The SleepTight Treatment Explained

At Specialist Clinics of Australia, we have conducted 4,298 successful SleepTight treatments and counting! We get many detailed questions about the treatment and the treatment process. Here are our most common questions:

What happens during the treatment?
From the consultation, we will see whether you’re a suitable candidate for the SleepTight treatment process. If you are, then during your SleepTight treatment, the heating technique occurs in 2 stages:
1)  Initial skin contraction and tightening
2)  Strengthening the tissue with new collagen

How long does the SleepTight treatment take?
The treatment process lasts between 20-30 minutes on average, and we recommended three treatments one week apart for the best results.

What does it feel like?
Clients report a warm sensation at the back of the mouth. It’s not a painful treatment with minimum to no discomfort afterwards.

What actually happens during the treatment?
During the treatment, there’s an immediate contraction and tightening of the collagen tissues causing obstruction at the back of the throat. The collagen tissues are made of strands of protein and when you heat protein, it tightens and contracts.

How will I feel after treatment?
Immediately after one treatment, one feels a slight tightening of tissues and contraction at the back of the throat. Consequently, you’re able to breath deeper and it feels like the airway is more open at the back of the throat. There’s no known serious side effects of this treatment. Some patients have had a slightly dry or ‘scratchy’ throat for a day.

Are there any side effects?
There are virtually no risks or side effects. The laser heats deep into the tissues of the soft palate and does not heat or burn the surface of the mucous membrane. There is no soreness or change in the sensation of feeling at the back of the throat. You should be able to eat and drink, hot or cold, or taste a spicy meal without change.
However, some people suffer a feeling of dryness or irritation in their throat for 2 to 3 days afterwards. This is normal and will go away after this period.

Is there after-care required?
No after-care is required, as there should be no side effects. The process of new collagen formation concludes 6 to 7 months after each treatment. This is when the symptoms of snoring and sleep apnoea should be at the least.
Over time, these tissues begin to loosen, sag and drop down again, causing the airway to narrow and vibrate. This is a natural part of ageing, so maintenance treatments will quickly reverse and improve any deterioration.

Depending on the severity of your condition you may require a maintenance treatment to prolong results every 6 months or yearly. This is case by case and will be discussed during your consultation. This treatment again consists of the same simple 18 to 20 minute session.