Skip to main content

Featured post

Bleeding After Child Tonsillectomy: Emergency Advice | London & Essex

  Bleeding After Tonsil Surgery: The Safety Red Flags Every Parent Must Know Bringing your child home after a tonsillectomy is a moment of relief, marking the end of chronic infections or disruptive sleep apnoea. As you settle into the two-week home recovery period, your primary focus is usually on managing their throat soreness, keeping them hydrated, and ensuring they rest. However, there is one critical post-operative complication that demands every parent's absolute vigilance: post-tonsillectomy bleeding . While advanced techniques like low-temperature coblation tonsillectomy significantly lower surgical trauma, the throat remains a highly vascular area. Any amount of fresh bleeding after a tonsillectomy must be taken seriously. Parents should know exactly when to seek urgent medical help and never adopt a "wait and see" approach at home. This emergency guide breaks down how to identify a tonsil bleed and the exact rapid care pathways available across East London and...

Tonsillectomy




What do tonsil and adenoid do in the body?

In our body, we have lumps of tissue which are related to our immune system called lymph nodes. In our throat and back of the nose, these tissues form a ring called Waldeyer's ring. Tonsil and adenoid form part of this ring and have large clefts which increase the surface area of these tissues and help fight infections and forming our immune bank in the early years of our life. These soldiers or antibodies fight against infection. Tonsils can become enlarged from the age of two and can give symptoms of snoring and sleep apnea or tonsillitis if infected. Enlarged adenoids can give symptoms of nasal obstruction, sinusitis and mouth breathing as they are present at the back of the nose with glue ear and recurrent ear infections. 

What is tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy?
Tonsillectomy is a procedure to remove tonsils if they are infected, cause sleep apnea or get frequent stones. It can be done by cold steel instruments,  diathermy, coblation or LASER.

Adenoidectomy is the procedure to reduce the size of adenoids as adenoids are attached to neck muscles and skull base. Adenoids can be managed by curettage, suction diathermy or coblation.


In some cases, they can done together to be called adenotonsillectomy. In some cases, if indicated this can be combined with grommet insertion in ears. 

Will tonsillectomy affect the singing voice?
Tonsillectomy is a procedure to remove tonsils if they are infected or have tonsil stones leading to bad breath or enlarged leading to sleep apnea or suspicion of cancer. If you are a professional singer, then it is crucial to understand how any procedure on your throat can affect your singing tone.
Tonsil sits on your pharyngeal muscles, and tonsillectomy can lead to scarring of these muscles. If you have large tonsils after tonsillectomy suddenly you will have more volume in your throat and can affect your vocal resonance. You may need support from a speech therapist and voice trainer to retrain. Anaesthetist and surgeon have to be aware of your profession. The surgeon can use low thermal damage techniques for tonsillectomy. 

Will tonsillectomy help sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea or upper airway resistance can be due to multilevel obstruction. Enlarged tonsil can cause symptoms of snoring and high upper airway pressures. Sleep apnea treatment includes using CPAP. It is believed using CPAP in children can lead to facial deformity. A recent systemic review of the literature shows strong evidence that tonsillectomy for enlarged tonsils in children improves sleep apnea. Though tonsillectomy in adults on its own is not so effective. Tonsillectomy along with other palatal surgery tend to improve sleep apnea score.


Will tonsillectomy cure tonsil stones?
We all have tiny crevices on the tonsil surface. These crevices help increase the surface area of tonsil so that more bacteria can be caught. Sometimes these crevices catch food debris which can get infected with bacteria. All this can lead to bad smell (halitosis), stone formation (tonsillolith) and/ or frequent tonsillitis. First line treatment of frequent tonsil stone formation is maintaining good oral hygiene by gargling after every meal, brushing your teeth, manually removing or irrigating tonsil tone out. Make sure not to damage throat mucosa to bleed. If this does not work then discussing with ENT surgeon to have tonsils out or resurfaced are a treatment option. Use of coblation tonsillectomy helps to relieve symptoms, and it is a less painful and minimally invasive way.

What if I decide my child not to have a tonsillectomy?

 Tonsillectomy is recommended if a child is having frequent tonsillitis and it is affecting the child's school and education. Rate of having tonsillitis will gradually go down over the next few years.
While the child is awaiting the rate of tonsillitis to go down the risk are

Febrile convulsions- this is a child can have fits due to high temperature.
Quinsy- this is abscess formation behind the tonsil which may need drainage and hospital admission for antibiotics.
Reto/ Para pharyngeal abscess- if the abscess and infection spread into the neck. This will need drainage, sometimes in neck and antibiotics.

What is involved in a tonsillectomy operation?

On the day of surgery, you will arrive at the ward. The nurse will show you the allocated room, check the paperwork ( name and operation they are having) and that the child is fasting for at least six hours. A child can have clear liquid for at least two hours before surgery.
The anaesthetist will check if the child has any medical illness, allergies and will discuss any possible anaesthetic complications.
The surgeon will check the consent form and answer any final questions you have before surgery.
You will be able to accompany the child to the anaesthetic room and once the child has full general anaesthesia you will come back to the waiting room.
The actual surgery takes 30mins to 45min excluding anaesthetic time. Once the tonsillectomy surgery is over your child will be transferred to the recovery room. After observation in the recovery, your child will be able to come back to the room. Your child should be able to go home the same day or the next day once they are eating properly. Follow up appointment and post-op instructions for eating and medications are given before you leave the hospital.

Mr Gaurav Kumar 
Ear Nose Throat Consultant
To Book an appointment https://entsurgeonclinic.co.uk/ 
07494914140 
Disclaimer: For general information only, always seek medical advice from your treating consultant. 
https://www.entsurgeon-london.co.uk/

Popular Post

Private Pediatric Coblation Tonsillectomy London & Essex | Mr Gaurav Kumar

Private Pediatric Coblation Tonsillectomy London & Essex | Mr Gaurav Kumar Coblation Tonsillectomy for Children: A Gentler, Less Painful Option in London and Essex When a child suffers from chronically enlarged tonsils that disrupt their breathing at night, or recurrent bouts of tonsillitis that cause high fevers and missed school days, surgical removal is often the most effective long-term solution. However, the prospect of a traditional tonsillectomy can make many parents incredibly anxious, primarily due to concerns over post-operative throat pain and a lengthy recovery period. Fortunately, modern surgical advancements have introduced a technique designed specifically to address these concerns: Coblation Tonsillectomy . If you are looking into private treatment options for your child outside of overstretched local NHS waiting lists, understanding how this gentle technology works can help you make an informed choice. This guide breaks down the benefits of coblation and how famil...
Read more

After your Epley manoeuvre — patient information leaflet

  What this leaflet tells you This leaflet explains what to expect after the Epley (canalith repositioning) manoeuvre for posterior-canal BPPV, what you should and shouldn’t do, and when to seek help.   1. Quick summary — what the Epley did The manoeuvre moves tiny particles (otoconia) out of the balance canal of your inner ear and back into a place where they don’t cause spinning (vertigo). Most people feel much better after one or a few treatments. However BPPV can come back (recurrence is common).   2. How you may feel immediately afterwards You may feel dizzy or off-balance for a few minutes to a few hours; nausea is possible.   Some people feel better straightaway; others get gradual improvement over days.   Rarely ,you may have brief recurrences of vertigo — this does not always mean the manoeuvre failed.   3. Activity and posture — what the evidence says Good news: High-quality studies and recent guidelines show that strict he...
Read more

Septoplasty vs Rhinoplasty: Breathing vs Appearance | London & Essex

  Septoplasty vs Rhinoplasty:  Breathing vs Appearance for Patients in London and Essex If you are struggling to breathe through your nose or are unhappy with its external shape, you have likely come across the terms septoplasty and rhinoplasty . Many patients across East London and Essex come to our clinics assuming these two procedures are exactly the same. It is incredibly common to feel confused by medical terminology, especially when you are just searching for a solution to a daily frustration—whether that is waking up exhausted from a blocked airway or feeling self-conscious about a nasal bump. While both surgeries focus on the nose, they serve completely different purposes. Anatomy and Purpose: Function vs Appearance To understand how these procedures differ, it helps to look at the structural balance between how your nose works on the inside versus how it looks on the outside. Septoplasty (The Functional Fix): This procedure focuses entirely on the internal architect...
Read more

Adult Tonsillectomy Recovery: Day-by-Day Guide After Tonsil Surgery

  Adult Tonsillectomy Recovery: What to Expect Day by Day Adult tonsillectomy can significantly improve quality of life for people struggling with recurrent tonsillitis, chronic sore throats or repeated throat infections. However, recovery after adult tonsil surgery is often more uncomfortable than many patients expect. Understanding the normal stages of recovery can help reduce anxiety and allow patients to prepare properly before surgery. This guide explains what adults commonly experience after tonsillectomy, how to support recovery safely, and when to seek urgent medical advice. Why is adult tonsillectomy recovery difficult? The tonsils sit in an area that moves constantly during swallowing, eating and speaking. After surgery, the throat heals gradually over approximately two weeks. Adults generally experience: Significant throat pain Pain when swallowing Ear pain (referred pain from the throat) Tiredness and reduced energy Disturbed sleep Temporary bad brea...
Read more

Private Glue Ear Treatment for Children in London & Essex | Mr Gaurav Kumar

  Glue Ear in Children: Helping Your Child Hear Clearly in London and Essex It is incredibly common for parents to notice a sudden change in their child’s behavior—whether they are suddenly turning up the iPad volume, ignoring instructions at home, or struggling to follow what their teacher is saying at school. While it is easy to mistake this for daydreaming or a simple lack of attention, the true culprit is frequently a structural condition known as Glue Ear (Otitis Media with Effusion). When local families across East London and Essex search for answers, they are often relieved to find that this common cause of childhood hearing loss is highly treatable. This guide explains how glue ear impacts your child's daily development and the localized care pathways available to resolve it. What is Glue Ear? Glue ear occurs when the middle ear space—the air-filled cavity directly behind the eardrum—becomes filled with a thick, sticky fluid instead of air. In children, the Eustachian tube...
Read more

What Happens During Septoplasty Surgery? | London & Essex

  What Actually Happens During Septoplasty? Inside the Procedure to Restore Nasal Airflow in East London, Brentwood and Essex Contemplating any surgical procedure can naturally bring about a wave of anxiety. If you are an adult living in East London, Brentwood or Essex who has struggled for years with a chronically blocked nose, you might have been told that a septoplasty is the answer. Yet, it is completely normal to feel hesitant when you don't know exactly what the operation involves. Perhaps you worry about waking up with a completely different face, or you are anxious about extensive downtime keeping you off the busy M25 or A12 commute. If you are seeking clarity, let us demystify the process. A septoplasty is a highly structured, internal procedure designed purely to help you breathe freely again—not to change your outward appearance. Anatomy and Pathology: Straightening the Internal Wall To understand the mechanics of a septoplasty, we need to look beneath the surface at ...
Read more

Septoplasty vs Septorhinoplasty: What’s the Difference and Which Surgery Do You Need?

  Septoplasty vs Septorhinoplasty: Understanding Your Nose Surgery Options Difficulty breathing through the nose can significantly affect sleep, exercise, work and overall quality of life. Some patients also feel unhappy with the appearance of their nose following injury, previous surgery or natural development. Two commonly discussed procedures are septoplasty and septorhinoplasty . Although the names sound similar, the operations are designed to treat different problems. This guide explains the differences between these procedures, when surgery may be appropriate, and what patients should expect during recovery. What is the nasal septum? The nasal septum is the internal wall that separates the two nasal passages. Ideally, it sits centrally and allows air to flow evenly through both sides of the nose. However, many people have a deviated septum , where the septum bends to one side. A deviated septum can cause: Persistent nasal blockage Difficulty breathing through th...
Read more

Private Child Tonsillitis & Quinsy Treatment London & Essex | Mr Gaurav Kumar

Recurrent Tonsillitis and Quinsy in Children:  When Sore Throats Require Specialist ENT Intervention A simple sore throat is a standard part of childhood, usually clearing up within a few days with rest and plenty of fluids. However, when a child suffers from severe, recurrent bouts of tonsillitis that cause high fevers, missed school days, and a complete refusal to swallow, it becomes a major strain on the entire family. For some families across East London and Essex, a standard throat infection can escalate into a much more serious and painful complication: a peritonsillar abscess , commonly known as Quinsy . When parents find themselves looking for long-term answers outside of overstretched local NHS services, understanding when to seek a private ENT specialist is essential. This guide covers how to recognise the progression of tonsil infections and the localised private care pathways available to resolve them permanently. Recurrent Tonsillitis vs. Quinsy: What is the Difference...
Read more

Unilateral Tinnitus & Hearing Loss: Why Is an MRI Needed?

  Single-Sided Tinnitus and Hearing Loss: Why an MRI Scan Is the Vital Next Step for Patients in East London, Brentwood and Essex Experiencing a persistent ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound in just one ear ( unilateral tinnitus ), especially when paired with a noticeable drop in your hearing on that same side, can be an incredibly unsettling experience. Many adults across East London, Brentwood and Essex initially try to ignore it, perhaps assuming it is just a stubborn buildup of earwax or the temporary after-effects of a loud event. You might find yourself constantly adjusting your phone to your "good ear" while driving along the A12 , or feeling increasingly anxious in noisy social settings because you cannot tell where sounds are coming from. When these symptoms affect only one side, it is natural to feel worried. It is highly important to understand that asymmetric ear symptoms require a distinct medical approach—and a specialist evaluation is the most reassuring step y...
Read more

Chronic Throat Clearing and Globus Sensation: Causes, Symptoms and When to See an ENT Specialist

  Chronic Throat Clearing and Globus Sensation: Why Does It Feel Like Something Is Stuck in Your Throat? Many people occasionally clear their throat during a cold or allergy flare-up. However, when throat clearing becomes frequent or constant, it can become frustrating, socially embarrassing and uncomfortable. Some patients also describe a persistent feeling of a “lump” or tightness in the throat, even though swallowing food and drinks may still feel normal. This sensation is known as globus sensation . In many cases, these symptoms are linked to irritation or inflammation affecting the throat and voice box. Common causes include laryngopharyngeal reflux (silent reflux), voice strain, postnasal drip or muscle tension . This article explains the common causes of chronic throat clearing and globus sensation, when to seek ENT advice and what treatment may involve. What is globus sensation? Globus sensation refers to the feeling that something is stuck in the throat, despite the...
Read more