Surgery is generally the last resort, for people suffering from severe cases of sleep apnea. It usually takes into account the throat, neck, tongue and/or nose. In some cases multiple surgical procedures are combined to get the best results.

The most common type of surgery for sleep apnea is uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, also known as UPPP or UP3. One of the causes of sleep apnea is having too much tissue in the soft palate or the uvula. In UPPP surgery, the airway is enlarged by opening the airway at the soft palate. In other cases, the uvula and tissue from the sides of the mouth is removed. This sometimes includes the tonsils.

An oscillating blade is used in UPPP surgery. Another related procedure is known as LAUP (laser assisted uvulopalatopharyngoplasty). This is essentially the same procedure but a laser is used rather than a blade.

A tonsillectomy and/or an adenoidectomy are performed if the tonsils or adenoids are infected, causing them to become larger than normal and obstruct the airway. This operation is often used with younger patients. For adults this operation is sometimes combined with either UPPP or LAUP.

The third type of surgery for sleep apnea is the tracheostomy, which can be risky and result in other health problems. Because it is risky, it is usually a last resort, but it is quite successful at treating sleep apnea.

In a tracheostomy the doctor makes a hole in the trachea - or windpipe - and places a tube in the hole to allow air to flow freely. This bypasses the blockage and allows proper breathing.

Mandibular advancement, or mandibular myotomy, is another option. It repositions the patient's tongue to keep it from restricting breathing. In this surgery, the jawbone is broken and moved forward to move the chin and tongue away from the back of the throat.

In some cases, the tongue is large enough to obstruct breathing, leading to sleep apnea. A procedure known as radiofrequency ablation of the tongue is used to treat this condition. A radiofrequency probe is applied to the rear of the throat over 5 treatments. The probe's heat helps shrink the volume of the tongue, reducing obstruction.