Stop Snoring. Sleep Better.

The Pillar® Procedure: Helping Atlantans Get a Healthier Night’s Sleep

atlantaSnoring is problematic, both for the snorer as well as the snorer’s sleeping problem. But when snoring is caused by sleep apnea, it is a serious health issue. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the airway becomes completely blocked during sleep. The snorer stops breathing, sometimes for several seconds. These occurrences can happen several dozen times each hour. At the Snoring Center’s Atlanta office, our board certified physicians treat patients with a variety of snoring problems, including sleep apnea.

The preferred treatment for sleep apnea is Constant Positive Airway Pressure or CPAP. The patient wears a mask that covers the nose and mouth. A tube runs from the mask to a machine that forces air into the patient’s airway, forcing the airway to stay open. Here is the catch, most patients complain about the discomfort of wearing the mask, the noise of the CPAP machine or both. They simply can’t sleep through the night. Thus, while CPAP is the preferred treatment, it is not a realistic solution for many sleep apnea sufferers.
An effective alternative to CPAP is The Pillar® Procedure and it is one of the most common treatments chosen by The Snoring Center’s patients. With The Pillar® Procedure, which is minimally invasive, our board certified physicians insert tiny implants into the soft palate. These implants then stiffen the soft palate, which is a significant contributor for at least 80 percent of people who snore. This stiffening of the palate reduces the tissue vibrations that cause snoring. The procedure is safe and simple and in many cases it can provide significant relief to people who suffer from mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
The best news is that our trained physicians can diagnose and treat patients on the same day. The entire procedure takes less than an hour. Even better, the patient can immediately return to normal activity. The only minor side effect for some patients is a slight irritation in the throat that goes away within 24 hours.
Of course, The Pillar® Procedure is only one of the minimally invasive advanced treatments we utilize at The Snoring Center. The other proven treatments we utilize include:

• Coblation Turbinate Reduction
• Palate Coblation
• RFA
• Laser Tonsillectomy
• Home Sleep Study
• Oral Appliances
• Snoring Surgery
• CPAP

At The Snoring Center’s Atlanta Office, we take a rational approach to addressing the long-term problem of snoring, especially when the snoring is a serious condition like sleep apnea. Whatever your snoring problem is, schedule a consultation with us. You could be sleeping better in no time.

Meet your doctor: Howard Herman, MD, Medical Director – Atlanta, GA

Dr. Howard K. Herman is Board-Certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. He has provided ENT care and minimally invasive, office-based management of snoring and sleep apnea in the state of Georgia for nearly 20 years.
Dr. Herman has performed more Pillar implants than any other physician in the state of Georgia, and he has extensive experience with other minimally invasive procedures such as in-office turbinate reduction, in-office tonsil reduction, and palatal reduction procedures. Dr. Herman has also had special training and experience in the latest therapies to manage nasal obstruction and sinus problems.
Dr. Herman received his degree in Medicine from the Boston University School of Medicine. Postgraduate training included an internship in General Surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City and residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary.
He is a member of several professional societies including the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery and the American Medical Association. Dr. Herman has published book chapters and research articles in his field.

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