The Uvulopalatal Flap or UPF Procedure

The uvulopalatal flap procedure is relatively new, and is a close cousin to the UPPP procedure. As with the UPPP procedure, the aim is to create extra space near the back of the throat so that these tissues are no longer impeding normal breathing at during sleep. This surgery has a much higher rate of success when the obstruction is located at the palate, which can be determined by a nasal endoscopy. This may be the case if your uvula is larger or longer than normal. The uvulopalatal flap procedure is also known as a UPF procedure, and is generally coupled with a tonsillectomy. This procedure has been performed under general anesthesia in hospitals, as well as local anesthesia in an outpatient office setting. If performed in a hospital, an overnight stay is generally recommended.

During the procedure, your uvula and soft palate will be moved forward and repositioned with dissolvable stitches. This repositioning will prevent these tissues from blocking your airway during sleep.

Like the UPPP, this operation may have a painful recovery period of 10-14 days or more; however, the UPF procedure is a lot less invasive because it repositions a large portion of the tissues instead of removing them and may be less painful. It will not always cure your sleep apnea, and your success rate is highly dependent on the structure of your particular throat and soft palate. Your doctor will be able to give you a better picture of how effective this operation could be for you.