Uvulopalatoplasty procedures involve the removal of soft tissue in the soft palate and uvula. Uvulopalatoplasty was developed in the 1980s by Dr. Yves-Victor Kamami. It is an out-patient procedure, in which a laser is used to remove parts or the entire uvula at the rear of the mouth. This procedure is performed under local anaesthesia without sedation in the outpatient clinic. The procedure involves a combination of tissue removal and tightening that aims to increase the size of the airway without compromising normal functions such as breathing, speaking, and swallowing. The procedure has been found to be quite effective at relieving snoring. Despite this, some patients may subsequently develop obstructive sleep apnoea. Bipolar plasma devices are designed to operate at a relatively low temperature to gently dissolve and/or shrink target tissue with minimal thermal damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Infection is rare but not impossible after uvulopalatoplasty. Any operation on the palate can cause changes in speech, but these changes are rarely seen.