Best Snoring Surgery Specialist in Dubai – Dr. Muhammad Jabbr

Maybe your partner has moved to the spare room. Maybe you have tried nose strips and new pillows, and the snoring is still there. If you are now looking for a snoring surgery specialist in Dubai, you probably want to know one thing first: what does the operation really involve?

Below, you will learn who may suit surgery, the main operation types, what happens on the day and how recovery feels. You will also see what surgery can and cannot do.

Dr. Muhammad Jabbr operates on the nose and throat as a Consultant ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) and Head & Neck Surgeon at Medcare Hospital, Al Safa, Dubai. His qualifications include MD, MS, DOHNS (England), the European Board ORL-HNS and the Arab Board ORL-HNS. His experience spans more than two decades and more than 3,000 ENT procedures, which makes him one of the best ENT surgeons in Dubai to consult before snoring surgery.

Is snoring surgery right for you?

Snoring is a sound made when soft tissue vibrates as air squeezes past. Surgery aims to remove or firm up the part that vibrates, or to open a narrow spot. So it only makes sense when the doctor can find a clear problem area.

You may be a good candidate if:

• Your snoring is loud, happens most nights and disturbs your sleep or your partner's.
• An examination finds a clear problem area, like a deviated septum, enlarged turbinates, a long soft palate, a large uvula or big tonsils.
• Simpler measures have been tried and have not helped enough.
• You are generally healthy enough for an anaesthetic.

Surgery may be less suitable if your snoring is mainly linked to weight gain, or if the main narrowing is behind the tongue, where nose or palate surgery alone helps less. It should also wait until you have been checked for sleep apnea. An operation that only quietens the snoring could hide apnea that is still there.

What tests come before the operation?

Dr. Jabbr first needs a clear picture of your airway. A visit usually includes:

• Questions about your sleep, tiredness, weight, alcohol and any breathing pauses your partner has noticed.
• A look inside your nose and throat, often with a thin camera (nasal endoscopy).
• A sleep study, at home or in a sleep lab, to check for sleep apnea. This is usually advised before any throat operation for snoring.
• Sometimes a sleep endoscopy. A camera checks your airway while you are sedated, to see where it narrows during sleep.

The results show which operation, if any, suits you. If breathing pauses are a concern, read about snoring and sleep apnea surgery too.

The main types of snoring surgery

There is no single "snoring operation". The plan depends on where your airway narrows. You can also see our overview of snoring surgery in Dubai.

Nose operations

A blocked nose pushes you to breathe through your mouth at night, which narrows the throat and can worsen snoring. Nose surgery alone does not always stop snoring, but it may soften it.

• Septoplasty straightens the wall between the two sides of the nose. Read more about septoplasty for a deviated septum.
• Turbinate reduction shrinks the turbinates, ridges on the side walls of the nose that can swell and block airflow. Read more about inferior turbinate reduction.

Palate and throat operations

The soft palate and uvula at the back of the mouth are a very common source of the snoring sound. Options may include:

• Tonsil removal, if large tonsils narrow the throat. In children, taking out the tonsils and adenoids is the most common operation for snoring.
• UPPP (uvulopalatopharyngoplasty), which removes the uvula, part of the soft palate and often the tonsils, then tightens the tissue. It is a bigger operation, so it is more often used when sleep apnea is also present. Learn more about UPPP surgery.
• Expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty, which repositions a throat muscle to widen the sides of the throat, rather than only removing tissue. It may suit people whose throat walls fall inwards during sleep. See how expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty works.
• Palate stiffening methods, which make the soft palate firmer so it flutters less. These are smaller procedures, mainly for simple snoring.

Treating more than one area (multi-level surgery)

Some people have more than one narrow spot, such as the nose and the palate. Both may be treated in one operation, or in separate steps a few months apart, depending on your tests and health.

Why does your choice of snoring surgery specialist in Dubai matter?

Snoring surgery works best when it treats the part of the airway that makes the noise. Palate surgery will not help much if the main problem is in the nose, and the other way round.

As a Head & Neck Surgeon, Dr. Jabbr examines the whole upper airway, from the nose to the throat. He sees adults and children, and his Google rating is 4.9 from 406 reviews. At your visit, ask when surgery may not be the right answer.

What happens on the day of surgery?

1. Before you arrive. You will be told when to stop eating and drinking. Tell the team about all your medicines and supplements. Some blood thinners may need stopping beforehand, but only on your doctor's advice.
2. At the hospital. A nurse checks your details and the anaesthetist meets you. Most snoring operations use general anaesthesia, so you are fully asleep. Some palate stiffening methods may be done under local anaesthetic.
3. The operation. Nose procedures often take about an hour or less. Palate or multi-level surgery may take longer. There are no cuts on the face, because the surgeon works through the nose or mouth.
4. Waking up. You rest in a recovery area while the team checks your breathing and pain.
5. Going home. After many nose operations you go home the same day. Throat surgery may need one night in hospital, especially if sleep apnea is present.

How painful is recovery? A week-by-week guide

Recovery depends on which area was treated. Throat surgery is usually more painful than nose surgery. Your own plan may differ.

Days 1 to 3

After nose surgery, your nose will feel blocked and you may see a little blood-stained mucus. Do not blow your nose hard. After palate surgery, swallowing is sore. Take your pain medicine on time, not only when pain is bad. Sip cool water often and keep your head raised on pillows.

The rest of week 1

Throat pain often peaks around days 3 to 7 and may spread to the ears. This is common. Soft, cool foods are easiest. After throat surgery, most people stay off work this week. After nose surgery alone, many feel ready for desk work within about a week.

Week 2

Pain eases day by day. After throat surgery, many people return to desk work around the end of this week. Use saline rinses if your surgeon advises them. Avoid heavy lifting, hard exercise and crunchy foods.

Weeks 3 to 6

Swelling settles slowly. Your breathing and snoring often keep improving during this time, so do not judge the result too early. A follow-up visit checks healing and your sleep.

Seek urgent care if you have fresh red bleeding from the mouth or throat, a nosebleed that does not stop, or you cough up or vomit blood. The same applies if you have difficulty breathing, a high fever, or you cannot drink fluids.

What results can you realistically expect?

Many people find their snoring becomes softer or less frequent after the right operation. Some stop snoring almost completely. Others still snore, but more quietly, and a few notice less change than they hoped. No surgeon can promise silence.

Results can change over time. Weight gain, alcohol before bed and nasal allergies can bring snoring back. If you also have sleep apnea, a repeat sleep study after healing shows how well the surgery worked.

Book an appointment

Before you agree to any operation, it helps to know exactly where your snoring comes from. To arrange an airway assessment, book an appointment online with Dr. Muhammad Jabbr at Medcare Hospital, Al Safa (Hadiqa Street, Al Safa 1). You can also call +971 52 751 7811.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final thoughts

Snoring surgery can bring quieter nights, but only when it targets the real cause. If you want to know whether an operation could help, Dr. Muhammad Jabbr can assess your airway at Medcare Hospital, Al Safa and explain your options.