Fig. 1.

Representation of VUPL: a cutting needle was first stuck sideways into the posterior nasal spine through the periostium and the fibromuscolar layer of the soft palate, and then guided using multiple in-and-out transmucosal passages (dashed lines) to exit at one side of the base of the uvula. The needle was then re-inserted at the opposite side of the base of the uvula and driven through the fibro-muscular layer of the contralateral soft palate in a specular manner to the opposite side of the posterior nasal spine. A similar manoeuvre was performed bilaterally at the level of each pterygoid hamulus and at the level of the postero-superior face of the posterior tonsillar pillar.