AirLift™
Superior Skill.
Compassionate Care.
AirLift™
Superior Skill.
Compassionate Care.
What is AirLift™?
AirLift™ lets you sleep and breathe better with one of the most advanced and less intrusive obstructive sleep apnea relief procedures available today.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) impacts an estimated 12 million adults in the United States. In Orlando, AirLift™ is a new less intrusive and highly effective treatments to open and stabilize upper airway obstruction.
The procedure is less invasive than traditional surgeries which require the removal or cutting of the jaw bone or excising portions of the tongue base, thereby allowing for faster recovery times and less discomfort for patients.
How Does AirLift Surgery Work?
The FDA-approved procedure utilizes specially-designed sutures and suture anchors to elevate and suspend the hyoid bone closer to the jaw. The resulting tension on the soft tissues of the mouth, throat, and tongue provides long-lasting relief and keeps the air pathways free-flowing and stable all night long. AirLift is easy to implant, comfortable, and covered by most insurance programs. The procedure is completely reversible and removable.
A small incision is made under the mandible, and two small suture anchors are inserted under and behind the chin. Two small sutures are used to lift and suspend the hyoid bone closer to the jaw by locking the sutures to the anchors. The position of the hyoid can be adjusted at any time.
“The Airlift procedure has proven to be a great treatment option in those OSA patients who have collapse at the level of the lower throat and tongue base,” says Kiran Tipirneni, M.D., F.A.C.S., of The Ear, Nose, Throat and Plastic Surgery Associates. “When performed as a stand-alone procedure for sleep apnea, most patients can eat a normal meal after the procedure and discomfort is minimal.”
When scheduling your procedure, we will address your condition specifically and determine what the best option for you will be.
What Are the Benefits of the AirLift Procedure?
The AirLift surgical procedure, developed by Siesta Medical, is a less invasive, and cost-effective option for sleep apnea patients who have not found relief from non-surgical interventions, such as CPAP and oral appliances.
Advantages of AirLift surgery over traditional types of sleep apnea surgeries include:
- Less discomfort than traditional tongue reduction surgeries
- Immediate and long-lasting solution
- Faster recovery time
- No removal of bone or tissue
Clinical evidence shows a 78 percent reduction in sleep apnea symptoms with the AirLift procedure and has a nearly 70 percent success rate overall. The procedure has been rigorously tested and is FDA-approved. Results show that the AirLift procedure has been proven safe and effective at improving the quality of life of patients.
AirLift is a service offered through our Sleep Center by our highly-trained and accomplished ear, nose, and throat surgeon, Dr. Kiran Tipirneni, M.D. This innovative hyoid suspension surgery may be able to give you the permanent relief from the potentially debilitating effects of sleep apnea – and it is covered by most insurances, including Medicare.
What People Are Saying
“Very professional, knowledgeable, and informative! Very friendly and compassionate. Can’t say enough good things. Very happy for my husband to have received such great care.”
“It was a pleasant experience. The people are super nice and friendly. The appointment was right on time, almost no waiting time. I would certainly recommend you.”
“The facility is very clean, high tech, organized. Staff friendly, efficient and thorough. Great experience! Thank you!”
