At the Snore Away Medical Group, our Dedicated Laser Surgeons utilize Nightlase® for our unique Rescue Laser Therapy® for Snoring and Sleep Apnea.
What is NightLase® Laser Therapy?
NightLase® Laser Therapy consists of a FDA-approved technology which is used in a non-invasive, in-office, painless manner, to deliver laser treatment designed to reduce the effects of Snoring and Sleep Apnea and increase the quality of your sleep.
What is So Special about NightLase® Laser Therapy
There are two (2) unique features about the NightLase® Laser Therapy.
First, is that it includes 2 different type of laser wavelengths in one (1) medical laser piece of equipment – No other laser in the United States has this feature.
Second, this laser has a “Variable Square Pulse” technology which allows EXTREME PRECISION – within 2 microns. The laser used for NightLase® Laser Therapy is manufactured by a world-leading laser manufacturer known as Fotona®.
NightLase® Laser Therapy utilizes two (2) “YAG” laser wavelengths. “YAG” refers to the crystal lattice which generates the laser wavelength. YAG stands for Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (YAG).
The two (2) YAG laser wavelengths used are known Erbium (Er) Yag (2940 nm) and Neodymium (Nd) Yag (1064 nm).
How Does the Nightlase Laser Therapy Work?
NightLase® Laser Therapy utilizes its 2 “YAG” laser through a proprietary “Smooth Mode” pulse which create a non-ablative heat generation that initiates the Conversion of existing collagen to More Elastic and Organized Forms of Collagen and also initiates Neocollagenesis, which is the creation of new collagen, by fibroblast cells.
Key features of NightLase® Laser Therapy include the following:
- FDA-Approved
- No Pain
- No Down time
- No Side Effects
- No Anesthesia required
- Non-Ablative
- No Cutting
- Highly Effective Success Rate
- In-Office Procedure (25 minutes); Return to Normal Activity IMMEDIATELY
- Safe
- Initiates Conversion of Existing Collagen to More Elastic and Organized Forms of Collagen
- Induces Neocollagenesis which is the creation of New Collagen in Fibroblast cells
- Does NOT require a device to be worn on your face during sleep
- Does NOT require a device stuffed in your mouth during sleep Involves No chemical treatments
Where in the Throat is the Nightlase® Laser Therapy Applied?
The NightLase® Laser Therapy is applied in three key areas of the oral cavity and pharynx: floor of the mouth; soft palate and uvula; and posterior portion of tongue.
Each area is treated with Both the Er: Yag and the Nd: Yag laser wavelengths. In this way, we are able to obtain optimum Conversion of Existing Collagen to More Elastic and Organized Forms of Collagen and we can induce Neocollagenesis which is the creation of New Collagen by Fibroblast cells.
Who is a Candidate for NightLase® Laser Therapy?
There are two (2) candidates for the NightLase® Laser Therapy:
#1 Patients who Suffer from Snoring
#2 Patients who Can Not Tolerate their CPAP Mask for Sleep Apnea
Are Any Tests Required to Determine Whether You Are a Candidate for NightLase® Laser Therapy?
To determine whether you are a candidate for NightLase® Laser Therapy, the following are considered:
1. Pre-Screening Questionnaires
These sets of Questionnaires are important for Patients to complete to determine whether Snoring Exists, the extent of Snoring, and, to determine whether there are any underlying Sleep Apnea issues which the Patient may not have been aware of:
- General Health Questionnaire
- Thornton Snoring Questionnaire
- Epworth Sleepiness Questionnaire
- Nasal Obstruction Questionnaire
2. Brief Physical Examination
Examination of the oral cavity is very important in the evaluation of snoring and sleep apnea.
The relationship of the tongue and the opening or size of the posterior pharynx is evaluated for degrees of potential airway obstruction.
Examination of the Tonsils, Tongue, and Mallampati Score (an assessment of the relative size of the base of the tongue compared to the oropharyngeal opening in determining and predicting a difficult and compromised airway) are key considerations.
3. Snoring Verification (cell phone app)
This is an example of the remarkable type of improvement we expect after NightLase® Laser Therapy for snoring. This is an example of a cell phone app which measures the degree of snoring Before and After NightLase® Laser Therapy.
4. Sleep Apnea Test
This the main diagnostic tool which a clinician relies upon to diagnose and manage Sleep Apnea. It is a test which can be performed with a simple finger attachment used while the patient sleeps at their own home, or, it can be performed in a facility which has a “sleep lab.” Modernly, the technology of outpatient finger-sleep apnea testing is highly advanced, inexpensive, and reliable.The key determinant of a Sleep Apnea Test is the “Apnea – Hypopnea Indes” or “AHI.” This determination delineates how many episodes of Apnea and Hypopnea a individual has, per Hour, during a night sleep.
Apnea: Number of apneas:
An apnea is a total or near total lapse in breathing, indicated by STOPPING Breathing or a Reduction in airflow of 90% for at least 10 seconds.
Hypopnea: Number of hypopneas:
A hypopnea is a partial reduction in breathing for at least 10 seconds and involves at least a 30% drop in airflow.
As an example, if an individual has an AHI score which indicates 16 episodes of Apnea – that means that in one hour (60 minutes) the individual either STOPPED Breathing or had a Reduction in airflow of 90% for at least 10 seconds 16 times per hour (about every 3 minutes!)
What Does the Nightlase® Laser Therapy Feel Like?
Patients may feel a slight “warming” of tissue from time-to-time during the procedure. The procedure is generally not uncomfortable and typically produces no pain. The procedure takes about 25 minutes to complete.
How Many Treatment Sessions Are Required?
Our protocol NightLase® Laser Therapy includes four (4) treatments. Each treatment is approximately 21 days apart, depending upon the anatomic features.
How Soon Will the Results of Treatment be Occur?
Approximately 50-60% of individuals will notice either an 80% or greater decrease, or Complete cessation, of their Snoring, after just ONE (1) treatment. Changes in the AHI for Sleep Apnea patients are expected approximately three weeks after the completion of therapy.
How Long Do NightLase® Laser Therapy Results Last?
Typically, results will last for one year; often times results may last longer depending on the initial severity of the patient’s condition. Repeat treatment (“touch-ups”) may be required on a yearly basis (only One (1) treatment session (25 minutes) is generally required during a “touch-up”).
This FDA-approved laser technology (NightLase®) for snoring and sleep apnea is Safe and Effective, and has a high success rate.
Approximately 50-60% of patients will notice either a 80% or greater decrease or Complete cessation of their Snoring after one (1) treatment. Changes in the number of apneic periods (the “AHI” score of sleep apnea tests) also have evidenced dramatic changes.
For instance, in one study – when treating All severities of Sleep Apnea patients, approximately 78% of patients had Greater Than a 50% improvement in the AHI; 93% of patients had an AHI score of less than 20; and 45% of patients had an AHI score of LESS than 5 (less than 5 is considered No Sleep Apnea)
(Harvey S. Shiffman, Jay Khorsandi, and Nichole M. Cauwels;
Minimally Invasive Combined Nd:YAG and Er:YAG Laser-
Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty for Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea; Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine, and Laser Surgery 2021 39:8, 550-557).
In another study, “After the third treatment, patients reported improvement better than 85%.” (Sippus, J., NightLase Procedure – Laser Snoring and Sleep Apnea Reduction Treatment; J. Laser and Health Academy, V 2015; No 1; Online First).
While the results are long term, a “touch up” procedure may be required (One (1) 245 minute session) after one year: “The long-term efficacy, quality of life, and painless laser procedure can be performed with successful outcomes on sleep apnea patients.” (Laser in Sleep Disorders: A Review on Low Laser Uvulopalatoplasty. Sleep Disord. 2021 Feb 28;2021:8821073. doi: 10.1155/2021/8821073. PMID: 33728070; PMCID: PMC7937452. Meta Analysis; Review article). Some authors have reported results lasting well over a year (Jia Liu, Jiuhui Yang, Min Zhang, Yongjin Chen, Qiang Li. Clinical Efficacy Evaluation of Er: YAG Laser Treatments for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome. Biomed J Sci & Tech Res 20(3)-2019. BJSTR. MS.ID.003447).
What Can I Expect After the NightLase® Laser Therapy ?
There are usually no side-effects following the NightLase® Laser Therapy. Some patients may experience a minor dry throat – drinking warm water is encouraged during the immediate post-procedure time period.
Before and After Results from NightLase® Laser Therapy
