Has your doctor recommended a tonsillectomy as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)? It’s a common treatment for OSA in children, though it’s much rarer to see it used in adults.

However, if your obstructive sleep apnea is caused by having large tonsils and more traditional OSA therapy like continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) doesn’t work for you, then a tonsillectomy might be a good choice.

Here’s what you need to know about tonsils, a tonsillectomy, who might benefit from that surgery when it comes to OSA, and how it can help.

What Are Tonsils?

Tonsils are glands that sit on both sides of your throat. You have four types of tonsils, though only one set is visible when you open your mouth. These are called the palatine tonsils.

Tonsils play a role in your immune system. They help protect your body from infections by filtering germs that come in through your nose or your mouth. If your tonsils get too big, though, they can cause problems with breathing, including obstructive sleep apnea.

What Is a Tonsillectomy?

A tonsillectomy is a surgery that removes your tonsils. It’s usually done under general anesthesia, which means you’ll be asleep for the surgery and won’t remember anything.

There are several ways to remove your tonsils, and your healthcare provider will choose the one that’s best for your specific situation.

Your doctor may choose to remove your adenoids along with your tonsils. These are other glands in your throat that are also part of your immune system. If they’re large or your doctor suspects they’re causing problems, your surgeon may take both sets of glands out at once.

Do Enlarged Tonsils Cause Sleep Apnea?

If your tonsils are too big, they can make your airway narrower and cause breathing problems. This is more common in children, because their upper airways are narrower to begin with.

Removing large tonsils could open up your airway. This would mean that you wouldn’t need additional treatment for OSA.

If your OSA has other causes in addition to large tonsils, like obesity or allergies, a tonsillectomy may improve it even if it doesn’t cure it entirely. You may find, for instance, that you don’t need as much pressure via your CPAP machine or that your oral appliance works better after a tonsillectomy than it did before.

It’s important to remember that tonsillectomy hasn’t been studied as much as other treatments for OSA. While there’s some positive research that may be encouraging, more work needs to be done to determine how often it helps and under what circumstances.

That said, a tonsillectomy did help one member of MySleepApneaTeam, who shared, “I had my tonsils removed in December 2025. My sleep is great now. I was 100 percent blocked before surgery and stopped breathing 78 times during my sleep study.”

What Are the Risks of a Tonsillectomy?

A tonsillectomy is generally safe, but there are some complications that can occur. Things to look for include:

• A lot of bleeding
• An allergic reaction to the anesthesia or to pain medications you receive afterward
• A lot of swelling in either the roof of your mouth or your tongue
• Dehydration due to not wanting to drink water after the procedure
• Changes to your sense of taste that don’t go away
• Problems with your lips, teeth, or tongue after the surgery
• Infection in the area where your tonsils were removed

Note that some level of discomfort is normal after this surgery. Recovering usually takes between two and three weeks. During that time, you might have:

• A sore throat
• Pain in your ears
• Nasal drainage
• A clogged nose
• Some minor bleeding
• Bad breath

For the first few days, you might even have a fever or experience nausea and vomiting. Your doctor will tell you what to expect and when you need to reach out to them for additional help. Make sure to keep your postsurgical instructions nearby, so you’ll always have your doctor’s number within easy reach.

Talking to Your Doctor About Your Tonsils and Sleep Apnea

If you live with OSA, talk to your doctor about the role your tonsils might be playing in it. They should be able to assess you quickly, which may not give you the answers you need but can tell you if you should pursue further testing. They may send you to a specialist called an otolaryngologist, or an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor, for additional assessment.

If you know your tonsils are at least part of the cause of your OSA, talk to your doctor about whether or not you should consider a tonsillectomy. Your healthcare provider will help you weigh the pros and cons so you can make an informed choice.

Join the Conversation

On MySleepApneaTeam, people share their experiences with obstructive sleep apnea, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

How did enlarged tonsils and sleep apnea go together for you? Let others know in the comments below.