Dr. Alen N. Cohen’s Approach to Sinus Treatment
For patients who have spent months or years chasing relief from chronic sinus problems, choosing a specialist is about more than credentials. It is about finding a doctor who actually listens, takes time to understand what is happening, and chooses the right treatment for the individual rather than defaulting to the most aggressive option available.
That is the standard Dr. Alen Cohen has built his practice around. As founder and director of the Southern California Sinus Institute, he combines decades of clinical experience with advanced subspecialty expertise in rhinology and sinus care. This page explains how he thinks and why he practices the way he does.
Training and Education
Dr. Cohen received his medical degree from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He then completed his residency at UCLA Medical Center, one of the nation’s leading ENT and Head and Neck Surgery training programs, training for six years across some of Los Angeles’ most demanding hospital environments including Harbor General County Hospital, Olive View Medical Center, Wadsworth Veterans Hospital, and Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.
His final year was spent as Chief Resident in Head and Neck Surgery, where he deepened his focus on minimally invasive techniques for nasal and sinus disorders. That focus on doing less, better, has defined his approach ever since.
Board Certifications and Fellowships
Board-Certified Diplomate, American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
Fellow, American College of Surgeons (FACS)
Fellow, American Rhinologic Society (FARS)
Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Treatment Philosophy
Dr. Cohen’s philosophy is straightforward: every patient deserves an accurate diagnosis and the least invasive treatment that will actually solve the problem. That means no assumptions, no shortcuts, and no recommending surgery when a less disruptive option will work.
When a new patient comes in, the goal is to understand exactly what is causing their symptoms. That often involves in-office diagnostic tools including sinus CT scans, nasal endoscopy, and allergy testing. The findings guide the plan. Treatment may mean medication management, an in-office procedure under local anesthesia, or a more involved surgical approach. The decision depends on the patient, not on a preset protocol.
“I want to fix the problem once and for all. Not mask it. Not manage it indefinitely. Solve it.”
That commitment shapes every consultation and every procedure he performs.
Why He Became a Rhinologist
Rhinology is one of the more specialized paths within ENT, and Dr. Cohen chose it deliberately. Sinus and nasal disorders are among the most common chronic conditions patients live with, yet they are often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or undertreated. Patients with chronic sinusitis, nasal obstruction, or recurring infections frequently see multiple providers before they find an answer.
Dr. Cohen recognized that gap early in his training and built his career to fill it. By focusing exclusively on nasal and sinus disorders, he developed a level of depth and pattern recognition that a generalist practice simply cannot replicate. Every case he sees involves the same anatomy, the same range of conditions, and the same diagnostic questions. That repetition builds expertise.
The Southern California Sinus Institute was founded in 2009 specifically to create a one-stop resource for patients with nose and sinus conditions. Everything patients need, from diagnosis to treatment to follow-up, is available in a single, purpose-built center.
Patient-Centered Care
Patients who see Dr. Cohen consistently describe the same experience: he listens, he explains, and he takes their concerns seriously. That is not an accident. It reflects a deliberate choice about how to practice medicine.
Many of his patients arrive frustrated. They have tried nasal sprays, antibiotics, and allergy medications. They may have seen other providers who dismissed their symptoms or offered only temporary relief. Dr. Cohen’s approach is to take the time to understand the full picture before recommending anything.
What Patients Say
Across years of patient reviews, certain words appear again and again: patient, kind, thorough, listened, explained, not rushed. Those patterns reflect a consistent experience, not a lucky outcome. They also reflect the standard Dr. Cohen holds himself and his team to.
Consultations are thorough. Dr. Cohen reviews imaging, performs an in-office nasal scope when appropriate, and explains his findings in plain language. As Dr. Cohen explains, “Patients leave with a clearer understanding of what may be contributing to their symptoms, what their options are, and what to expect from each path forward. The decision about how to proceed is always made together.”
Innovation and Technology
Dr. Cohen has been at the forefront of in-office sinus treatment for more than a decade. His early adoption of Balloon Sinuplasty as an in-office procedure under local anesthesia changed what was possible for his patients. Procedures that previously required a hospital, general anesthesia, and significant recovery time could now be performed in the office with patients returning to normal activity the same day or the next.
The Southern California Sinus Institute has been designated a Stryker Balloon Sinus Center of Excellence, one of a small number of programs nationally to receive this designation. Dr. Cohen has personally performed more than 5,000 in-office sinus procedures and continues to incorporate newer technologies as they are validated.
Procedures Performed In-Office
Balloon Sinus Dilation (Balloon Sinuplasty)
Minimally Invasive Image-Guided Sinus Surgery (MIGSS)
Submucous Resection of the Turbinates
In-Office Polypectomy
Septoplasty
ClariFix for Chronic Rhinitis
Vivaer Nasal Airway Remodeling
Eustachian Tube Dilation
Moving procedures out of the hospital and into the office is not just a convenience. It removes barriers for patients who cannot take significant time away from work or family, reduces exposure to hospital-based risks, and lowers overall cost of care. Dr. Cohen views in-office capability as a patient benefit, not a practice differentiator.
Training Other Physicians
As a designated national instructor for Stryker, Dr. Cohen trains physicians from across the United States in Balloon Sinus Dilation and related in-office techniques. His Peer-to-Peer Education program at the Southern California Sinus Institute connects ENT physicians with a surgeon who has successfully transitioned sinusitis treatment from the operating room to the office setting. Visiting physicians observe live procedures, discuss patient selection and technique, and learn the integration of balloon dilation with other minimally invasive procedures.
Dr. Cohen also serves as Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, where he plays a role in training the next generation of ENT surgeons.
The fact that other physicians seek out Dr. Cohen for training says something about where he stands in his field. Patients benefit from that standard of care every time they walk through the door.
Publications and Presentations
Throughout his career, Dr. Cohen has contributed to academic discussions within rhinology and sinus surgery through peer-reviewed publications, physician education programs, and presentations at professional meetings.
In addition to his published research, Dr. Cohen has presented at national medical conferences and contributed to continuing medical education in his specialty. His academic contributions reinforce the expertise his patients experience firsthand.
Patients seeking a sinus specialist can trust that Dr. Cohen remains actively engaged in the ongoing advancement of rhinology and sinus care.
Ready to Find a Real Answer?
If you have been living with chronic sinus problems and are looking for a specialist
who will take the time to understand them, schedule a consultation with Dr. Cohen today.
(818) 888-7878 • socalsinus.com