What's a Tonsillectomy?

Tonsillectomy

Say: tahn-suh-LEK-tuh-me

Tonsils, those two bumps on each side of the back of your throat, are "germ catchers" for your body. Sometimes, though, these germs multiply, hang out on your tonsils, and make them swollen, red, and painful. Usually, medicine can make you better. But if you keep getting tonsil infections — called tonsillitis — doctors can help by doing an operation called a tonsillectomy, where they take your tonsils out. Luckily, our tonsils aren't super important parts of our bodies, so you won't miss them when they're gone.