What does Hyoid Suspension Involve?

Hyoid suspension surgery pulls the base of the tongue and other soft tissues around the throat forward by anchoring the neck’s hyoid bone to the thyroid cartilage. The surgery expands and stabilizes the airway, making it less likely that the tongue will collapse into the airway and obstruct breathing during sleep. It is often done in conjunction with other procedures such as tongue advancement or maxillomandibular advancement surgery to treat more severe cases of sleep apnea. The procedure is performed in a hospital operating room under general anesthesia.

What are the advantages of Hyoid Suspension?

Hyoid suspension offers a number of advantages, including:

A permanently enlarged breathing passage that increases airflow
Continued relief from airway obstruction
Significant, long-term improvement of snoring
Significant, long-term improvement of obstructive sleep apnea symptoms

Dr. Keith Kowal, a highly experienced ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist in Foley, Alabama is an expert in enhanced treatment for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, including the hyoid suspension procedure. If you have OSA symptoms or chronic snoring and want to do something about it, you can trust Dr. Kowal and his 30 years of experience. His goal is to help his patients breathe better and sleep better to live better! A consultation with Dr. Kowal is the first step to a good night’s sleep and a healthier lifestyle for you and your bed partner. To find out whether you’re a candidate for hyoid suspension, call 251.943.1117 today to schedule an appointment or simply fill out the form on this page.