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Planning your Tongue Tie Journey

Pre-Surgery

Surgery

Post-Surgery

Vocal Changes

Human/Body Changes

Common Symptoms

Planning your tongue tie journey:

  • I proudly offer one of the shortest turnaround times around: 10 weeks start to finish, on average. Usually 5 weeks before surgery and 5 weeks after.

    Some other therapists will require 3-months to even one year’s worth of myo work before your surgery. Please be sure you ask your myo so you have your timeline set before you start- that way you can plan well and aren't surprised or disappointed!

  • Google! “Myofunctional therapist near me”. OR you can check out THIS PAGE which has some top-rated myos.

    Be aware that you will still need to vet whomever you find. Check that the myo has 1. Taken multiple continuing education classes 2. Has given lectures / hosted events 3. Has relational experience (ex do they specialize in babies or sleep apnea? etc)

  • Your Myofunctional provider should really be the person who finds the surgeon. Your myo should be well-versed in who and what to ask so that you don't have to! It's part of our job to make you feel comfortable and to guide you to the best quality of care.

    You can also check out THIS PAGE to help you start.

  • You should start your myofunctional exercises, at least one month before the surgery date. I proudly offer one of the shortest turnaround times around: 5 weeks before surgery and 5 weeks after, on average.

    Some other therapists will require 3-months to even one year’s worth of myo work before your surgery. Please be sure you ask your myo so you have your timeline set before you start- that way you can plan well and aren't surprised or disappointed!

  • If you work with me, your surgery is usually 5 weeks from our start date. So:

    Weeks 1-5: Won’t affect your daily life.
    Week 6: Main recovery-very light singing, no lessons or auditions.
    Weeks 7 & 8: Low-stress only; lessons ok but no events.
    Week 9+: Anything goes!

  • I’d love to have you! Sign up for a Free consult with me so we can discuss further HERE.

  • We meet once weekly via zoom, where I will assign your daily exercise regimen for the next week. Your “homework” usually takes 5-7 mins morning and night.

    At the end of our 10 weeks, all clients should be able to retain their new healthier habits and strength indefinitely! Enjoy your new happier and healthier life!

  • Good news! Many insurances do cover some, most, or all portions of both the release surgery and the myo work that goes with it. Even adults are commonly covered! (Hooray!)

    I recommend checking with both your dental AND medical insurances- as this procedure can be billed under either depending on your company and coverage.

    You can use this free guide to help you find out if you may be covered!

  • Prices can vary based on who your myo is. The cheapest is about $90 an hour, the most expensive is $500 that I know of!

    Price doesn’t necessarily mean that your myo is “the best”- be sure to always do your own vetting.

    Remember there is a chance that your insurance can cover part of your myo portion as well as the surgery. You can use THIS FREE GUIDE to help you find out.

  • Surgery can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 depending on your surgeon. Price doesn’t necessarily mean that your surgeon is “better”- be sure to always do your own vetting and, of course, ask your Myo!

    Remember there is a chance that your insurance can cover part of your myo portion as well as the surgery. You can use THIS FREE GUIDE to help you find out.

Pre-Surgery

  • Yes! Everything that you do prior to surgery will not negatively affect your technique or your lessons. In fact, it may even help you progress faster!

    Myofunctional exercises can be really useful for teaching isolation, control, and awareness for all levels of singers!

  • Most people need at least five weeks of intensive myofunctional care prior to surgery. This is crucial to ensure both a great surgery itself and also good healing afterwards.

  • YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Working with a myofunctional provider before and after surgery SO IMPORTANT. Not only does it make your surgery better, but it also helps you heal faster and better as well. In fact, many providers will not do your surgery unless you have a Myofunctional person already!

  • You're Myofunctional provider should really be the person who finds your surgeon. They should be well-versed in who and what to ask so that you don't have to! It's part of our job to make you feel comfortable and to guide you to the best quality of care.

  • I’d love to have you! Sign up for a Free consult with me so we can discuss further HERE.

  • All of our muscular exercises are easy, simple, and even a little fun and silly! The key to success is motivation and commitment.

    Each set of exercises takes about 5-10 minutes a day and can be done at home, in your car, on your work break- almost anywhere!

    It may be challenging and weird to do some of the motions at first- but myo shouldn’t ever cause pain or health issues when used correctly!

  • Prices can vary based on who your myo is. The cheapest is about $90 an hour, the most expensive is $500 that I know of!

    Price doesn’t necessarily mean that your myo is “the best”- be sure to always do your own vetting.

    Remember there is a chance that your insurance can cover part of your myo portion as well as the surgery. You can use THIS FREE GUIDE to help you find out.

Surgery

  • About 1 hour. You will be numbed first, then the surgeon will ask for various tongue positions while releasing you. You will NOT be unconscious/ under anesthesia.

  • Most people are in mild resting pain for about 24-48 hours. Some people take 1 asprin, but most commonly people don’t take anything at all! Days 3-5 post surgery you will probably only feel discomfort while performing your tongue stretches.

  • Yes, however most people prefer not to the day of and perhaps the day after due to soreness and pain. You will not hurt yourself by talking, but it may be uncomfortable.

  • No, but most people do prefer to eat softer foods for the first day or two. I personally ate a bagel after- just very slowly!

  • Depends on the doctor; it honestly does not matter. If you have a preference you can ask them, of course.

  • Some surgeons give stitches, some don’t. I’ve seen great recoveries both ways. They will dissolve after about 3-5 days.

    You may also need 2 stitches or you may need 10- it is not better or worse, just the shape of you and your tongue!

Post-Surgery

  • Most people are in mild resting pain for about 24-48 hours. Some people take 1 asprin, but most commonly people don’t take anything at all! Days 3-5 post surgery you will probably only feel discomfort while performing your tongue stretches.

  • We DO need to allow your body time to heal appropriately. As such I recommend not singing strenuously, for long periods, or high in the range for about 1 week. This time can be longer or less on how you feel and how fast your heal. You are welcome to do light singing during this period.

    If you work with me, your surgery is usually 5 weeks from our start date. So:

    Weeks 1-5: Won’t affect your daily life.
    Week 6: Main recovery-very light singing, no lessons or auditions.
    Weeks 7 & 8: Low-stress only; lessons ok but no events.
    Week 9+: Anything goes!

  • Almost Immediately. There is usually a short 10-minute window of time RIGHT when you leave the surgeons office when you can do some VERY GENTLE singing.

    Almost all my clients notice an IMMEDIATE change during this period- some even notice a change in their breath in the chair!

    Most often they report 1. better breath support 2. freedom and ease 3. smoothness of range and 4. less body and neck tension/pain. Even more changes come as you continue to heal, but these are the most common instant changes.

  • 7 or more days after surgery. Again, it may be more or less, depending on how you feel, and how well the tongue is healing!

  • It takes about two weeks for the tongue to heal visually. However, the musculature and the strength and control of your tongue may be a little wiggly for up to four weeks after surgery. So I would advise: do practice, and take lessons as much as you would like one week or more after surgery, but don’t schedule any high-stress or high-demand concerts, auditions, etc for at least 4 weeks from the surgery date.

    So if you work with me:

    Weeks 1-5: Won’t affect your daily life.
    Week 6: Main recovery-very light singing, no lessons or auditions.
    Weeks 7 & 8: Low-stress only; lessons ok but no big events.
    Week 9+: Anything goes!

  • Of course! Sign up for a Free consult with me so we can discuss further HERE.

Voice Changes

  • NO, tongue tie release will not change your personal vocal color or timbre. It will change your ability to create more/new tone sounds that you may not be able to now.

    A release can also increase resonance, spin, clarity, and decrease breathiness, but it wont change your personal color. You will still sound like you- like the new, fresh, best version of you!

  • Almost Immediately. There is usually a short 10-minute window of time RIGHT when you leave the surgeons office when you can do some VERY GENTLE singing.

    Almost all my clients notice an IMMEDIATE change during this period- some even notice a change in their breath in the chair!

    Most often they report 1. better breath support 2. freedom and ease 3. smoothness of range and 4. less body and neck tension/pain. Even more changes come as you continue to heal, but these are the most common instant changes.

  • A LOT- potentially EVERYTHING! but specifics depend of your particular restriction. Most common improvements are:

    - Tension & pain relief
    - Endurance / stamina
    - Increased resonance
    - Clarity of tone
    - Placement / pitch
    - Increase in spin/ brightness
    - Improved ‘back space’ / loft / pharyngeal space
    - Access to full range with ease

    But that’s just the beginning- the list goes ON AND ON! If you’d like to find out more specifically to you, you can check out THIS VIDEO or BOOK A CONSULT to find out more!

  • A tongue tie release is totally complementary to vocal technique! You can always choose to keep your same vocal technique that you had before afterwards! But do you ever feel like your stuck? You understand something, but can’t consistently do it?

    What it changes is your ability to perform specific vocal technique tasks that you may understand right now, but aren't able to accomplish.

    In short a release is what unlocks you; it allows you finally DO what you already KNOW.

  • While your teacher may have good intentions, they do not have the full picture when it comes to tongue ties and their impact on vocal function.

    Unfortunately, many teachers do not have ANY experience or knowledge of tongue ties. And even less have DIRECT experience with students before and after releases...

    I have spent over 8 years working with over 200 singers all over the world. I’m proud to say that every single student of mine has told me that not only do they think they sound better, but their colleagues and teachers also comment on their improvements as well- even when they HIDE the fact they had surgery! People still notice!

    I recommend you talk to singers who have direct experience with tongue ties; fear and here-say can lead many people to avoid things that could actually be life changing for them! All because they asked the wrong person. Ask an expert. Get better answers!

  • Of course! Sign up for a Free consult with me so we can discuss further HERE.

Non-Singing changes

  • YES! Tongue ties can have myriad negative effects on the human body. Getting a release can potentially improve your sleep, body tension, TMJ pain, neck pain- even stop or reduce chronic migraines!

  • Yes, a tongue tie can cause body tension, body pain, and even limited flexibility in the body. A tongue tie can be incorporated into the deep frontal line up the fashion assistant – this is what causes full body integrations. To learn more about fascia, click HERE.

  • Yes, a tongue tie release can improve sleep both directly and indirectly. Directly, by allowing the tongue to set and it's correct resting posture, and prohibits the tongue from sliding backwards into the airway, blocking off inhalation and exhalation and causing snoring. (To watch a video on this, click HERE)

    It can also help indirectly by stabilizing the nervous system, and for allowing better bone and face growth, and or changes over time.

Common Human Symptoms

  • Most people are in mild resting pain for about 24-48 hours. Some people take 1 asprin, but most commonly people don’t take anything at all! Days 3-5 post surgery you will probably only feel discomfort while performing your tongue stretches.

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