A tonsillectomy is surgery to remove the palatine tonsils on either side of the throat. An adenoidectomy removes the adenoid glands at the back of the throat behind the nose.

Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are two surgeries used to remove glands from your throat. Both surgeries are most common in children but may sometimes be performed on adults.

Your doctor may recommend a tonsillectomy if you or your child has obstructive sleep apnea or recurrent throat infections. They may recommend an adenoidectomy for obstructive sleep apnea or recurrent ear infections.

Read on to learn more about these two surgeries including when they’re performed and what they entail.

A tonsillectomy completely removes the palatine tonsils, two bundles of lymph tissue on either side of the back of the throat that help defend the body from germs inhaled through the mouth.

A tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgeries. More than 500,000 are performed each year in the United States in children under 15.

An adenoidectomy removes your adenoids. These glands are found at the back of your throat behind your nasal cavity. They have a similar role as your palatine tonsils but shrink with age. Having adenoid tissue in adulthood is uncommon.

Tonsillectomies are most commonly performed to treat obstructive sleep apnea or recurrent tonsil inflammation, also called tonsilitis.

Tonsillectomies are not as commonly performed to treat tonsilitis as they used to be since doctors now understand the tonsils’ immune function. Research suggests that people without tonsils have a higher risk of respiratory, allergic, and infectious diseases.

The adenoids usually disappear before adulthood and are most commonly removed in children. Your child’s doctor may recommend an adenoidectomy if your child has obstructive sleep apnea as well as frequent ear infections or sinus infections.

A tonsillectomy is usually performed under general anesthesia to put you asleep during your procedure. It often takes less than half an hour.

During the surgery, your surgeon will remove your tonsils in one of several ways such as:

  • cutting them away with a scalpel
  • burning them through cauterization
  • using ultrasonic vibrations

An adenoidectomy is also performed under general anesthesia and takes about half an hour. Your surgeon will carefully remove your adenoids by using tools that apply heat or radiation. They may close your wounds with dissolvable stitches to stop the bleeding.

A tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are both performed under general anesthesia, so you’ll need to stop eating and drinking leading to your surgery. Your surgical team can tell you exactly how long in advance you need to stop.

They may also recommend to stop taking medications or supplements that thin your blood.

What parents and caregivers can expect

Your child will wake up in the recovery area at the hospital after their procedure. Some children can go home the same day, but small children or children with sleep apnea may need to stay overnight for monitoring.

Your child will likely have throat discomfort and bad breath for up to 2 weeks after the procedure.

Every procedure comes with a risk of complications. Potential complications of these surgeries include:

Serious bleeding that requires a second procedure occurs in less than 1% of cases.

You or your child may be able to go home the same day as your procedure, or you may have to spend a night in the hospital. It’s typical to have throat discomfort after the procedure.

It generally takes about a week to recover from an adenoidectomy, and you should expect to keep your child out of school for this period.

The recovery from a tonsillectomy is generally longer. You or your child may have to take 10 to 14 days off work or school.

It’s a good idea to contact your doctor if you or your child has anything other than extremely minimal bleeding. While waiting for medical attention, you may be able to stop the bleeding by swishing ice water through your mouth.

Pain is often worse after 4 or 5 days. If it doesn’t get better after this time, it’s a good idea to see a doctor.

When to seek emergency care

It’s essential to seek emergency medical care if you or your child develops severe bleeding after your procedure.

Are tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy major surgeries?

Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are fairly routine surgeries in children. Recovery from tonsillectomy can be more difficult for adults but is still often minor.

How long does it take to recover from tonsil and adenoidectomy?

It generally takes about a week to fully recover from an adenoidectomy. It can take up to about 2 weeks to recover from a tonsillectomy.

What age is best to get tonsils removed?

There’s no particular age when removing tonsils is best. Your child’s doctor may recommend removing them if your child has trouble breathing while sleeping or develops recurrent infections.

How painful is a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy?

A tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy usually only cause mild to moderate pain, but some people have intense pain. Pain is usually worse within the first 5 days.

Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are two surgeries to remove lymph tissue from your throat. Both procedures are most common in children.

Your doctor may recommend a tonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnea or recurrent tonsil inflammation. They may recommend an adenoidectomy if your child has obstructive sleep apnea or recurrent ear or sinus infections.