Dr. Alen Cohen
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery
West Hills, CA
16 years experience male
Locations
Southern California Sinus Institute
West Hills, CA
Practice website
Insurances accepted
Health Net
Aetna
Cigna
UnitedHealthcare
Blue Cross of California
Blue Shield of California
MultiPlan, Inc
Pacificare Life & Health Insurance Company
Medicare
About
Bio
Alen N. Cohen, M.D., F.A.C.S., a board-certified Head & Neck Surgeon, 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. He is among a select group of surgeons in the country who focus on the medical and surgical management of nasal and sinus disorders and has special expertise in minimally invasive surgical options to treat patients with these problems. Dr. Cohen’s passion for minimally invasive surgery has not only deemed him an expert in Minimally Invasive Image Guided Sinus Surgery (MIGSS)™ and Balloon Sinuplasty™ but also has named him Director of the Minimally Invasive Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery Program at West Hills Medical Center, the only program of its kind in the San Fernando Valley and Thousand Oaks regions.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery
Facial Plastic Surgery
Internal Medicine - Allergy
Doctor Q&A
117 Answers
46 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
2 weeks: I usually recommend my patients to avoid exercising and heavy lifting for two weeks following thyroid surgery.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
It's a consideration: This is a decision between you, your thyroid surgeon and endocrinologist. There are pros and cons either way. As a thyroid surgeon, i discuss all of... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 58-year-old female asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Yes: Actually very helpful to clear crusts and help with dryness.
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5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Very short-lived : It should not last very long after removal, unless you've developed a sinus infection from it. Try a neti-pot or sinus rinses twice a day for 3 days, ... Read More
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5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old female asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Likely: Wow its very rare to have both together. Yes ultimately will likely need surgery, but should discuss with endocrinologist first.
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5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 17-year-old male asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Should be fine: I usually say its ok to wear glasses after 3 days.
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5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Labs and FNA: Any thyroid nodule over 1 centimeter deserves the attention of a thyroid specialist, either an endocrinologist or thyroid surgeon. They will recommen... Read More
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5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 76-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Neilmed Sinus Rinse: Many times people call it sinusitis, but it's simply an allergic exacerbation that is causing one's sinuses to get inflamed and cause pressure and con... Read More
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6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old female asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
None: There is no added radiation during the surgery. Your images from the last ct scan are loaded onto the stealth system and used to keep the surgeon away... Read More
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5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
1 week: Depends who does your surgery and how it's done and how much work is required. For example with balloon sunuplasty, my patients are back at work the n... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Variable: Usually the days you are packed are rough because only breathing by mouth. I only pack one night so i try to minimize discomfort for my patients. On... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
For a short time: Usually after a pararhyroidectomy the blood levels of calcium of a patient are low until the other glands remaining wake up and produce sufficient lev... Read More
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5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Not really: May have some blood clots for a few days after sinus surgery, it's all normal.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Avoid certain meds: Only way to prepare is to avoid blood thinners like aspirin, motrin, advil, fish oil, vitamin E and various herbal products for one week before surger... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Not that harmful: We just recommend that patients avoid vigorous exercise and heavy lifting because of the risk of bleeding for 10 days after surgery. Sex falls into t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Depends: Recovery can vary depending on your surgeon and technique used. It can be very simple without packing and minimal pain with an in office balloon sinu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Benign: This is a fluid filled thyroid nodule that is degenerating or in other words deteriorating on its own. It's completely benign and not worrisome in mos... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Small difference : In balloon sinuplasty we just dilate the natural sinus openings with a balloon. There is no cutting or removal of tissue. In endoscopic sinus surgery... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old male asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Yes and no: 2 options at this point depending on your exam and ct sinus scan results. One is in-office balloon sinuplasty and the other is minimally invasive imag... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Children's Claritin (loratadine): I would take over the counter children's Claritin (loratadine) for a week and see if the symptoms go away. If not discuss with your pediatrician.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old female asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Depends: We recommend biopsying any thyroid nodule over 1cm to make sure not cancerous. So i would not worry about your 5mm nodule but just have an ultrasound ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Chronic inflammation: It is a chronic inflammation of the nasal and sinus cavities that results in recurrent sinus infections, nasal congestion, postnasal drip, sinus pain/... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 64-year-old male asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
No: Sudafed is mainly a nasal decongestant to help dry your nose up and help out breathe better. Albuterol helps open up you bronchioles in the lung so y... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Rarely : Those types of thyroid cancer are well-differentiated types and rarely spread out of the thyroid gland and usually carry an excellent prognosis with o... Read More
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4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old male asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Consultation needed: It appears that you have a blockage on one side of the nose compared to the other. This can be caused by a deviated septum, nasal polyp, nasal mass or... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old male asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Not recommended: I don't recommend laser sinus surgery for anyone. Significant risk of scar tissue and problems with lasers in the nose. Balloon sinuplasty is recom... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old male asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Allergies or reflux : Most likely postnasal drop from environmental allergies or reflux in throat. An ENT would be able to diagnose and treat you appropriately.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Likely allergies: Your at notions except for the frequent urination sound like environmental nasal allergies. I would take over the counter Claritin or zyrtec for 2 wee... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Most likely yes. : Nasal congestion, runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, itchy throat and postnatal drip are common symptoms of allergies. This is one of the worst aller... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Depends: Some nodules are observed, some are recommended to be removed via a hemithyroidectomy or total thyroidectomy. All nodules over 1 cm need to be evalua... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Sudafed: Sudafed 30 mg tablets is what i recommend to my patients. Usually tell them to take 2 every 6-8 hours to get the most relief.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Not normal: You should see your surgeon as may have a postoperative infection.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Need to see ENT: It is not normal to get recurrent infections after sinus surgery. Need to be scoped in the office and cultured and see what's going on. May even need ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Yes: Yes a very good and strong antibiotic for sinus infections. Usually a second line antibiotic for resistant cases.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 63-year-old female asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Sinus rinses: Although the best management of chronic postnasal drip is antihistamine pills or sprays as well as nasal steroid sprays, sinus rinses can help too. I ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old female asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Yes it's possible : Any thyroid nodule over 4 cm needs to be removed surgically to make sure not cancerous per ata guidelines. I would still get a fna first before going... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Mildly : There is mild discomfort during and after balloon sinuplasty no more than a tooth cleaning or cavity filling at a dentist office. Usually mile sorenes... Read More
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3.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Allergies or viral: This sounds like either an environmental allergy exacerbation or a viral upper respiratory infection. Depends if it developed over a week or two or a ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
No: Would be impossible if they did a total thyroidectomy.
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4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Minimal: Usually there are no symptoms and blood work discovers the condition with elevated calcium and PTH levels. This is a benign condition in over 99% of ... Read More
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5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Www.socalsinus.com: I think the surgeon you pick is most important, as they should have extensive experience doing advanced nasal and sinus surgery endoscopically under c... Read More
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5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Not usually: Usually the only way to know is by biopsying a thyroid nodule, usually with an ultrasound guided fna (fine needle aspiration).
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Not always : However we do worry about nodules with calcification more than other nodules as a significantly higher rate of being malignant.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Find out the cause: Sinus headaches can often have triggers so it's important to seek an ENT specialist who has experience treating nasal and sinus disorders to help you ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Sinus surgery: Basically it's sinus surgery done with an endoscope through the nostrils to treat recurrent sinus infections or nasal polyps. More details with pictu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Not usually: Thyroid function does not usually lead to thyroid cancer. Often in most cases of thyroid cancer patients have normal thyroid function.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Yes sometimes: There are some new insights into sinus headaches and their relationship to migraines. The cause of both is different but there is a definite associa... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Likely the flu: Sounds like a viral process, most likely the flu. Could also be mono. Need lots of rest and hydration. If lasts more than 10 days should see a doct... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Surgery: A surgery named total thyroidectomy is the mainstay of therapy for thyroid cancer. This may be done with or without a central neck dissection dependi... Read More
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6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Alen Cohenanswered
ENT - Head & Neck Surgery 16 years experience
Surgery: It's a surgery where a parathyroid adenoma or enlarged parathyroid gland is removed in cases of hyperparathyroidism. In some patients there may be m... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
5
Recommendations
381
Thank you notes
Aug 9, 2014
Great answers. Thank you!
Dr. Mo Li
Aug 30, 2017
jjjljo
HealthTap member
Dec 16, 2012
I can't begin to say enough about Dr. Cohen and his expertise in the management of my chronic nose and sinus problems. I went to him after a friend of mine who is a pediatrician went to him for her o...Read More
HealthTap member
Thank you! My endo is 2 hrs away so hard to get answers. I was hoping maybe I wouldn't need surgery. But, I'd rather be mentally prepared.
HealthTap member
Thanks so much. Am using avil tablets when ever I suffer dust allergy (nose irritation, running nose, frequent szeeze). Please advice.
HealthTap member
Thank you, I'm still worried. Could calcification of the thyroid be due to hormonal changes. My wife is 40 years old
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine
Graduated 2001MD
Medical/Graduate school
UCLA School of Medicine, CA
Graduated 2007MD
Residency
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
Awards
America's Top Physicians, Consumers Research Council of America
Patients' Choice Award, Vitals
America's Top Physicians, 2009-2013, Consumer Research Council of America
Affiliations
American College of Surgeons
American Board of Otolaryngology
American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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