Firstly, tonsillectomy is generally a safe procedure [1]. However, risks may often occur in the first 2 weeks after the surgery [2]. Unlike other surgeries, the throat muscles stay exposed after the surgery. That said, other surgeries will involve closing the wound to protect the delicate tissues that are not usually exposed to the air, causing the risk of bleeding to increase [3].
As the tonsils sit on the throat muscles, the surgery will definitely affect the control of these muscles. Oral resonance may also be affected as there will be more room in the mouth for any resonate in after the surgery. In other words, you will have a change in voice with a more nasal tone [4]. Often, singers will struggle with this as it takes time for them to adapt to the new changes [5].
In many cases, it gives a muffled quality to your voice or even makes your pitch to be higher than usual [6].
References:
1. Tonsillectomy. Healthdirect.gov.au. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/tonsillectomy. Published December 11, 2018. Accessed December 19, 2019.
2. Tonsillectomy (for Parents) - Nemours KidsHealth. Kidshealth.org. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/tonsil.html. Published 2019. Accessed December 19, 2019.
3. Tonsillectomy - Mayo Clinic. Mayoclinic.org. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/tonsillectomy/about/pac-20395141. Published 2018. Accessed December 19, 2019.
4. McGovern Medical School. Tonsils & Adenoids | McGovern Medical School. Uth.edu. https://med.uth.edu/orl/2012/09/07/tonsils-adenoids/. Published 2012. Accessed December 19, 2019.
5. Dr. Reena Gupta. Tonsillectomy For Singers: Effects on the Voice. Los Angeles ENT Doctors ENT Specialists Top Surgeons. https://www.ohniww.org/tonsillectomy-singers-voice/. Published February 14, 2013. Accessed December 19, 2019.
6. Hakki Gökhan Ilk, Osman Erog˘ul, Bülent Satar, and Yalçin Özkaptan. Effects of Tonsillectomy on Speech Spectrum. The Voice Foundation. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.605.5120&rep=rep1&type=pdf . Accessed December 19, 2019.
