About 1997, a new technology was introduced to New Zealand by the ENT Specialist, Mr Jim Bartley. He had trialled the process of Radio-frequency Tissue Volume Reduction (RFTVR) with the "Somnoplasty" method, and wrote an article in the "New Zealand Doctor" magazine. Mr Bartley predicted that RFTVR would become the preferred treatment for snoring disturbance.
Mr Bartley's "office procedure" was introduced in Waiake Medical Centre and the results were dramatic for most, the "Somnus" technique version was used for about a year until "Ellman
Surgitron" produced a much cheaper version, which worked as good as the original one.
Our technique has adapted the procedure using the Ellman product, modifying the technique considerably resulting in less pain and inflammation, more effective treatments, and less client discomfort during the procedure. Since the last publication of our paper (read brief version) Ellman have been recommending the SnoreOp method and with a few changes since then, the technique has been taught by our trainer and former co owner Dr Neil Hutchinson keeping the trade-marked "Snore-Op" intact throughout New Zealand and Fiji, teaching the techniques to specialist ENT and Oral Surgeons. Clients have come from all round New Zealand and Australia, the Pacific Islands, Italy, USA, and Brunei. Snore Op practitioners and snore op co founder such as Dr Andrew Murley (principal), and former snore op co founder Dr Neil Hutchinson have done over 3,000 procedures, and most recently after Dr Hutchinson retirement.