Frequently Asked Questions

What do you do?

We are a state-of-the-art medical center exclusively devoted to alleviating snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea for our patients. We do nothing else.

Are you a doctor's office?

Yes . . . but we’re not your “typical” doctor’s office. We are a state-of-the-art medical center designed exclusively to alleviate snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea for our patients.

We have a team of specialized medical staff with years of combined experience performing these procedures and resolving snoring and sleep issues.

Achieving an excellent result for our patients is of great importance to us. But we also believe strongly in providing an excellent overall patient experience. When you visit our center, we hope you find it to be a welcoming, safe, and professional environment.

How would you treat my snoring or sleep apnea? Is it surgery?

The treatment we recommend depends on what our physician finds during your evaluation. Snoring is a complex problem, and everyone's anatomy is unique. So our physician must first identify your particular problem areas.

All of the solutions we provide at Sereno are minimally invasive, FDA-approved and clinically proven medical procedures. We perform the procedures in our office, usually in less than hour, and using local anesthetic. Most of our patients continue on with their normal daily activities following treatment, with minimal to no discomfort.

If our physician determines that you are a good candidate for our solutions, we can usually perform your treatment on the same day as your consultation.

Learn more about our customized, minimally invasive solutions.

Am I a candidate for your minimally invasive solutions?

The answer depends on what our physician finds during your comprehensive evaluation. We use advanced imaging technology to identify the factors contributing to your particular snoring problem and then recommend an optimal solution. Most people who suffer from snoring and/or mild to moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) are candidates for at least one of the minimally invasive solutions we offer. To learn if you are a candidate, call us at 415-525-8400 to arrange for your evaluation.

Why do I need an evaluation? What will happen at it?

We first need to identify the factor or factors contributing to your snoring. This is what our specialized Ear, Nose and Throat physician will do during your evaluation.

The comprehensive evaluation takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Our physician will perform a thorough examination and evaluation of your airways and then recommend a solution tailored to you. If you are a candidate for the minimally invasive procedures we perform, you can usually have your treatment on the same day as your consultation, if desired.

A few notes about your consultation:

You are welcome to invite your bed partner to join you. Many of them do.
If you’ve had a sleep study, we encourage you to bring those results with you so our physician can review them.

Call us at 415-525-8400 to schedule your consultation.

Are your solutions permanent?

Yes. Our solutions are designed to be permanent.

Are your solutions covered by insurance?

No. Insurance companies consider snoring to be a “lifestyle” issue, so our solutions generally are not covered.

We do offer a variety of payment options, including credit card, check and cash. Many of our patients use Flexible Spending or Health Savings Accounts (HSA) to cover the cost.

Learn more about our financing program through Chase Health Advance.

How many of these procedures have you performed?

Our center is new to the Bay Area, but our Medial Director is not. Dr. Mingrone has over 10 years of experience performing these procedures. He has helped thousands of patients resolve snoring and sleep apnea problems and is regarded as an expert in the field of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

I have sleep apnea, but I can’t stand to wear the CPAP. Will your solutions help?

You are not alone. We have successfully treated many patients who tried to comply with the CPAP, but ultimately could not tolerate it as a long-term solution.

The procedures we perform will improve sleep apnea. In some cases, they are an effective alternative to CPAP. In others, they enable patients to lower their CPAP treatment settings to make it much more tolerable. The extent to which our solutions can help you, depends on what our physician finds during your consultation. Learn more about our CPAP alternative solutions.

Do you do sleep studies?

Sereno is not a sleep lab, but if our physicians see signs or symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) during your evaluation, they may recommend that you complete a home sleep study either before and/or after treatment. Home sleep studies are a convenient alternative to sleep lab based studies in identifying disruptive patterns in your sleep without sacrificing your time or comfort. Learn more about home sleep studies offered at Sereno.

I'm from out-of-town. Can I fly in for treatment?

Yes. Many patients visit us from around the world and across the U.S. to have their snoring and sleep apnea treated at Sereno. Our goal is to make your visit as beneficial and effortless as possible. If you will be visiting us from out-of-town, allow our complimentary concierge to help coordinate your travel.

Who should I talk to if I have more questions?

Please call us at 415-525-8400 or stop by our center located in the Crocker Galleria at 50 Post Street - 1st Floor in downtown San Francisco.