Tonsillectomy: Purpose, Procedure, And Recovery - Healthline
Maybe your like
- Health Conditions
Health Conditions
All- Breast Cancer
- Cancer Care
- Caregiving for Alzheimer's Disease
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Digestive Health
- Eye Health
- Heart Health
- Menopause
- Mental Health
- Migraine
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Psoriasis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
- Sleep Health
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Weight Management
Condition Spotlight
All
Controlling Ulcerative Colitis
Navigating Life with Bipolar Disorder
Mastering Geographic Atrophy
Managing Type 2 Diabetes
- Wellness
Wellness Topics
All- CBD
- Fitness
- Healthy Aging
- Hearing
- Mental Well-Being
- Nutrition
- Parenthood
- Recipes
- Sexual Health
- Skin Care
- Sleep Health
- Vitamins and Supplements
- Women's Wellness
Product Reviews
All- At-Home Testing
- Men's Health
- Mental Health
- Nutrition
- Sleep
- Vitamins and Supplements
- Women's Health
Featured Programs
All
Your Guide to Glucose Health
Inflammation and Aging
Cold & Flu Season Survival Guide
She’s Good for Real
- Tools
Featured
- Video Series
- Pill Identifier
- FindCare
- Drugs A-Z
- Medicare Plans by State
Lessons
All- Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis Essentials
- Diabetes Nutrition
- High Cholesterol
- Taming Inflammation in Psoriasis
- Taming Inflammation in Psoriatic Arthritis
Newsletters
All- Anxiety and Depression
- Digestive Health
- Heart Health
- Migraine
- Nutrition Edition
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Wellness Wire
Lifestyle Quizzes
- Find a Diet
- Find Healthy Snacks
- Weight Management
- How Well Do You Sleep?
- Are You a Workaholic?
- Featured
Health News
All- Medicare 2026 Changes
- Can 6-6-6 Walking Workout Help You Lose Weight?
- This Couple Lost 118 Pounds Together Without Medication
- 5 Science-Backed Ways to Live a Longer Life
- Morning Coffee May Help You Live Longer
This Just In
- 5 Tips for a Healthy Lifestyle
- How to Disinfect Your House After the Flu
- Best Vegan and Plant-Based Meal Delivery for 2025
- Does Medicare Cover Pneumonia Shots?
- Chromosomes, Genetics, and Your Health
Top Reads
- Best Multivitamins for Women
- Best Multivitamins for Men
- Best Online Therapy Services
- Online Therapy That Takes Insurance
- Buy Ozempic Online
- Mounjaro Overview
Video Series
- Youth in Focus
- Healthy Harvest
- Through an Artist's Eye
- Future of Health
- Connect
Find Your Bezzy Community
Bezzy communities provide meaningful connections with others living with chronic conditions. Join Bezzy on the web or mobile app.
All
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Multiple Sclerosis
Depression
Migraine
Type 2 Diabetes
Psoriasis
Follow us on social media
Can't get enough? Connect with us for all things health.
Nutrition
- Meal Kits
- Special Diets
- Healthy Eating
- Food Freedom
- Conditions
- Feel Good Food
- Products
- Vitamins & Supplements
- Sustainability
- Weight Management
- Purpose
- Preparation
- Procedure
- Risk factors
- Recovery and outlook
A tonsillectomy is surgery to remove the tonsils. The tonsils may become infected. If this happens, one treatment option is a tonsillectomy.
A tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the tonsils. Tonsils are two small glands located in the back of your throat. Tonsils house white blood cells to help you fight infection, but sometimes the tonsils themselves become infected.
Tonsillitis is an infection of the tonsils that can make your tonsils swell and give you a sore throat. Frequent episodes of tonsillitis might be a reason you need to have a tonsillectomy. Other symptoms of tonsillitis include fever, trouble swallowing, and swollen glands around your neck. Your doctor may notice that your throat is red and your tonsils are covered in a whitish or yellow coating. Sometimes, the swelling can go away on its own. In other cases, antibiotics or a tonsillectomy might be necessary.
A tonsillectomy can also be a treatment for breathing problems like heavy snoring and sleep apnea.
Who needs a tonsillectomy?
Tonsillitis and the need for tonsillectomies are more common in children than adults. However, people of any age can experience trouble with their tonsils and require surgery.
One case of tonsillitis is not enough to warrant a tonsillectomy. Usually, the surgery is a treatment option for those who are often sick with tonsillitis or strep throat. If you’ve had at least seven cases of tonsillitis or strep in the last year (or five cases or more over each of the last two years), talk to your doctor about whether a tonsillectomy is an option for you.
Tonsillectomy can also treat other medical problems, including:
- breathing problems related to swollen tonsils
- frequent and loud snoring
- periods in which you stop breathing during sleep, or sleep apnea
- bleeding of the tonsils
- cancer of the tonsils
Preparing for a tonsillectomy
You will need to stop taking anti-inflammatory medicines two weeks before your surgery. This type of medication includes aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Drugs of this kind can increase your risk of bleeding during and after your surgery. You should let your doctor know about any medications, herbs, or vitamins you’re taking.
You’ll also need to fast after midnight before your tonsillectomy. This means you shouldn’t drink or eat. An empty stomach reduces the risk of feeling nauseous from the anesthetic.
Be sure to plan for your at-home recovery. Someone will need to drive you home and help you for the first couple of days following your tonsillectomy. Most people stay home from work or school for about a week following surgery.
Tonsillectomy procedure
There are several different ways to remove tonsils. One common method is called “cold knife (steel) dissection.” In this case, your surgeon removes your tonsils with a scalpel.
Another common method for tonsillectomy involves burning away the tissues through a process called cauterization. Ultrasonic vibration (using sound waves) is also used in some tonsillectomy procedures. Tonsillectomies usually take about a half hour.
No matter what surgical method your doctor chooses, you’ll be asleep with a general anesthetic. You won’t be aware of the surgery or feel any pain. When you wake up after the tonsillectomy, you’ll be in a recovery room. Medical staff will monitor your blood pressure and heart rate as you wake up. Most people can go home the same day after a successful tonsillectomy.
Risks during a tonsillectomy
A tonsillectomy is a very common, routine procedure. However, like with other surgeries, there are some risks with this procedure. These can include:
- swelling
- infection
- bleeding
- reaction to anesthetics
Tonsillectomy recovery
Patients can experience some pain as they recover from a tonsillectomy. You might have a sore throat after surgery. You might also feel pain in your jaw, ears, or neck. Get plenty of rest, especially in the first two to three days after surgery.
Sip water or eat ice pops to stay hydrated without hurting your throat. Warm, clear broth and applesauce are ideal food choices during early recovery. You can add ice cream, pudding, oatmeal, and other soft foods after a couple days. Try not to eat anything hard, crunchy, or spicy for several days after a tonsillectomy.
Pain medication can help you feel better during recovery. Take the medicines exactly as your doctor prescribes. Contact your doctor if you experience bleeding or run a fever after a tonsillectomy. Snoring for the first two weeks after the procedure is normal and expected. Call your doctor if you have trouble breathing after the first two weeks.
Many people are ready to go back to school or work within two weeks after a tonsillectomy.
Most who have a tonsillectomy have fewer throat infections in the future.
How we reviewed this article:
SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.- MayoClinic Staff. (2015). Tonsillectomy.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tonsillectomy/MY00132
- MoradA, et al. (2017). Tonsillectomy versus watchful waiting for recurrent throatinfection: A systematic review. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-3490
- Tonsillectomyand adenoids postop. (n.d.).http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/tonsillectomyProcedures.cfm
- Tonsilsand tonsillectomies. (2013).http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/ears/tonsil.html
Share this article
Medically reviewed by Suzanne Falck, M.D., FACP — Written by Erica Roth — Updated on January 28, 2024related stories
- Everything You Need to Know About Tonsillitis
- Do Tonsils Grow Back?
- Tonsils and Adenoids Overview
- Is It Possible to Get Strep Throat Without Tonsils?
- Can You Cough Up Tonsil Stones?
Read this next
- Everything You Need to Know About TonsillitisMedically reviewed by Nicole Leigh Aaronson, MD, MBA, CPE, FACS, FAAP
When tonsils become infected, the condition is called tonsillitis. Learn more about tonsillitis causes, diagnosis, and treatment.
READ MORE - Do Tonsils Grow Back?Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph.D., MSN
Is it possible for tonsils to grow back after a tonsillectomy? Find out.
READ MORE - Tonsils and Adenoids OverviewMedically reviewed by Karen Gill, M.D.
Your tonsils and adenoids are important parts of your immune system. They protect your body from pathogens that enter through your nose and mouth…
READ MORE - Is It Possible to Get Strep Throat Without Tonsils?Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH
You can still get strep throat without tonsils, but you may be at a lower risk for this infection following a tonsillectomy.
READ MORE - Can You Cough Up Tonsil Stones?Medically reviewed by Karen Gill, M.D.
You may not know that you have tonsil stones until you cough one up. Other indications are irritated tonsils, white nodules on your tonsils and bad…
READ MORE - What to Eat and Drink When You Have a Sore Throat
Learn about what foods are good to eat and what foods to avoid if you have a sore throat.
READ MORE - What Causes Difficulty in Swallowing?Medically reviewed by Nicole Leigh Aaronson, MD, MBA, CPE, FACS, FAAP
Swallowing difficulty is the inability to swallow foods or liquids with ease. Learn more about the causes and treatment here.
READ MORE - Children’s Health Symptoms You Shouldn’t IgnoreMedically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH
It's common for children to have minor colds and growing pains, but some physical symptoms can be a sign of a more serious health condition. Learn…
READ MORE - Throat Swab CultureMedically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COIREAD MORE
- What Are the Different Types of Vocal Cord Surgery?Medically reviewed by Nicole Leigh Aaronson, MD, MBA, CPE, FACS, FAAP
Vocal cord surgery is usually done to treat damage, remove cancerous lesions from the throat, or treat glottic insufficiency. Here's what it involves.
READ MORE
Tag » How Do You Know If You Need Your Tonsils Removed
-
3 Signs You Might Need Your Tonsils Removed: Tonsillectomy In ...
-
When Do I Need To Get My Tonsils Out? - WebMD
-
Can An Adult Need A Tonsillectomy? - WebMD
-
How To Know When You Need Your Tonsils Removed
-
Signs It's Time For A Tonsillectomy - Hackensack Meridian Health
-
What Is A Tonsillectomy And Do You Need One? - Gleneagles Hospital
-
When Do Adults Need Their Tonsils Removed? - Summa Health
-
When Should Your Tonsils Be Removed? - Piedmont Healthcare
-
Do You Need To Have Your Tonsils Removed? - Banner Health
-
You Might Need A Tonsillectomy Now - Everyday Health
-
Having Your Tonsils Taken Out (for Kids) - Nemours KidsHealth
-
Tonsillectomy FAQs: Signs Your Child Needs Their Tonsils Out
-
3 Signs You Need Your Tonsils Removed: Tonsillectomy In Adults