Surgery to remove the tonsils is known as a tonsillectomy. For children with mild sore throats, watchful waiting is recommended rather than a tonsillectomy. A tonsillectomy is only considered for a recurrent sore throat if certain criteria are met. You must have:

• a sore throat caused by tonsillitis
• episodes of sore throat that are disabling and stop you functioning normally
• seven or more well-documented, clinically significant, adequately treated sore throats in the preceding year or
• five or more such episodes in each of the preceding two years or
• three or more such episodes in each of the preceding three years

Your mouth will be held open to allow the surgeon to see your tonsils and no cuts will be made in your skin.

The operation can be carried out in a number of ways, as described below.

• Cold steel surgery
• Diathermy
• Coblation (or cold ablation)
• Lasers
• Ultrasound