Tonsillectomy: What to know about tonsil removal Health ConditionsHealth ConditionsAlzheimer's & DementiaAnxietyArthritisAsthma & AllergiesBreast CancerCancerCardiovascular HealthCOVID-19Dermatology & SkincareDiabetesEnvironment & SustainabilityExercise & FitnessEye HealthHeadache & MigraineHealth EquityHIV & AIDSHuman BiologyInflammatory Bowel DiseaseLeukemiaLGBTQIA+Men's HealthMental HealthMultiple Sclerosis (MS)NutritionParkinson's DiseasePsoriasisSexual HealthWomen's HealthDiscoverNewsLatest NewsOriginal SeriesMedical MythsHonest NutritionThrough My EyesNew Normal HealthPodcastsHow to understand chronic painWhat is behind vaccine hesitancy?The amazing story of hepatitis C, from discovery to cureNew directions in dementia researchCan psychedelics rewire a depressed, anxious brain?Why climate change matters for human healthToolsGeneral HealthDrugs A-ZHealth HubsHealth ToolsBMI Calculators and ChartsBlood Pressure Chart: Ranges and GuideBreast Cancer: Self-Examination GuideSleep CalculatorHealth ProductsAffordable Therapy OptionsBlood Pressure MonitorsDiabetic SuppliesFitness TrackersHome GymsGreen Cleaning ProductsHow to Shop for CBDQuizzesRA Myths vs FactsType 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood SugarAnkylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or FictionConnectAbout Medical News TodayWho We AreOur Editorial ProcessContent IntegrityConscious LanguageNewslettersSign UpFollow UsMedical News TodayHealth ConditionsDiscoverToolsConnectSubscribe What to know about a tonsillectomyMedically reviewed by Nicole Leigh Aaronson, MD, MBA, CPE, FACS, FAAP — By Jenna Fletcher — Updated on May 29, 2022A tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the tonsils, which are lymph tissue that sits at the back of the throat. A person may undergo tonsillectomy to treat chronic or recurrent tonsil infections or issues related to enlarged or abnormal tonsils. Share on PinterestMaskot/Getty ImagesThis article describes what a tonsillectomy is, including the long-term and short-term risks and benefits. We also offer advice on how to prepare for the procedure and outline the procedure itself and the recovery process and outlook. What is a tonsillectomy A tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure that involves removing the tonsils. There are three types of tonsil: Palatine tonsils: These are at the top of the throatAdenoids — tonsilla pharyngealis: These sit in the nasal cavityLingual tonsils — tonsilla lingualis: This type is in the throat below the palatine tonsils A tonsillectomy typically involves removing the palatine tonsils. Uses A doctor may recommend tonsillectomy to treat the following:recurring or chronic bacterial tonsillitisbreathing problems or sleep apnea due to enlarged tonsilstonsil cancer Read more about neck and throat surgeries here. Is a tonsillectomy effective A 2018 study involving more than a million participants investigated the long-term effects of undergoing a tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, or both as a child. The researchers associated these surgeries with a significantly increased risk of infectious, allergic, and respiratory diseases later in life. In contrast, a 2020 study involving over 3,000 people who had undergone a tonsillectomy due to recurrent tonsillitis showed a significant decrease in the number and severity of tonsillitis cases. The study concluded that the impact of tonsillectomy on general health needs further evaluation. Read more about the tonsils and adenoids here. Criteria Surgeons may consider a tonsillectomy in people with recurrent throat infections if they have had:at least seven documented episodes in the past yearat least five documented episodes per year for 2 yearsat least three documented episodes per year for 3 years They will also consider if a person has one or more of the following to define qualifying throat infections:temperature above 38.3°Cadenopathy — swollen lymph nodestonsillar exudate — fluid from tonsils in response to infectionpositive test for strep throat or group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus Additional considerations are:history of peritonsillar abscessperiodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and adenitis antibiotic allergiessleep apnea or sleep-disordered breathing If people do not meet these criteria, doctors may suggest the risks of the procedures outweigh the benefits, but they will consider the options available for a person. Immediate risks As with any surgery, tonsillectomy also carries some more immediate risks. Examples include: side effects of general anesthetic infection, although raredelayed healing It is also quite common to experience dehydration from not eating and drinking enough following the procedure. A person may also have bleeding during or immediately following the surgery or 2 weeks after. Doctors will discuss all the possible risks and complications a person may encounter and offer advice on managing the symptoms and their condition. However, a person should seek medical attention immediately if they cough or throw up bright red blood or blood clots. This may be a sign that the scabbing area has started to bleed, requiring doctors to perform another procedure to stop the bleeding. Preparing for tonsillectomy A person undergoing a tonsillectomy should be able to go home on the same day as the procedure. However, children under 3 years old and children or adults with severe sleep apnea will usually stay overnight. There are also certain steps for a person to prepare for the surgery, such as:notifying their doctor of any medications or supplements — doctors may recommend stopping these in the week or two weeks before the surgeryfasting for 6 hours before the general anesthetic, depending on the center performing the surgery and the age of the personavoiding smoking before the surgery, as smoking increases the risk of post-surgical complications, such as:impaired heart and lung functionsinfectionsdelayed wound healingmaking arrangements for someone to drive home after the procedure Procedure Shortly before the tonsillectomy takes place, a person will receive a general anesthetic. This will ensure that they are asleep for the duration of the procedure and cannot feel any pain or discomfort. The procedure usually takes around 20–30 minutes. The surgeon will typically perform one of two types of tonsillectomy: traditional (extracapsular) or intracapsular. Traditional tonsillectomy Traditional tonsillectomy involves the complete removal of both tonsils. Surgeons perform this type of tonsillectomy with cold dissection. This is where they cut away the tonsil with metal instruments such as a knife, scissor, or snare. They then control blood loss with ties or stitches. Intracapsular tonsillectomy Intracapsular tonsillectomy involves removing all the affected tonsil tissue but leaving a small layer to protect the throat muscles. Rarely the remaining tissue may regrow or become infected, requiring further surgery. However, this type of tonsillectomy has an association with the following benefits:less painless bleedingless difficulty eating and drinking following the procedurefaster recovery At present, only 20% of doctors in the United States perform the intracapsular procedure. Given the aforementioned benefits, the researchers predict a shift toward this type of tonsillectomy in the future. Other methods There are a few different methods for removing the tonsils, which include: Ultrasonic scalpel: This uses ultrasonic energy to cut the tonsils and seals blood vessels to stop bleeding simultaneously.Cauterization: The electrocautery technique burns the tonsillar tissue, which helps in reducing blood loss.Coblation: An electrically powered handpiece that ‘burns’ tissues using low temperatures. The above methods have various benefits and risks, which a doctor will discuss in greater detail with the person. The techniques that aim to remove the tonsils and stop bleeding tend to reduce postoperative risk. Recovery Shortly after the procedure, the person will wake up in a recovery room. Here, healthcare professionals will monitor the person’s vital signs, including their blood pressure and heart rate. Once the person is stable, their medical team will send them home with a detailed care plan. A person will need to arrange for a friend or family member to collect them from the hospital and take care of them at home for the rest of the day. A doctor will prescribe pain medication to help ease any pain and discomfort following the surgery. The following may also help to ease pain and aid recovery:drinking plenty of fluidseating a bland diet consisting of foods that are easy to swallow, such as mashed bananas or applesauceif a doctor permits, taking pain relievers before a meal to help ease pain or discomfort from eatingresting as much as possibleavoiding people who are ill to reduce the risk of infection What to expect Following the procedure, it is quite common for a person to experience: sore throat up to a week after the surgeryscabbing over where the tonsils wereearache, which may last several daysbad breathstuffy or bunged-up nose Summary A tonsillectomy is a common procedure that doctors use to treat chronic or recurrent tonsillitis or issues involving enlarged or abnormal tonsils. There are different criteria a person will need to meet in order to be a suitable candidate for tonsil removal. If a person meets these criteria, the benefits of the procedure will likely outweigh any risks that any type of tonsillectomy may carry. Last medically reviewed on May 29, 2022RespiratorySurgeryEar, Nose, and ThroatInfectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses 17 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Al-Shehri, A. M. S., et al. (2020). Cauterization tonsillectomy as compared to traditional tonsillectomy technique.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7586625/Barth, P. C. (2019). Tonsillectomy.https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/tonsillectomy.htmlBurton, M. J. (2017). Coblation versus other surgical techniques for tonsillectomy.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6483696/Burton, M. J., et al. (2017). Harmonic scalpel versus other surgical procedures for tonsillectomy.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6485834/Byars, S. G., et al. (2018). Association of long-term risk of respiratory, allergic, and infectious diseases with removal of adenoids and tonsils in childhood.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6145787/Can I eat or drink before an operation? (2020).https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/operations-tests-and-procedures/can-i-eat-or-drink-before-an-operation/How do the tonsils work? (2015).https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279406/Huoh, K. C., et al. (2021). Current status and future trends: Pediatric intracapsular tonsillectomy in the United States [Abstract].https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32969500/Maresh, A., et al. (2020). Evidence-based surgical technique for tonsillectomy.https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/tonsillectomyOmrani, M., et al. (2012). Coblation versus traditional tonsillectomy: A double blind randomized controlled trial.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3523437/Pediatric otolaryngology head and neck surgery tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. (n.d.). https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/otolaryngology/specialty_areas/pediatric_otolaryngology/PDF/Tonsillectomy%20and%20Adeniodectomy%20patient%20handout.pdfSenska, G., et al. (2015). Long-term results from tonsillectomy in adults. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4732178/Smoking greatly increases risk of complications after surgery. (2020).https://www.who.int/news/item/20-01-2020-smoking-greatly-increases-risk-of-complications-after-surgeryTonsillectomy. (2018).https://www.aafp.org/family-physician/patient-care/clinical-recommendations/all-clinical-recommendations/tonsil.htmlTonsillectomy. (2019).https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/tonsil.htmlTonsil surgery (tonsillectomy): Information for parents and carers. (2018).https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/patient-guide/leaflets/files/43384Ptonsillectomy.pdfTzelnick, S., et al. (2019). Long-term outcomes of tonsillectomy for recurrent tonsillitis in adults [Abstract].https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/lary.27928FEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Nicole Leigh Aaronson, MD, MBA, CPE, FACS, FAAP — By Jenna Fletcher — Updated on May 29, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? 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