- Having enlarged tonsils that cause sleep apnea
- Swollen tonsils that make breathing or swallowing difficult
- An infection of the tonsils that doesn’t get better with antibiotics
For children who have recurring tonsillitis, a tonsillectomy can have a lot of benefits. This is because children are more prone to having recurring tonsillitis, and having a doctor take them out prevents this from happening.
Children also recover more quickly, usually twice as short as the recovery time for adults.
What Is the Procedure Like?
The procedure itself might sound scary for some, mostly because of misinformation about how tonsillectomies are done.
Patients who undergo tonsillectomies do so while under general anesthesia. This also means that you will need to fast for at least 6 hours beforehand, or depending on your doctor’s recommendation.
Contrary to what some people might believe, tonsillectomies don’t involve any external cuts. Surgeons conduct the surgery through your mouth, so there’s nothing to worry about or be afraid of.
During the surgery, the surgeon uses a scalpel to remove the tonsils.
The entire surgery only takes about 30-40 minutes, and patients might stay for about 6 hours in the hospital for observation. But generally, tonsillectomies are outpatient surgeries, and patients usually go home the same day of their surgery.
After the surgery, patients are able to eat and drink, though there might experience some pain and a sore throat during recovery. The throat can also develop scabs, and turn white in color; this is nothing to worry about and is a normal part of the healing process.
Your doctor might also prescribe you some medication to help with the pain. Patients fully recover from a tonsillectomy in about 10-12 days. Afterward, there should be no problems, and patients can rest easy knowing that they won’t have recurring tonsillitis anymore.
Are There Any Risks?
Tonsillectomies, while considered routine surgeries, can also present some risks such as the following:
- Bleeding after the surgery
- Teeth that were damaged during the surgery
- Infection
- Complications from anesthesia
However, compared to other types of surgery, the chances of any serious problems with tonsillectomies are very low. Regardless, it is important to be aware of what the possible risks are before you choose to go through with the surgery.
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