The Pillar Procedure
Now there's a simple, safe, minimally invasive treatment for snoring and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Unlike painful and invasive surgical procedures, the Pillar Procedure is a simple treatment that your doctor can perform in a single short office visit or in combination with other procedures. The procedure is FDA-cleared and clinically proven, with results comparable to more aggressive surgical procedures. More than 30,000 people worldwide have been treated with the Pillar Procedure.
During the Pillar Procedure, three to five polyester implants are placed into the soft palate. Over time, the implants, together with the body's natural fibrotic response, add structural support to stiffen the soft palate. This structural support and stiffening reduce the palatal vibration that can cause snoring and the tissue collapse that can obstruct the upper airway and continue to cause obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Clinical studies of the Pillar Procedure have shown that:
- Patients experienced a significant decrease in snoring intensity. 1,2
- Bed partner satisfaction with the reduction in snoring after the Pillar Procedure has been documented at 80% or higher. 1,2
- Approximately 80% of patients demonstrated a reduction in their AHI, and results were sustained at one year after the Pillar Procedure. 3
- Patients experienced less daytime sleepiness and significant improvements in lifestyle after the Pillar Procedure. 4
- Maurer JT, Verse T, Stuck BA, Hörmann K, Hein G. Palatal Implants for Primary Snoring: Short-Term Results of a New Minimally Invasive Surgical Technique.
- Otolaryngology-HNS 2005 Jan; 132(1):125-31. \
- Maurer JT, Verse T, Stuck BA, Hörmann K, Hein G. Long-Term Results of the Pillar Palatal Implant System for Primary Snoring. Otolaryngology-HNS 2005 Oct; 133(4):573-8. Goessler UR, Hein G. Verste T, Stuck BA, Hörmann K, Maurer JT. Soft palate implants as a minimally invasive treatment for mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. Acta Otolaryngol. 2007 May; 127(5):527-31.
- Data on file at Restore Medical.