The Operation

A tonsillectomy is carried out under general anaesthetic, so you'll be asleep throughout. The operation itself usually takes around half an hour, after which you'll be looked after in a recovery area until you're fully awake.

Most people need to stay in hospital for at least 6 hours afterwards to be monitored before going home, and some may need to stay overnight, particularly if they live a long way from the hospital or don't recover quickly enough on the same day. Serious complications are uncommon, though there's a small risk of bleeding after surgery, which occasionally needs further treatment or, rarely, a second operation to stop it.

What to Expect

A sore throat is expected after a tonsillectomy, and can be quite severe — it often gets worse before it improves, typically peaking around day 5, and generally lasts around 2 to 3 weeks in total. Pain in the ears is common too, since the nerves in the throat and ears are closely linked, and doesn't usually mean there's an ear infection. It's also normal to notice a white or grey coating at the back of the throat where the tonsils were removed — this isn't pus or a sign of infection, and gradually fades as the area heals over the following weeks.

Taking regular painkillers as advised helps keep on top of the pain, and cold drinks or ice lollies can help soothe the throat, while hot, spicy, or fizzy drinks are often best avoided in the early days. It's generally recommended to stay away from work or school for around 10 to 14 days to allow proper healing and reduce infection risk, and to avoid smoking, alcohol, and close contact with anyone who has a cough or cold during this time.

Contact your care team promptly, or go to your nearest emergency department, if you notice fresh bleeding, spit up more than a small amount of blood, or your pain suddenly gets significantly worse rather than following the expected pattern of improvement.