Snoring Treatment in London

Understanding and treating the causes of snoring through specialist ENT assessment and tailored care.
Snoring is common, but it can also be a sign of disrupted airflow and deeper sleep-related breathing issues. Dr. Ryan Cheong provides a clear diagnostic process and targeted treatment options based on your airway, anatomy and symptoms.

Understanding Snoring

Snoring occurs when airflow becomes partially blocked during sleep, causing soft tissue in the nose or throat to vibrate. While many people experience it occasionally, persistent or loud snoring often reflects more significant airway narrowing — especially if it disturbs sleep or affects others at home.

Snoring can also be linked to obstructive sleep apnoea (apnea), a condition where breathing repeatedly stops during sleep. Identifying whether snoring is isolated or part of a wider breathing issue is an important step in treatment.

Key reasons to seek help:

  • Snoring is loud, nightly or worsening
  • You wake unrefreshed or feel daytime fatigue
  • You have morning headaches or dry mouth
  • Your partner reports pauses in breathing or choking sounds
  • Snoring is affecting quality of life or relationships

Why Snoring Happens

Snoring is not a single condition — it’s a symptom with many possible causes.

Common contributors include:

Nasal causes

  • Deviated septum
  • Chronic congestion or allergy
  • Enlarged turbinates
  • Narrow nasal passages
  • Nasal polyps
  • Sinus disease

Throat and airway causes

  • Soft palate vibration
  • Enlarged tonsils
  • Tongue falling back during sleep
  • Relaxation of throat muscles
  • Reduced airway space due to weight changes or ageing

Lifestyle and positional factors

  • Back-sleeping
  • Alcohol or sedatives before bed
  • Poor sleep pattern
  • Smoking

Because the causes vary, effective treatment begins with understanding where the airway is narrowing and why it vibrates during sleep.

How We Diagnose Snoring

Your assessment is detailed and targeted.
Rather than guessing the cause, Dr. Cheong evaluates the entire airway using a structured approach:

Clinical assessment

  • Consultation and medical history
  • Examination of nose, throat and airway
  • Assessment of factors affecting airflow

Sleep study

A home or in-clinic test that measures:

  • Breathing
  • Oxygen levels
  • Snoring intensity
  • Heart rate and sleep patterns

This determines whether snoring exists alone or alongside sleep apnoea (apnea).

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE)

Every snoring and sleep apnoea patient is unique. This procedure allows direct visualisation of the airway while you are safely sedated, showing precisely where and how your airway collapses or vibrates. 

→ Learn more about Sleep Studies

Treatment Options

Once the cause is identified, treatment is tailored to your anatomy and symptoms.

Lifestyle and positional approaches

  • Weight optimisation
  • Reduced alcohol before bed
  • Side-sleeping

These may help mild snoring.

Medical and non-surgical treatments

  • Nasal sprays for congestion or allergy
  • Saline rinses
  • Oral devices (mandibular advancement devices)

These can improve airflow for selected patients.

Surgical procedures

If soft palate vibration contributes to snoring, we may consider:

  • Palatal stiffening or reshaping 
  • Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP)
  • Expansion Sphincter Pharyngoplasty
  • Barbed Suture Pharyngoplasty
  • Radiofrequency reduction

These aim to reduce tissue vibration and improve airflow.

Surgical treatment

For structural problems or obstruction in the nose or throat:

  • Septoplasty 
  • Nasal turbinate reduction
  • Sinus surgery, Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS)
  • Tonsillectomy
  • Soft palate surgery (Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), Expansion Sphincter Pharyngoplasty, Barbed Suture Pharyngoplasty)
  • Tongue-base procedures

Surgery is considered when ENT examination or DISE identifies a clear anatomical cause.

Recovery and expectations

Recovery varies depending on the treatment. Many minimally invasive options have short downtime. Surgical procedures may require more recovery time, but often offer long-term relief when performed for the right anatomical reason.

Dr. Cheong’s Expertise in Snoring Treatment

Dr. Cheong is one of the UK’s leading specialists in airway assessment and sleep-related breathing disorders.
He is the only ENT surgeon in the UK with a full-time NHS practice dedicated exclusively to snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea (apnea).

His expertise includes:

  • DISE-directed airway surgery
  • Nasal procedures
  • Palate procedures (Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), Expansion Sphincter Pharyngoplasty, Barbed Suture Pharyngoplasty)
  • Tongue-base surgery
  • Evaluation of snoring linked to sleep apnoea (apnea)
  • Complex airway reconstruction

His work in sleep surgery has been featured by the BBC, Sky News, The Guardian, The Times, The Independent, Metro and others.

Internal link:
 → View full media coverage

Frequently Asked Questions

Is snoring always a sign of sleep apnoea (apnea)?
Not always. Snoring can occur on its own, but when it is loud or accompanied by choking or gasping, sleep apnoea (apnea) should be ruled out. A sleep study helps confirm this.
Yes. Many patients benefit from lifestyle adjustments, nasal treatment or oral appliances. Surgery is considered when there is a clear anatomical cause.
DISE (Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy) allows direct observation of the airway during sleep-like conditions, helping identify the exact source of obstruction. It is recommended when the cause is uncertain or for surgical planning.
This depends on the treatment. Minimally invasive procedures often have quick recovery, while certain surgeries may require one to two weeks.
Not necessarily, but contributing factors such as age, weight, nasal issues or airway changes can make snoring more frequent or louder over time.

Take the Next Step Towards Better Sleep

Schedule a consultation with Dr. Ryan Cheong to understand your symptoms and explore appropriate treatment options.

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