Alen N. Cohen,
MD, FACS, FARS

A sinus doctor is a specialist who has expertise treating conditions and disorders of the ear, nose, and throat. They're sometimes called ENTs or by the more formal name otolaryngologist. Sometimes primary care doctors can treat minor sinus issues, but only a qualified ENT has the expertise for proper diagnosis and treatment of sinus conditions. To become this type of specialist, a doctor must complete rigorous training. First, a four-year bachelor's degree, usually in the biological sciences, must be earned. This is followed by medical school, which is another four years of intensive education. Every doctor must complete residency training, and for an ENT this includes a specialized otolaryngology residency and a general surgical residency of 5-6 years.

A good quality sinus doctor should be an utmost expert of the facial anatomy and sinus function and should be knowledgeable in the latest surgical and minimally-invasive techniques, in addition to having a deep understanding of the best non-surgical medical therapies for sinus disorders.

Dr. Cohen has a combination of stellar education and extensive subspecialty expertise that makes him stand out among sinus specialists in Los Angeles and nationwide. His expertise has led him to be a renowned sinus expert, earning multiple awards and recognized as a Los Angeles Magazine Super Doctor since 2013 and a Castle-Connolly Nationally Recognized Nose and Sinus Surgeon since 2017. He trains the next generation of sinus experts as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

His head and neck surgical residency was completed at UCLA Medical center—one of the top five programs nationally, where he completed two years of general surgical training and four years of specialized ENT/Head and Neck surgical training, and served his final year as chief resident of this top program.

Top-tier sinus doctors like Dr. Alen Cohen, Founder and Director of Los Angeles' premier sinus center, the Southern California Sinus Institute, also become board-certified. Dr. Cohen is board-certified in ENT/Head & Neck Surgery by the American Board of Otolaryngology and is a fellow both of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and American Rhinologic Society (FARS). He also maintains a full membership in the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS).

You may be a good candidate for sinus surgery if you've been experiencing sinus problems that are affecting your quality of life and haven't gotten better with home remedies or medical therapies. For many people, sinus surgery is the only treatment that can offer long term relief.

Dr. Alen Cohen has performed thousands of in-office balloon sinuplasty for people living with sinusitis. This procedure expands the sinus pathways permanently so it benefits many people who have chronic or recurrent problems with sinus drainage, causing frequent and long-lasting sinus infections.

Because Dr. Cohen has performed such a high volume of procedures with quality outcomes and the most state-of-the-art equipment, he trains sinus surgeons from all over the U.S. in balloon sinuplasty and his center has been recognized as a nationwide Sinus Center of Excellence.

Patients who don't respond to medical management, steroid sprays or other treatments for nasal and sinus polyps may benefit from a polypectomy. Dr. Cohen is one of a few nose and sinus surgeons in the U.S. who expertly and routinely performs in-office nasal/sinus polypectomy under local anesthesia with excellent outcomes.

If Dr. Cohen discovers other underlying issues that are impacting your sinuses, you may be a candidate for other surgical treatments, such as deviated septum repair or may recommend minimally-invasive image-guided endoscopic surgery.

Preparing for sinus surgery is fairly simple. Since in-office balloon sinuplasty and in-office nasal and sinus polypectomies are done in the office under local anesthesia and topical medications, your preparation is minimal. Be sure to be rested for your procedure, arrive on time, and follow any specific pre-surgical instructions, especially regarding taking or stopping any medications.

Many people feel relief from sinus pain and pressure with an improved ability to breathe through the nose almost immediately after the procedure! With sinus procedures that are minimally-invasive and only require local anesthesia, recovery is very quick, although recovery times may vary for each person. You can expect minimal discomfort and bleeding after surgery and most people can return to work and resume regular activities within a day or two after balloon sinuplasty.

You'll be given aftercare instructions and a saline solution to rinse your nasal passageways for a few weeks after surgery which are critical to proper healing. Most patients are given antibiotics to minimize the risk of infection, but you likely won't need any prescriptions for pain relief. As with any medical procedure, following all your doctor's instructions can help your recovery go more smoothly.

Many insurance plans have different deductibles and copays, but the good news is that almost all insurance plans provide coverage for sinus surgery treatments. Ninety-five percent of patients with insurance will find that insurance covers their needed sinus procedure! Our office will work with your insurance company to verify your benefits and get authorization prior to any procedure.

In medical practice, a sinus specialist will perform diagnostics, testing, medical treatments, and surgeries for a wide variety of sinus problems. Some of the most common sinus conditions treated include sinus infections (sinusitis). These infections can be acute sinusitis, which lasts up to 12 weeks, or chronic sinusitis, which persists for more than 12 weeks. Some people experience Recurrent Acute Rhinosinusitis (RARS) or recurrent sinus infections up to 10 times a year.

People often decide it's time to come to a specialist when sinus symptoms are affecting quality of life. Common symptoms of a sinus infection include:

• Facial pain or pressure
• Headache
• Fever
• Post-nasal drip
• Congestion
• Snoring or sleep apnea

Sinus specialists can provide medical treatment for sinusitis with antibiotics, but chronic or recurrent issues may call for sinus surgery. Sinus or nasal polyps are another common issue that sinus specialists treat. Polyps in the sinuses or nasal cavity may cause symptoms similar to those of sinusitis or may cause no symptoms at all. Treatment options include medication, including steroid sprays to reduce the size of the polyps, or surgical removal.