Pre-Operation

• Tonsils are lymph nodes that are found around the back of the mouth. The reasons for having them removed are the same for adults as they are for children: frequent infections, pain, sleep apnea, airway obstruction or the presence of an abscess. Some adults may experience more pain than the typical child will, but patients' experiences will vary.
  
  

Operation

• A common method of surgery entails using a wire loop to remove the tonsils. This requires general anesthesia. A second method is electrocautery, which cauterizes the area and burns the tonsils. Or your doctor may use a laser, which requires only local anesthesia, may reduce post-op recovery time, and may also reduce pain during recovery. There are a few other possible procedures your doctor may discuss with you.
  
  

Post-Operation

• Recovery time can take approximately 10 to 20 days, although each patient may recover differently. Your doctor will prescribe pain medication. It's important to stay hydrated. Eat soft foods for the first few days after the operation. If you experience post-op bleeding, you may call your doctor. Often, the bleeding stops on its own.