Is Tonsil Surgery a Good Idea for Adults?

When an ENT suggests tonsil surgery to an adult, it often comes as a surprise. The first thing people often wonder is whether adults should have tonsil surgery or whether it’s just for children. Well actually, there’s no true age limit on a tonsillectomy. Rather than considering your age, your provider will look for specific presentations and ongoing symptoms which may then warrant having your tonsils taken out.

As with any surgical procedure, tonsil surgery might have some downsides. Because of this, you should have a thorough discussion with your ENT about what the tonsil surgery will be like.

What is a tonsillectomy?

When you get a tonsillectomy, your tonsils will be surgically extracted. Perhaps that sounds fairly straightforward. But there’s more to it than that. You have two little lymph nodes at the back of your throat. These are your tonsils. Your body is packed with lymph nodes and your tonsils are a special example of these lymph nodes.

As with other lymph nodes, your tonsils function to help shield you from sickness and infection. As your tonsils intercept these germs, they may become inflamed (that’s why your physician feels around in your throat and neck, because you can sometimes detect this inflammation with your other lymph nodes).

During a tonsillectomy, these two specific lymph nodes are cautiously extracted.

When is a tonsillectomy conducted in adults?

For a wide variety of reasons, tonsillectomy surgery is not as common as it once was (they’re actually fairly common still, with around 500,000 procedures being performed each year.).

Here are a few signs that you may need to have your tonsils removed:

• Your tonsils are damaged: Your tonsils can get sores on them or an abscess or possibly another source of damage which can cause discomfort and may also be a health concern. In these circumstances, your ENT might suggest having your tonsils extracted.
• Chronic infections: Before germs can get in and trigger an infection, your tonsils are there to filter them out. But sometimes, your tonsils will actually trigger an infection by doing their job too well. Entirely extracting the tonsils is frequently the best way to address these chronic infections.
• You have sleep apnea: Breathing problems, particularly sleep apnea, can occasionally be caused by your tonsils. When you have sleep apnea, your airway becomes obstructed while you sleep (normally, this causes restless nights and snoring, but it can sometimes cause death). The airways will be clear when the tonsils are removed and you will get a more restful night’s sleep.
• Your tonsils are asymmetrical: Your lymph nodes, including your tonsils, should all be about the same size. So it’s probably a sign that you need to get some treatment if one of your tonsils grows bigger than the other (it could also suggest a more serious medical problem). Your doctor may suggest the extraction of one or more of your tonsils if one grows bigger than the other.

The upsides and the downsides of a tonsillectomy

In terms of a tonsillectomy, as with any surgical procedure, there are advantages and disadvantages. What those benefits and drawbacks look like will depend on the reason your tonsils are extracted in the first place.

But there are some drawbacks to surgery. So what are the disadvantages of tonsillectomy in adults? Here are a few of the most prevalent:

• Recovery: It might take some time to recuperate from your tonsillectomy. Although the surgery will most likely take place on an outpatient basis, that doesn’t mean the discomfort will recede in a day. Usually, tonsillectomy recovery will take 10-14 days.
• Complications: Tonsillectomy, like any surgery, comes with a risk of complications. Be certain to talk to your provider about what those complications might be.
• Discomfort: In adults, is tonsil surgery very painful? It isn’t unusual for this surgery to cause some discomfort. Some evidence suggests that kids often feel less pain from this surgery than adults (although the reasons for this are not well characterized).

Should you get a tonsillectomy?

So, is it worth extracting tonsils in adults? Each case needs to be taken on an individual basis. Your doctor will decide whether this surgery is right for you based on your symptoms and your overall health.

Getting a tonsillectomy will have positive results for many and will improve their lives. If you’re having chronic sore throats, are suffering from sleep apnea, or are concerned about your tonsil health, contact us today.