mouth. It functions like a kind of filter, helping to prevent food from going into your throat or esophagus. Some people are born with a slightly larger-than-normal uvula. For others, it may be smaller than normal. The size of your uvula has no effect on how you speak or eat. In some people, the uvula becomes enlarged due to inflammation from allergies or asthma. In these cases, medication can be used to reduce the swelling. No one factor determines whether you need UPPP for snoring. Your doctor will consider your age, any underlying medical conditions, and other factors when making this decision. Sleep apnea is another common condition that causes someone to sleep soundly but repeatedly stop breathing for several seconds at a time. Research shows that almost half of all adults suffer from some type of sleep apnea.