Tonsillectomy in adults, what should I know?

• Tonsillectomy surgery is one of the most common procedures in Otorhinolaryngology, especially in the case of children and adults between 30 and 50 years of age.
• The surgical treatment of tonsillectomy lasts only 20 minutes, depending on each case, and its main objective is to improve the patient's quality of life.
• After tonsillectomy, full recovery takes place 15 days after surgery, guaranteeing the success of the treatment and re-establishing the correct functioning of the respiratory tract.

The tonsils are two small masses at the back of the throat. These glands are part of our immune system, helping the body to fight off diseases caused by germs and viruses that we breathe in through the air.

As you may already know, the tonsils, along with the adenoids and lymph nodes, perform the immune function of producing immunoglobulins. However, infections often occur in the tonsils themselves, causing inflammation, redness, pain and subsequent tonsillitis or other conditions caused by pathogens.

Although tonsils tend to decrease in size during puberty, they are still very prone to become inflamed and infected due to their overexertion in defending us from infectious agents, especially during childhood. 

This is why it is becoming increasingly common for specialists to remove them when children are between 3 and 5 years old and have had frequent episodes of enlarged and infected tonsils. In this way, the problem is eliminated once and for all.

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On the other hand, it is also possible that the tonsils do not cause discomfort until adulthood, appearing in these cases mainly in men between the ages of 30 and 50. 

These men often present with chronic tonsillitis or problems caused by tonsil hypertrophy, such as sleep apnoea.

Although pharmacological treatment is often used initially to solve the problems caused by the tonsils, the definitive treatment is always tonsillectomy, surgery to remove the tonsils.

Unlike children, adults who undergo tonsillectomy tend to have more complications, especially bleeding and postoperative pain. However, the reason for this is still unclear to this day, although it is related to size, as adult tonsils are larger.

Therefore, the postoperative period following tonsillectomy in adults tends to be longer and more difficult to cope with. It is normally recommended to rest and continue with the care without exertion or going to work for the first 10 days after surgery, although it will be the specialist who will tell you specifically how you should proceed.

If you are reading this article, you have probably already travelled a long road of pain, discomfort or difficulties to lead your life normally, all caused by various episodes of inflammation and infection of the tonsils, being useless to take anti-inflammatory and antibiotics to control such discomfort, reaching the point that tonsillectomy is the best solution.

In most of these cases, your GP will usually refer you to an ENT specialist who can assess your diagnostic tests, the feasibility of surgical treatment and how it can improve your quality of life.

Read on to find out the reasons why surgical treatment is recommended, mainly to resolve and eliminate the pathologies that derive from gland enlargement and infection:

Diseases that lead to tonsillectomy

The tonsils can undergo serious changes in their function and size for different reasons, which is why on most occasions a patient is a candidate for tonsillectomy surgery. 

The most frequent reasons are the following:

• Chronic tonsillitis: this pathology is very difficult to cope with during adulthood because it causes very high fever, prolonged general malaise and a lot of pain, in addition to the repeated frequency of its occurrence, resulting in a significant problem in maintaining quality of life. When treatment of recurrent tonsillitis is not effective with medication or other measures, surgery is the only option to avoid this problem.
• Frequent infections: when infectious processes occur very infrequently and with increasing intensity, it is usually best for any patient, whether adult or child, to ‘cut out the bad stuff’. In the case of adults, these frequent infections often lead to much more severe and difficult to tolerate symptoms, such as febrile convulsions or episodes of nocturnal respiratory failure. Bear in mind that if you suffer from infections of this type between 3 and 4 times a year, you should not hesitate to resort to surgical treatment to put an end to the problem, as this is the most effective and recommendable option.
• Sleep apnoea and breathing problems due to obstruction: inflammation of the tonsils and adenoids is one of the main causes of sleep apnoea, so one of the ideal solutions is tonsillectomy. This unblocks the airways and allows you to breathe properly during sleep as well as during daily activities.
• Tonsil cancer: for the treatment of this type of problem, associated with people over the age of 50 who smoke, removal of the tonsils is also required.
• Chronic halitosis: if you suffer from halitosis often and this is not solved with the usual measures, it may be due to problems in the tonsils, and the most effective solution to solve it is to resort to surgery, tonsillectomy.

If you are still not quite sure what is happening to you, especially because it seems that what you have is a badly cured cold, in the following section you can find all the symptoms caused by enlarged tonsils. 

Remember that they can be intermittent or common to those of other pathologies and/or anomalies that affect the immune and respiratory system, so the best thing to do if you identify with them is to talk to a specialist, as no one better than them will be able to confirm your diagnosis.

Do you suffer from recurrent inflammation and infection of the tonsils and are you looking for the best solution to eliminate the problem? You can request a free surgical assessment appointment by clicking on the image below:

Do you need surgery to remove tonsils?

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As we mentioned earlier, tonsil infection and tonsil irritation can be mistaken for a cold, especially when you have a lot of mucus, fever and a sore throat and ears. 

That's why here's a breakdown of the typical symptoms of this problem:

• Red and swollen tonsils
• White or yellow patches or coatings on the tonsils
• Sore throat
• Difficulty or pain when swallowing
• Fever
• Tender, enlarged glands (lymph nodes) in the neck
• A raspy, muffled or hoarse voice
• Bad breath
• Stomach pain, especially in young children
• Stiffness in the neck
• Headache

There may also be other particularly worrying symptoms that require medical attention, so don't hesitate to see a doctor as soon as possible:

• Sore throat that does not go away within 24 to 48 hours.
• Pain or difficulty swallowing
• Extreme weakness, fatigue or agitation
• Difficulty breathing
• Extreme difficulty swallowing
• Drooling

We invite you to continue reading the sections below, you will find all kinds of relevant information about the surgery. 

We hope they will help you to solve your doubts about the process and, most importantly, help you to make the best decision to solve the problem.

In addition to the fact that your tonsils will be removed, which is the basis of tonsillectomy surgery, there are other aspects that will be of interest to you at some point in the process, if they are not already. 

So that you are not left with unanswered questions, here are a few key points to briefly explain:

Preoperative tests

As with all surgical procedures, tonsillectomy surgery requires a preoperative examination. This is to prevent any possible complications and to ensure the patient's good health.

The following tests are performed during the preoperative period for tonsillectomy:

• Electrocardiogram: this allows the doctor and the anaesthesiologist to know the patient's cardiovascular health and thus determine whether or not he/she is fit for the operation.
• Blood test: this test determines whether or not there is an infection in the body, in which case it must be checked before the operation.
• Chest x-ray: a chest x-ray is only performed when indicated by the doctor and allows to completely rule out signs of infection.

Once the pre-operative procedure has been performed, it is usual to have a consultation with the anaesthesiologist where the results will be reviewed and it will be determined whether you are fit to undergo the surgical procedure.

Anaesthesia for tonsillectomy surgery

The anaesthesia for tonsillectomy surgery is always general anaesthesia because the area to be operated on is located in the throat and accessing it with the instruments is very uncomfortable for the patient. For this reason, a complete analgesia is used, preventing you from feeling anything during the surgery, as well as helping the surgeon to carry out the procedure in the best possible conditions.

During surgery, the anaesthetist will remain in the operating theatre monitoring your vital signs and anaesthesia levels to avoid any possible complications. 

So you have nothing to worry about, you will be in the best hands.

Tonsillectomy cost

The tonsillectomy surgery price we provide at Operarme includes everything you need to carry out the operation safely and effectively, offering you an all-inclusive price for tonsil removal surgery for 1.890 €.

What is included in the price of tonsillectomy surgery?

Booking surgery through Operarme to carry out your tonsillectomy treatment includes in its fixed price all the elements necessary to carry out the surgery successfully and safely for you. 

Below you will find a breakdown of what is included:

• Booking and use of the operating theatre.
• Post-operative visits until medical discharge.
• Medical fees.
• Anaesthesiologist fees.
• Nursing team fees.
• Surgical material necessary for the operation.

Recovery time

‘When am I going to be well?’ is one of the most frequent questions asked by patients who decide to opt for surgical treatment, undoubtedly because surgery is just one more step towards achieving the ultimate goal, forgetting about pain, recovering normality in everyday life and enjoying better health in general.

In the case of tonsillectomy surgery, as it is a minor outpatient surgery, recovery is usually quick, approximately 15 to 20 days. However, after the operation you will gradually begin to notice improvement, even if you still feel discomfort or a slight sore throat as the treated area heals.

As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, the postoperative period following tonsillectomy is longer in adult patients, so specialists recommend staying at home and resting for at least the first 10 days after surgery, without physical effort or handling heavy machinery or driving.

In any case, as after any surgical intervention, recovery times depend mainly on following each and every one of the guidelines and indications set by the specialist, as the better you implement them in your recovery, the sooner you will improve and return to normality.

From the very first moment it is important to start following the diet prescribed by the doctor, even if you don't feel ready to swallow even a few drops of water, and of course, to take medication (antihistamines and antibiotics) to reduce discomfort and protect you from infections.

Duration of surgery

The duration of the tonsillectomy surgery is 20 minutes, although it will depend on the particularities of each case, and may last longer or shorter.

In addition, it is possible that this surgery is combined with the removal of the adenoids or vegetation. If this occurs, the average duration of a combined surgery is usually extended to 40 minutes of surgical time.

With regard to surgery to remove the tonsils and adenoids in the same session, this decision should be taken together with the specialist during the surgical assessment consultation, always taking into account the most appropriate medical recommendations for you and your quality of life.

Post-operative care

As we mentioned, the recovery process after tonsillectomy is usually a little uncomfortable during the healing and scarring of the area, but don't worry, it is very common and the best thing you can do is follow the instructions given by the specialist to recover as soon as possible.

Postoperative care includes the following guidelines:

• Diet: frequent and small sips of liquids together with a soft diet in moderate quantities (during the first 24 - 48 hours).
• Rest: rest at home for the first 2 to 3 days, without exertion.
• Medication: to soothe minor aches and pains after surgery, your specialist will prescribe painkillers that you should take during the first few days of recovery.

This stage of healing is usually much easier for children, as they are able to recover more quickly than adults. However, the care is the same regardless of the age at which you have tonsil surgery.

Do you need surgery to remove tonsils?

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On the day of the operation and at the hospital, first of all, you will have to hand in the necessary documentation at the admissions desk. 

Next, the healthcare staff will indicate and help you prepare for the surgery, accompany you to the pre-surgical room where you will have to change your clothes and where you will be given the anaesthesia line and the saline solution. 

As soon as everything is ready, you will be taken to the operating theatre. 

Once you have been placed on the stretcher in the position indicated by the doctor and the anaesthesia has taken effect, the tonsillectomy will begin:

1. The doctor will first place a tool in the patient's mouth to keep it open during the operation.
2. The surgeon then locates the tonsils and removes them with a scalpel, cauterising and closing the blood vessels with a tool called diathermy, which will allow faster natural healing without the need for sutures.
3. Once this process has been completed, which as you can see is very quick, the patient will be awakened.

After waking up from the anaesthesia you will be taken to a ward where you can recover from the anaesthesia, staying in hospital for only a few hours before going home the same day on your own two feet.

If you are thinking of having an operation but don't know which doctor or hospital to go to, at Operarme we make things easier for you by providing you with a free surgical assessment consultation.

This way you can meet our ENT specialist in your city, tell him/her about your case, have him/her review your reports and medical tests, confirm that you require the intervention and together you can decide to solve the pain and the rest of the discomfort once and for all.

If you need more information about how we work or the Specialist Surgeon we work with in your city, you can contact our patient service team through our contact form, indicating your email address and telephone number, as well as calling at +34 91 141 33 56 if you consider it appropriate.

On the other hand, if you are sure you want to meet with one of our ENT specialists, you can click below and request a free surgical assessment consultation in just a couple of steps:

Do you need surgery to remove tonsils?

Request a free and immediate appointment with our specialists in Otorhinolaryngology

Make an appointment