Tonsil Removal in North Texas

The tonsils are the two oval-shaped tissues that sit on either side of the soft palate in the back of the throat. For some children, the tonsils are a source of bacteria that lead to chronic inflammation and infection, such as strep throat or tonsillitis. Enlarged tonsils can also cause snoring and sleep apnea. To treat inflamed tonsils and prevent future infections, tonsil removal (tonsillectomy) is often the go-to treatment. At Cross Timbers ENT, our expert practitioners perform effective tonsil removal to treat pediatric throat conditions and help prevent future incidents of strep throat. We offer convenient appointment times at our offices in Midlothian, Mansfield, and Arlington, TX. Schedule a telemedicine or in-person visit today.

Benefits of a tonsillectomy performed at Cross Timbers ENT offices in Midlothian, Mansfield, or Arlington, TX include:

• Preventing future problems, such as strep throat, infections, and inflammation
• Significantly decreasing the instance and severity of throat issues
• Minimizing the use of prescription medication to fight throat pain
• Improving sleep patterns and daily rest
• Boosting quality of life
• Reducing time taken off from school

Prior to performing any surgery, one of our highly trained ENTs will assess your child's symptoms and perform a physical exam to check for enlarged tonsils and other problems. Tonsillectomy is an outpatient surgical procedure that is done under general anesthesia so your child won't be awake or feel any pain. Their surgeon will utilize a special surgical tool to remove the tonsils. The procedure itself takes about 15 minutes, and your child can typically go home the same day. Following a pediatric tonsillectomy, your child may have throat pain or an earache. Make sure your child gets plenty of rest and sips on liquids. To ease a sore throat, try eating soft, cold foods, like popsicles, ice cream, and pudding.

Can adults receive a tonsillectomy?
Tonsil removal is uncommon in adults, but yes, men and women can get their tonsils removed. Two reasons that tonsil removal may be required in adults include if they have an abscess on their tonsils or if they have serious sleep apnea that has not improved with other therapies.

How long does it take to fully recover from tonsil removal?
Typically, the complete healing process from a tonsillectomy takes about two weeks. Your child likely won’t need this entire time of bed rest or time off from school, but they shouldn’t rush back to normal activities or a normal diet. They should return to school after sleeping normally through the night, resuming a normal diet, and no longer requiring pain medications.

Can my child still get strep throat after tonsil removal?
Yes, they can. Tonsil removal does not mean that you are immune from strep throat or the bacteria that causes it. However, once the tonsils have been removed, the incidence and severity of strep throat infections should decline – often sharply.

It's never fun when your child is sick, especially when it comes to tonsillitis. At Cross Timbers ENT, our team provides convenient care and personalized treatments to prevent future bacterial infections. We offer tonsillectomy and other pediatric ENT services so get in touch with one of our North Texas office locations to schedule an appointment.