Snoring surgery: what people ask on Reddit, answered by an ENT surgeon

Short answer: On Reddit, the same snoring surgery questions come up again and again: is it worth it, surgery or CPAP, why did the snoring come back, and how hard is recovery. The honest answer to most of them is the same. Snoring surgery helps when it treats the exact part of the airway that narrows, and that is found with an ENT evaluation, nasal endoscopy and a CT scan before anything is decided.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Prashanth R. Reddy, ENT Surgeon (MS ENT) · Last reviewed: 11 November 2026

The questions below are paraphrased from public Reddit discussions in communities such as r/snoring and r/SleepApnea. We do not reproduce anyone's posts.

Top 3 things Reddit threads get right

1. Surgery is not one operation. The nose, soft palate, tonsils and tongue base are different problems.
2. Weight, alcohol and sleeping on your back still matter after any surgery.
3. A blocked nose makes everything worse, including CPAP comfort.

"Is snoring surgery worth it?"

It can be, when it treats the level of the airway that is actually narrowing. Many people who post that surgery "did nothing" had one level treated when two or three were involved. Before surgery, ask your ENT exactly where your snoring comes from and how they know.

"Should I choose surgery or CPAP?"

CPAP works wherever the airway collapses, which is why it is first-line for moderate to severe sleep apnea. Surgery helps only when it targets the right site. For many people the answer is both: treating a blocked nose often makes CPAP far easier to use. Read more: CPAP vs snoring surgery compared.

"Did nose surgery or turbinate reduction stop anyone's snoring?"

It helps most when the nose is the limiting factor: mouth breathing at night, a dry mouth on waking, or a nose that blocks on alternating sides. On its own it rarely cures sleep apnea, because the collapse is often lower down. If the septum is also bent, treating the turbinates alone gives a smaller improvement.

"Why did my snoring come back after surgery?"

Common reasons are weight gain, alcohol in the evening, untreated nasal allergy, ageing tissues, or a second level of the airway that was never treated. Results vary, and snoring surgery is not always permanent. Read more: Does snoring surgery work permanently?

"How bad is the recovery?"

It depends on the operation. After nasal surgery, most people feel blocked with some crusting for one to two weeks and return to desk work in about a week. Throat and palate surgery is usually more uncomfortable to swallow for the first one to two weeks. Your surgeon should tell you which procedures are planned and what each recovery involves.

"What should happen before anyone recommends surgery?"

An ENT evaluation that finds where and why your airway narrows: your sleep history, an examination of the nose, palate, tonsils and tongue base, a nasal endoscopy and a CT scan of the nose and sinuses. Your ENT will tell you if any further test is needed. See What happens in an ENT evaluation for snoring.

"Will losing weight fix my snoring?"

For many people it helps a lot, especially weight around the neck. It does not fix a deviated septum, large tonsils or a narrow nose, which is why some slim people snore loudly.

Reddit threads referred to

• r/snoring: Surgery for snoring?!
• r/SleepApnea: Surgery vs CPAP
• r/SleepApnea: Did a turbinate reduction help your sleep apnea symptoms?

👃 Quick self-check: Snoring self-check: nose, palate or throat? · Travelling for treatment? Plan your visit to Bengaluru

Know someone reading Reddit threads at 2 am about their snoring? Send them this.

References

• Young T, Finn L, Kim H. Nasal obstruction as a risk factor for sleep-disordered breathing. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 1997;99(2):S757-S762.
• Beninati W, Harris CD, Herold DL, Shepard JW Jr. The effect of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea on the sleep quality of bed partners. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 1999;74(10):955-958.

Related reading: Snoring and sleep apnea surgery · Is there surgery for snoring? · Roommate says you snore?

About the author

Dr. Prashanth R. Reddy is a Senior Consultant ENT Surgeon in Bengaluru (MS ENT; Fellowship in Rhinoplasty, Seoul; MBA, IIM Bangalore) with decades of practice. He sees patients at Sakra World Hospital, Marathahalli and at the ENTHealth360 clinic in Koramangala. His practice focuses on nasal causes of headache, snoring and sleep-disordered breathing.

For educational purposes only. Not a substitute for medical advice. Please consult a qualified ENT specialist.