Removal of Tonsils

My 32 year old daughter is to have her tonsils removed.  We have
heard there is a method which uses heat to remove the tonsils and
reduce the dangers and recovery time. Can anyone tell me what the
procedure is called?

[National Jewish]

There are two relatively modern techniques:
1. Plasma-mediated ablation (PMA) and
2. Monopolar electrosurgery (MES).
We do not perform tonsillectomies.  So we cannot provide an experience-based opinion on relative risk and recovery time.
Here are some general comments:
1. Few adults require tonsillectomy.  Get a second opinion about the need for this procedure.  This opinion should come from someone who does not have a vested interest, such as your primary doctor.  Be convinced that the surgery needs to be done.
2. Risk and recovery time are more closely related to the skill and experience of the surgeon rather than the technique.  Ask the doctor proposing the operation about his/her experience, especially with the technique proposed; complication rate; and average time to recover back to normal.  Get your primary doctor's opinion about the surgeon and his outcomes.
3. This is not minor surgery; it carries the risk of serious complications.  If you decide to proceed with the surgery, make sure to have it done by the best ENT specialist available, even if you have to go outside of your geographical area.

[Lukas]

I had my tonsils removed last year at the age of 20.  I took 2 weeks off of school (Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD) and returned only to eat very small solid foods.  After 3 to 4 weeks I could eat anything I wanted, but I still felt a little weird in my throat.  I felt that there was too big of a hole in my throat and that I could swallow something that I could choke on.  However, as time passed, I got fully used to it.

It's been over a year and I haven't been sick since then.  Before, I used to get sore throats every couple of months.  I swallowed more antibiotics than people in Ethiopia swallow food.  I was on Pennicillin (penicillin), Augmentin, Avelox, Zithromax, Keflex, and others that I don't remember.  I took antibiotics up to the night before the surgery.

It was very painful, but worth it.  I was very afraid, but it was worth it.  I had an excellent ENT and the SDS (Same-Day Surgery) unit at the hospital was excellent.  I was in at around 6am and out the door by 4pm.

If you have any questions, e-mail me at ***@****

Hope this helps!

Lukas