If you have chronic sinus issues and are tired of not being able to breathe or get rid of sinus infections, then you could have drainage issues that might require surgery. Antibiotics are usually attempted first as a way of helping your body naturally clear up your sinuses and restore normal function, but for serious cases, this does not always help. Instead, you might be considering surgery. But fortunately, there is a new option called balloon sinuplasty.

With balloon sinuplasty, a catheter-type system is used to insert a balloon into your sinuses. After this occurs, the balloon is slowly and gently inflated. When this is done, your passageways are opened up and normal drainage function can resume. Also, your passageways are reformed and widened, allowing for better drainage.

The advantage of balloon sinuplasty is that it is much less invasive than other, more traditional sinus surgeries. In fact, balloon sinuplasty is able to give great results without damaging or affecting the integrity of the sinus lining, which goes a long way in aiding recovery time.

If you are considering this type of procedure, speak with your specialist as soon as possible. As with any surgery, you need to be a good candidate for it. But if you are, you may find that it is one of the best treatments available for chronic sinus problems.

You may have nose or sinus obstruction that may be easily corrected with sinus surgery. The symptoms of a deviated septum or sinus obstruction include sinus headaches, recurrent sinus infections, nasal congestion, and when severe significant snoring and possibly sleep apnea. A deviated septum may be a condition that you have had all of your life or it may result from a traumatic injury. Regardless of the cause, it makes it very difficult to breath.

You may have fungal or bacterial sinus disease, allergic sinus disease, nose and sinus polyps, or just anatomical obstruction from a deviated septum or large turbinates, which would all create sinus headaches, changes in your ability to smell/taste and difficulty breathing.  Polyps are non-cancerous growths in the sinuses that can look like a tiny bunch of grapes. They may be caused by long term chronic inflammation in the nose and sinus cavities but at times the reason is never identified.

Sinus surgery in Encino is available at the Southern California Sinus Institute and can be performed using traditional sinus surgery techniques as well as minimally invasive image guided sinus surgery (MIGSS), which is less invasive and causes less pain for the patient. MIGSS is an outpatient procedure pioneered by Dr. Cohen that makes no cuts on the face and is guided by endoscopes and specifically designed instruments to target only diseased areas, while minimizing injury to healthy tissues within the nose and sinuses.  Some patients may even be candidates for a less invasive procedure that has been FDA approved for chronic sinusitis called Balloon Sinuplasty.

If you are having difficulty breathing or have recurring sinus headaches, sinus infections or have lost all or some of your ability to smell and taste you may have a nose or sinus obstruction and would benefit from nose and sinus surgery.

Contact Dr. Alen Cohen for sinus surgery in Encino at the Southern California Sinus Institute at (818) 888-7878 or contact him through an online consultation inquiry at http://www.socalsinus.com/

Sinus problems can cause serious discomfort and inconvenience. Fortunately for anyone suffering from a sinus infection in Los Angeles, sinusitis treatment can ease acute and chronic sinusitis alike. Often the causes of sinusitis are infection, allergies or at times nasal polyps.

Over 37 million Americans experience sinus infections every year, and this number is rising, possibly because of factors such as greater pollution, urban sprawl, and increased resistance to antibiotics.

If you have sinusitis, you are probably experiencing a few different symptoms. These can include facial pain along the sinuses, infected discharge from the nasal cavities, and even low-grade fevers. If this condition lasts longer than twelve weeks, it leaves the realm of “acute sinusitis” and instead earns the name of “chronic sinusitis.”

The symptoms of sinus problems, including chronic nasal obstruction, nasal drainage, facial pain, headaches, and sinus pressure, which can burden many patients in Southern California. This is one case in which beautiful weather, and the accompanying rich year-round plant life, feels more like a curse than a blessing. As unpleasant as all of these symptoms are, the good news is that there are ways to resolve sinus infections in Los Angeles.  There are simple in-office options such as Balloon Sinuplasty and more definitive procedures such as Minimally Invasive Image Guided Sinus Surgery to treat all of your symptoms.

Anyone dealing with sinus problems is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles sinus infection expert, Dr. Alen N. Cohen at the Southern California Sinus Institute. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Dr. Cohen by phone at (818) 888-7878 or online at www.SocalSinus.com.

While many of us experience seasonal allergies and occasional congestion, some people are plagued with chronic sinusitis. Chronic sinusitis sufferers experience sinus pain, congestion, and recurring sinus headaches that persist despite medication. When over the counter and prescriptions medications fail to bring relief, patients may consider sinus surgery.

Sinus surgery doesn’t have to be scary. Today’s minimally invasive sinus surgery in Los Angeles does not require incisions and patients who have had it report discomfort for a day or so but very little pain.

The procedure involves the insertion of endoscopes and precision instruments into the sinus cavities through the nose. No incisions are made in the face to reach the sinuses. Diseases tissue and obstructions can be removed or dilated with little or no impact on the healthy tissue.

How can sinus surgery be so exact? Minimally Invasive Sinus Surgery by Los Angeles-based Head and Neck / ENT Surgeon, Dr. Alen Cohen, is the latest innovation in endoscopic sinus surgery. The surgeon is guided by images inside the nose and sinus cavities. A preoperative CT is taken of the patient’s sinuses. The doctor uses the images to confirm where the diseases tissue is located and to identify obstructions, like a deviated septum. Using the CT images and the endoscope, the doctor has a clear picture of what is happening inside the sinus cavities. He can see which tissues need to be targeted and what healthy tissue to avoid.

After nose and sinus surgery, patients can breathe easier. Chronic congestion, pain and pressure caused by diseased sinus tissue are relieved. Sinus headaches are alleviated. While surgery may not prevent the recurrence of seasonal allergies, it is designed to reduce the symptoms and prevent recurrent sinus infections and congestion.

Minimally invasive sinus surgery in Los Angeles is a real solution to chronic sinusitis and its associated symptoms.  For more information, visit www.socalsinus.com.

Los Angeles deviated septum sufferers know all about how painful and frustrating this condition can be. The septum is the small but crucial piece of bone and cartilage that forms the dividing wall between your two nasal passages. Sometimes it moves from the center, or “deviates” to one side or another. This often obstructs one of your nasal passages; in cases in which the deviation is S-shaped, obstruction of both nasal passages can occur.

The symptoms of a deviated septum range from annoying to downright excruciating. They include congestion, runny nose, facial pain, sinus headaches, sinus infections that refuse to go away for good, snoring, and sometimes even sleep apnea. While all of these can interfere with your busy life, sleep apnea in particular can be dangerous, so it is recommended that anyone dealing with what might be a deviated septum in Los Angeles visit a physician sooner rather than later.

When you consult with a doctor, you will provide a list of your symptoms and questions. There will likely be a physical exam that may or may not include a nasal endoscopy. Then your doctor will review or order CT (computerized tomography) scans, if applicable. Finally, he or she will diagnose your problem and form a plan for treatment.

If you and your doctor determine that septoplasty is the best course of action, all that is necessary is a straightforward outpatient therapy that will fix the problem and enable you to get right back to your life without pain.

Anyone dealing with a deviated septum in Los Angeles is encouraged to contact Dr. Alen N. Cohen at the Southern California Sinus Institute. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Dr. Cohen by phone at (818) 888-7878 or online at www.SocalSinus.com.

Southern California is all about looking good. Sitting at breakfast on Robertson Boulevard or Sunset Boulevard, that girl sitting at the next table has a great nose. Where did she get it?

Chances are she got it in Southern California, home to some of the best nose surgeons in the country and region is the city of Los Angeles.

Deviated septum repair, or septoplasty is one of the most common procedures performed to improve nasal obstruction when necessary. The septum is made of bone and cartilage and is the dividing wall between the two nasal passages. Often times it can be deviated to one side or another causing unilateral obstruction or be S-shaped causing bilateral obstruction in patients. One may be born with these deviations or it can be acquired due to nasal trauma. During a septoplasty no cuts are made on the face but a small incision is made inside the nose and the deviated portions of cartilage and bone are either removed or straightened in order to improve nasal congestion. This is why it is called one of the best nose surgeries performed by top surgeons.

Rhinoplasty also includes dorsal hump removal, fixing a crooked or deviated nose or tip refinement.

According to his patients as well as numerous awards, honors and certificates received by Dr. Alen N. Cohen, M.D., F.A.C.S., he is the best nose surgeon in Los Angeles. A board-certified ENT/Head & Neck Surgeon, Dr. Cohen is Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and is founder and director of the Southern California Sinus Institute. His awards and honors back up claims that he is the best nose surgeon in Los Angeles. Dr. Cohen was given the 2009-2010 America’s Top Surgeons award for ENT/Head and Neck Surgery (Consumer Research Council of America). Patients also call Dr. Cohen the best nose surgeon in Los Angeles, naming him from 2008-2010 as the Patient’s Choice Award, Rated 4 stars (Vitals.com).

Most people take healthy sinuses for granted. After all, what could be more fundamental than breathing? Unfortunately, painful and inconvenient conditions like nasal obstruction, environmental allergies, acute and chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps, and sinus headaches can interfere with what should be a process that requires no thought at all.

Anyone with a nasal or sinus problem will understandably be in a hurry to resolve the issue and return to his or her everyday life. Choosing the best sinus surgeon possible will go a long way to ensuring a quick recovery and a seamless return to the normal activities one used to enjoy. Qualifications to look for when choosing a sinus or nose surgeon include board-certification, special expertise in minimally invasive approaches to common problems, an extensive record of publishing innovative research, and years of hands-on experience with patients.

Patient reviews can also be useful in determining a surgeon’s skill and effectiveness; for this reason, many of the most conscientious physicians will make available to the public notes that patients send to them after their procedure is completed. This can be an especially useful resource to help nervous potential patients find the best sinus surgeon they can and understand what is in store for them when undergoing an operation.

Some of the most common procedures performed by the best sinus surgeons include deviated septum repair (also known as septoplasty), turbinate reduction procedures, minimally invasive image-guided sinus surgery, and balloon sinuplasty.  If you are experiencing such common sinus-related symptoms as headaches, facial pain, snoring, congestion and obstructed breathing, do not hesitate to contact the Southern California Sinus Institute at www.socalsinus.com to schedule an appointment and put an end to your suffering.

Sinus problems can cause great discomfort and inconvenience, but fortunately solutions are available. Sinus treatment, such as what’s offered in Studio City and throughout the Los Angeles area, can ease a variety of ailments, including nasal obstruction, painful sinus headaches, environmental allergies, nasal polyps, and acute and chronic sinusitis.

Nasal obstruction can result from several different conditions. These include a deviated or irregular nasal septum and enlarged turbinates (or hypertrophy).  Renowned sinus specialist, Alen Cohen, M.D., F.A.C.S., will often repair a deviated septum through a procedure called septoplasty, which can even be combined with rhinoplasty, if the patient would like, to make certain cosmetic changes at the same time.  A few different options are available to reduce an enlarged turbinate, all of which can thankfully bring relief to such problems as chronic mouth breathing, snoring, recurrent sinus infections, and even sinus headaches.  For sufferers from these ailments, the changes in quality of life caused by nose and sinus treatment are considerable.

Residents of Studio City as well as other parts of Southern California and Los Angeles can benefit from sinus treatment for other complaints as well, including environmental allergies.   Southern California’s beautiful climate and accompanying year-round flora bring great beauty to the region, but this is at best a mixed blessing for many allergy sufferers.  Such serious and irritating issues as chronic nasal obstruction, nasal drainage, watery or itchy eyes, itchy ears, facial pain, headaches, snoring and sinus pressure can result from these allergies, taking much of the fun out of a perennial summer.  These treatments can make all the difference in turning beautiful weather into a source of joy once more, so now is the perfect time to consult a professional like Dr. Alen Cohen at the Southern California Sinus Institute for sinus treatment.

Nasal polyps are fleshy, non-tender growths that develop within the nasal cavities and sinuses. Although the cause of nasal polyps is unknown, nose and sinus experts like Dr. Cohen believe these polypoid masses are usually the end-result of chronic inflammation, fungal sinusitis, or various allergic conditions. Regardless of origin, symptoms can be uncomfortable or affect quality of life for sufferers. The following signs and symptoms are typically present among those who develop nasal polyps:

• Nasal obstruction: the nasal passages can become blocked and normal breathing can be compromised
• Postnasal drip – excess mucus accumulates in the throat or the back of the nose
• Snoring and/or Sleep apnea – in these severe cases, obstruction may be prominent enough to stop or delay breathing during sleep
• Anosmia (loss of smell/taste) – these symptoms may resolve after treatment
• Headaches – chronic facial pain and sinus headaches

If you believe you suffer from nasal polyps, Brentwood head and neck surgeon Alen Cohen, MD, FACS at the Southern California Sinus Institute can evaluate your condition and determine the best way to treat your symptoms.  Intranasal steroids, leukotriene inhibitors, antihistamines, decongestants, saline sinus rinses, and allergy desensitization are all available as treatment options for nasal polyps, should they be required.  Surgical options are also performed by Dr. Cohen via minimally invasive procedures such as Balloon Sinuplasty and Minimally Invasive Image Guided Sinus Surgery (MIGSS) for cases of extensive nasal polyposis or pansinusitis in refractory patients.  An important aspect of Dr. Cohen’s evaluation is to not only develop an individualized treatment plan for your condition, but to treat its associated symptoms.

You do not have to suffer through sleep apnea, headaches, or nasal obstruction. Contact Dr. Alen Cohen at the Southern California Sinus Institute to treat your nasal polyps in Brentwood.

A persistent runny nose and congestion may not be as innocent as it seems. According to the American Journal of Medicine, more than 24 million Americans suffer from sinus infections every year. At some point in their lives, more than 90% of Americans will have a sinus infection. That’s why sinus infection treatment is available in Los Angeles at the Southern California Sinus Institute.

A sinus infection, or sinusitis, is often the result of an earlier illness such as an upper respiratory infection or chronic severe allergies. Many people who contract upper respiratory tract infections later suffer from sinusitis. “Upper respiratory tract infections” are a blanket term for illnesses that affect the nose, sinuses, pharynx and larynx. Laryngitis, tonsillitis, and the common cold are all examples of upper respiratory tract infections.

The symptoms of sinus infections include headaches (from pressure in the sinuses), a runny nose, nasal obstruction, fevers, and/or sneezing. Sinus infections fall into three categories: acute, subacute, and chronic. Acute sinus infections last less than four weeks. Subacute sinus infections last from four to eight weeks, and chronic sinus infections usually last for eight weeks or longer. Sinus infections could originate from bacterial, viral, and even fungal causes. In Los Angeles, sinus infections can be triggered by sensitivity to pollution, smoke, and other allergens or irritants.

Most people associate issues like upper respiratory tract infections and sinus infections with cold weather. But even in a warm place like Los Angeles, sinus infections regularly occur. The key to treating a sinus infection is finding the cause of it. Treatments include antibiotics, intranasal steroid sprays, decongestants, and nasal saline rinse treatments. Chronic sinusitis may at times require surgery to properly cure it. When these procedures are necessary, Dr. Cohen at Southern California Sinus Institute is a world-renowned expert in the most up-to-date and minimally invasive treatment options.