Surgery (non orthognathic) for Sleep Apnea. Preferred ENT or Maxilofacial surgeon?

[cotrina]

Dear colleagues:

In your own personal opinion or according to your knowledge when the decision has been made (or almost) to proceed with surgery to try to improve your AHI or even hoping to even be lucky enough to get rid of your CPAP and when the DISE shows blockage predominantly on the base of the tongue and epiglottic:
1. Could a considerable weight loss overcome this epiglottic and base of the tongue blockage/collapse which is producing my OSA?
2. For surgery which involves epiglottis and pharingoplasty would you go for an expert ENT surgeon or Maxillofacial surgeon if both are sleep specialists?

Thanks

[ardenum]

To a surgeon that uses plasma blade for any UPPP esque surgery, i heard it heals better and faster with less bleeding. Maxilo surgeon only for Maxillo-Mandibular Advancement.

[MyronH]

Weight loss may help some people. Not me. I lost 30lbs since last October. Then had a DISE procedure a few months ago, and still said my base-of-tongue was main thing blocking airway. Plus I have deviated septum and very enlarged turbinates. I'm having my nose surgery this month, and then if that doesn't help to my satisfaction, will have them cut my tongue and maybe jaw advancement. I prefer to get the issue fixed physically, then to rely on CPAP machines and dental appliances for the rest of my life. Because if I ever go into a nursing home and get dementia or something, there is no way I'll be able to use a CPAP and dental appliance.

[cotrina]

Well, I hope to be one of those who will benefit from a weight loss (but I guess I must lose quite a bit of weight to notice a difference). Overall my approach is quite similar to yours although the main reason I will be having the septoplasty and turbinoplasty will be to try to improve my chronic rhinitis/sinus problems and if in doing that I also get some benefit in my sleep apnea that would be great. At the end of the day my goal would be not to have to use a CPAP, perhaps in the worst scenario to manage my sleep apnea with a dental appliance but have no idea if this will be possible without A. Losing lots of weight. B. Going through some form of oral surgery as my problem seems to be located at the base of my tongue and some neck structure (probably pharinggoplasty needed in combination with tongue surgery). 

Regards,

[cotrina]

Dear all,

Looking forward to getting some feedback from those who have nose surgery recently to improve sleep apnea (alone or in combination with other problems).
Thanks