Cleveland Clinic doctor checking the throat of his patient.

Tonsillectomy

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Have a sore throat again? Your tonsils might be acting up. But you can get lasting relief — and a reason to eat popsicles for breakfast.

Your tonsils are your throat’s germ-catchers, protecting you from bacteria and viruses. But when they get infected or swollen, your usually trusty tonsils can turn on you and cause all sorts of problems — a sore throat (pharyngitis) that won’t go away, loud snoring and even bad breath (halitosis). Yuck, right?

But you don’t have to live with this. Cleveland Clinic can get rid of those bad tonsils with a common surgery — a tonsillectomy. And, no, it’s not just for kids. Even some adults need to get their tonsils out. And if you do, our experts are here help you feel better fast.

Why Choose Cleveland Clinic for Tonsillectomy?

High-volume specialty:

Our providers do hundreds of tonsillectomies each year. This means you’ve got a skilled, experienced team behind you — one that will get you back to feeling your best as quickly as possible.

Caring approach:

No matter how old you are, the word, “surgery,” can stress you out. Don’t worry. We’ll answer your questions and talk with you about what to expect so you can understand what will happen and how it can help you feel better. Meet our team.

National recognition:

Cleveland Clinic is a trusted healthcare leader. We're recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for our expertise and care.

Virtual visits:

Virtual visits make it easy to keep in touch with your provider without having to travel. You can talk to them from the comfort of your couch using an internet connection and your computer, tablet or smartphone. It’s a quick and convenient way to get the care you need, when you need it.

Tonsillectomy Consultation at Cleveland Clinic

Your tonsils are helpful in fighting infections when they’re healthy. But when they’re not, they can cause more problems than they solve. Our experienced providers diagnose tonsil problems such as:

Meet Our Tonsillectomy Team

When you come to Cleveland Clinic for your tonsil problems, you’ll work with an experienced team of providers, including:

Otolaryngologists (ear, nose and throat specialists).
Anesthesiologists.
Radiologists (imaging specialists).
Nurse practitioners.
Physician assistants.

During your first visit, we’ll take a look at your tonsils. And we’ll likely see that they look a little ugly. We might also do a bacteria culture test and other blood test to see if you’re fighting an infection. And we might do some imaging, too. Once we get your test results, we’ll go over what’s next for you.

Providers Who Perform Tonsillectomy

Locations

Our healthcare providers see patients at convenient locations throughout Northeast Ohio, Florida and London.

What To Expect During Tonsillectomy at Cleveland Clinic

If you have an infection, we might prescribe antibiotics or drain your tonsils to see if that clears things up. If it doesn’t, then chances are you’ll need to have a tonsillectomy.

Before your surgery, we’ll focus on you and helping you feel better. We’ll talk with you about what to expect and answer any questions you might have. We’ll also make sure you know what to do during recovery at home. In most cases, you can go home on the same day as your tonsillectomy and not spend a night in the hospital.

Thanks to general anesthesia, you’ll be asleep during the procedure, so you won’t feel any pain or remember what happened. Once you’re asleep, we’ll remove your tonsils. It doesn’t take long — usually only about 30 minutes. We might use heat to remove them (electrocautery) or use a sharp knife (scalpel). Some of our providers also use vibrations or lasers to do tonsillectomies.

When surgery is complete, you’ll stay in a recovery area while the anesthesia wears off. Your providers will check on you and make sure you don’t have any problems breathing before you go home.

Recovering From Tonsillectomy

You’ll probably have a very sore throat for about three or so days after surgery. Some pain can last up to two weeks, but we can prescribe medicine to help you feel better. While you’re recovering at home, you’ll need to take it easy and not work or go to school for about 10 days. Rest and try to limit heavy activity. And if it hurts to talk, don’t. Your voice probably needs a rest.

It might also be hard to eat for at least a few days. Soft, cool foods are best — they’re easy to swallow and can keep you hydrated, which is important for healing. Water, ice cream, pudding, mashed potatoes — and yes, popsicles — are great choices.

Taking the Next Step

Kids aren’t the only ones who might need to get their tonsils out. Even adults need a tonsillectomy sometimes. It’ll give you a great excuse to eat plenty of popsicles and ice cream after surgery, but it’ll also help get rid of painful throat infections and snoring. If you’re ready for some relief, the experts at Cleveland Clinic are here to help you feel good (and not stressed) about this common surgery.