Sleep Doctor in Alexandria, VA
At Metropolitan ENT and Facial Plastic Surgery, our ENT sleep specialists offer comprehensive evaluations for both pediatric and adult patients with sleep-related complaints. Dr. Michael Abidin, our senior partner with over 20 years of experience, is a recognized expert in diagnosing and treating a wide range of sleep disorders, including Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS), snoring, and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
Dr. Abidin has made significant contributions to the advancement of sleep disorder treatments. He co-authored a study on the Open, Direct, Midline Glossectomy procedure, which was presented at the 2016 Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meeting in Chicago. He has also spent years refining surgical treatments for sleep apnea, with a focus on innovative techniques like the Hyoid Suspension procedure. This minimally invasive surgery is designed to treat obstructive sleep apnea effectively, offering patients a solution with minimal downtime. His research continues to improve the precision and success rate of this procedure.
Sleep and Snoring Services:
- Snoring Evaluation
- Tongue Suspension
- Hyoid Myotomy & Suspension
- Genioglossus Advance Procedure
- Snap Test™
- Inspire Sleep Apnea Treatment
Assessing the severity of your sleep apnea:
The initial screening test for sleep apnea is the Epworth Sleepiness Scale.
Patients with a high score are often referred for a sleep study, which is performed in order to effectively screen for obstructive sleep apnea (OBS).
If you’re concerned about the possibility of having a sleep disorder, a home sleep study can be ordered (when appropriate).
When required, an all-night sleep study called a polysomnogram may be ordered. We refer our patients to local sleep centers and once a diagnosis is established our physicians can provide a complete solution for care of the patient including all medical and surgical treatment options.
What are the Treatments for Sleep Apnea?
Various forms of treatment are recognized for obstructive sleep apnea including CPAP therapy, positional therapy, oral appliances, weight loss, and surgical correction of any anatomical abnormalities.
CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy is the most common treatment for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. This machine uses a variety of masks that fit either over the mouth and nose or just the nose. It blows air into your throat to help keep your airway open while you sleep. There are several health benefits to using a CPAP machines including prevention of cardiovascular events.
CPAP has also been found to help the survival of veterans with OSA with continuous positive airway pressure versus surgery.
Oral Appliances may help some patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. We carry the Somnoguard appliance which has shown significant improvement in sleep for many of our patients you can be fitted and leave with your appliance the same day.
If your OSA is more severe we will refer you to a dentist that can make a custom-fit mouthpiece which will adjust your lower jaw and you tongue to help keep the airway open while sleeping.
Surgical Options may benefit some patients with obstructive sleep apnea. The surgical procedures listed below are usually staged at several week intervals to allow for patient recovery and to monitor the patient for residual symptoms.
- Septoplasty and turbinate reduction – can improve the nasal airway if airflow through the nose is compromised.
- Tongue Suspension – Tongue based procedures can help reduce or reposition the tongue base if it is large enough to obstruct airflow.
- Repose™ Hyoid Suspension
- Hyoid Myotomy & Suspension
- Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty – can enlarge the airway in the throat by removing excess tissue of the palate if it is the cause of obstruction.
Positional Therapy may benefit some patients which have obstructive sleep apnea when sleeping on their back. Sleeping on your side will help keep their throat open throughout the night.
Weight Loss can also benefit patients with obstructive sleep apnea. With obesity comes other health problems that are linked with obstructive sleep apnea including hypertension and heart problems. Losing weight helps eliminate excess fat that blocks the throat.
Hyoid Suspension – Highly Effective Treatment For Sleep Apnea with Top Doctor Dr. Michael Abidin
The Hyoid First™
The Hyoid First™ approach to treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was first introduced by Dr. Michael Abidin as a means to dramatically reduce the invasiveness and sometimes arduous recovery that is typically associated with sleep surgeries such as the uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), while improving the efficacy of treatment overall. By offering the hyoid suspension as the first line of surgical treatment for sleep apnea we have been able to more than double the efficiency of the UPPP, while sparing them the pain and lengthy recovery. The procedure is minimally invasive, adjustable, reversible, and begins working right away! If you have sleep apnea, then the hyoid suspension may be the treatment you’re looking for. Call our office today to book an appointment for your sleep apnea evaluation and see if Hyoid First™ is right for you!