A tonsillectomy is surgery to remove the tonsils. Tonsils are lumps of tissue on both sides of the back of the throat that help the immune system protect the body from infections.
Tonsillectomy (tahn-suh-LEK-tuh-mee) is one of the most common surgeries kids and teens get. But they're done less often than in the past because large tonsils may shrink on their own over time.
Kids usually have a tonsillectomy because:
Your health care provider will let you know if your child should stop taking any medicine in the week or two before the surgery. You'll also be told when your child should stop eating and drinking because the stomach must be empty on the day of the procedure.
Surgery, no matter how common or simple, can be scary for kids. Help prepare your child by talking about what to expect.
An ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeon will do the surgery while your child is under general anesthesia. This means an anesthesiologist will keep your child safely and comfortably asleep during the procedure.
The surgery is done through your child's open mouth. There are no cuts through the skin and no visible scars.
The two main types of tonsillectomy surgery are:
Usually, parents can stay with their child until the anesthesiologist gives medicine. Then you'll go to a waiting area until the surgery is over.
A tonsillectomy usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes, though it can take a little longer.
Your child will wake up in the recovery area. Many kids go home the same day, though some may stay overnight. In general, kids under 3 years old and those with serious sleep problems (like apnea) usually stay overnight.
Depending on the type of surgery done, recovery after a tonsillectomy may take a week or more. Expect some pain and discomfort after the tonsils are removed, which can make it hard for kids to eat and drink.
There are risks with any surgery, including infection and problems with anesthesia.
Sometimes children get dehydrated from not drinking enough when they go home, and may need to come back to the hospital for fluids.
Rarely, bleeding might happen during the surgery, right after it, or up to 2 weeks later. Call the doctor right away if your child coughs up, throws up, or spits out bright red blood or blood clots. Doctors might need to do another procedure to stop the bleeding.
Give your child pain medicine as directed by your health care provider.
Kids should rest at home for a few days following surgery and take it easy for a couple of weeks. They can return to school or childcare when they can eat normally, are sleeping well, and don't need pain medicine.
Offer plenty to drink, and soft foods like pudding, soup, gelatin, or mashed potatoes until your child is ready for solid foods.
Kids should avoid blowing their nose for 2 weeks after surgery, as well as any rough playing or contact sports.
Call the doctor if your child:
Call the doctor right away if your child vomits blood or something that looks like coffee grounds, or has trouble breathing.
After tonsillectomy, kids can still get colds, sore throats, and throat infections. They won't get tonsillitis unless the tonsils grow back, which is uncommon.
Even though the tonsils are part of the immune system, removing them doesn't affect the body's ability to fight infections. The immune system has many other ways to fight germs.
Reviewed by: Patrick C. Barth, MD
Date Reviewed: Jun 3, 2019