Tonsil removal surgery is also known as getting a tonsillectomy. Your ENT specialist may recommend surgery if you have chronic tonsillitis. Minor tonsillitis does not require surgery because it clears itself in a few days.

A person has three types of tonsils, which are located in different places. Palatine tonsils are located at the top of your throat, adenoids are located in the nasal cavity and lingual tonsils are located in your throat, just below the palatine tonsils. Their role is to catch bacteria and viruses that can enter the body through the mouth or nose.

If your tonsils become severely infected or you have sleep apnoea, your ENT specialist may recommend a tonsillectomy because by then, they could be causing you continuous and endless pain and discomfort. Sleep apnoea indicates you have breathing problems that can cause death.

If you come across the term adenoidectomy, it means the removal of infected adenoids.

What Traps Viruses and Bacteria After Your Tonsils Are Removed?

The removal of tonsils or adenoids should be the last resort, and that is why ENT specialists should be the ones to recommend it. Since tonsils are responsible for trapping bacteria and viruses, your respiratory system can be left vulnerable to illnesses like asthma or pneumonia. Consider other alternatives and exhaust them before trying surgery. Your ENT specialist will also advise you on the necessity of surgery. This is especially crucial when it comes to children.

Surgery is only an option if your symptoms are extreme and cannot be controlled effectively by medication. Your ENT specialist also assesses whether your respiratory health will become vulnerable after you undergo tonsil removal surgery.

Is Tonsil Removal Surgery Painful?

If you have chronic tonsillitis, it means you have gone through a lot of pain and discomfort. The last thing on your mind is surgery pain. You just want the infected tonsils removed.

If you are concerned about surgery pain, don't worry. During the surgery, you are placed under anaesthesia, meaning you won't feel a thing. When the surgery is over, you might feel some discomfort or slight pain, or you may feel no pain or discomfort. Regardless, you are given pain meds.

Is Tonsil Removal Surgery Costly?

Depending on the procedure and your general health, it can be costly. Some patients may spend more days in the hospital because they require close monitoring, meaning it gets more expensive. You might need to have insurance and also confirm whether your ENT specialist accepts your insurance company. 

For more information on tonsil removal surgery, contact an ENT.