What To Expect From Having Tonsils Removed

How The Procedure Works

The exact details of the surgery will vary depending on the patient's circumstances, and several different methods might be employed. One of the most common methods is a cold knife dissection. During this procedure, the surgeon will use a scalpel to remove the tonsils. If a scalpel isn't used, another one of the most common surgical methods is burning the tonsil tissues away in a process called cauterization. More rarely, a surgeon might opt to use ultrasonic vibration as part of the tonsillectomy procedure. Ultrasonic vibrations use sound waves to damage and remove the tonsil tissues. Though the procedure is major surgery, it usually only takes about thirty minutes to complete. Regardless of the method used, patients will be given general anesthetic, and they'll feel no pain or awareness during the surgery. Upon waking, patients will be in a hospital recovery room. They'll be monitored for a little while to make sure the anesthesia is wearing off correctly. Most patients can return home the same day.

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Risks Of The Procedure

Tonsillectomies are very commonly performed and routine procedures. Both adults and children undergo them, and most experience very few complications. As far as major surgeries go, this one carries relatively few risks. Most surgeons have extensive experience performing tonsillectomies, and the procedure itself is simple enough that there's a low chance of medical mistakes. However, because it's major surgery, there are still some risks associated with it. Patients might experience swelling around the surgical site. It's also possible they'll develop an infection, though surgeons will take steps to manage this risk. Patients will also likely be given aftercare instructions to further minimize the risk of infection. Patients might also experience bleeding around the surgical site, especially if they take medications or have medical conditions that reduce their clotting factors. There's also a chance they'll have an adverse reaction to the anesthesia. Before the procedure, patients should make sure their anesthesiologist knows about any potential adverse reactions they've had in the past.

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