Eye On Health

Coblation Offers Less Invasive Snoring Treatment

(CBS 11 News) Millions of people lose sleep every night because their spouses snore. Now, a simple procedure can end snoring for good and it takes just a few minutes.

Quincy Perales would give almost anything for a good night's sleep. Her husband, David, has been snoring away for ten years.

"Usually I woke up more frequently than he did, to have him roll over and roll over onto his side," said Quincy. "And if he was laying on his back, then of course he would snore louder and so it was one of those continural battles over time that I wouldn't get enough sleep because of his snoring."

Quincy's sleep deprivation could soon be over. Dr. Craig Schwimmer is conducting a study on a new procedure called coblation, which might stop David's snoring.

"Traditional surgery for snoring and sleep apnea is associated with a prolonged and really painful recovery period," said Dr. Schwimmer. "And coblation is a new tool which allows us to treat the problem in the office with minimal discomfort under local anesthesia and with no significant recovery period. People go back to work the same day."

After a little anesthesia, the tissues that create the sound of snoring are stiffened and reduced with a special tool. "Many people don't know that problem snoring is something that can be treated and it can be treated conveniently and really painlessly and successfully," said Dr. Schwimmer.

Coblation involves less bleeding, a lower risk of infection and much less pain than conventional snoring surgery.

David sailed through his procedure in about 15 minutes. And now Quincy is looking forward to peaceful slumber for the first time in years.

Coblation is a permanent treatment. For more information on how you can get involved in the coblation study, call 214-369-2345, or visit snoringcenterofdallas.com.

(CBS 11 News)