Dr. Ted Leem
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery
Denver, CO
19 years experience male
Locations
Office
My office hours
Thursday: Closed
Show moreAbout
Bio
Dr. Leem was born in Seoul, South Korea and immigrated to US at a young age. He grew up in Colorado and attended the University of Colorado at Boulder for Undergraduate and Graduate studies. He then attended the University of Colorado School of Medicine for his medical education and Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery residency. Following five years of residency, he spent an additional year of fellowship training in Advanved Head and Neck Oncology and Skull Base Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco. He remained on faculty there prior to returning to Colorado. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. His interests are minimally invasive head and neck surgery for the treatment of benign and malignant disease of the head and neck.
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 and Head and Neck Surgery
Head & Neck Surgery
Head and Neck Surgery
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
47 Answers
1 Agree
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 30-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
See below: The most common cause would be dryness and irritation from using a suction catheter. Other things can be granulation tissue if there is a tube in the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Depends: Outcomes in head and neck cancer depend on the overall stage of the cancer. Staging is dependent on tumor size, lymph nodes involved, if the tumor ha... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Hydration: Drinking plenty of fluids and a humidifier can help. Also, nasal saline irrigations and topical gels can also help.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Yes: Neck infections can be life-threatening if left untreated.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
If they are small: However, the bigger ones will need to be removed with some type of procedure.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Depends: It depends on how it is removed. Using minimally invasive techniques, the pain should not be too bad.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old male asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Not necessarily: Cold sores are a sign of herpes virus infection.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Cysts: These can be cysts or tonsil stones. An ENT specialist should be able to evaluate them for you.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Evaluation and rehab: You should be checked out by an ear, nose, and throat specialist to see if there is a cause for your voice strain. Then, speech therapy could help yo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Options: There are many options for laryngeal cancer. There are surgical options that range from minimally invasive to maximally invasive. Radiation therapy ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Maybe: It really depends on how focused an exam they do. If they are only interested in the thyroid gland, they might miss something. It is better to do a ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
HPV is a virus: Hpv is a virus (human papilloma virus). Some strains of this virus can cause warts/papillomas and others are at higher risk for causing certain cance... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old male asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Team approach: She should be evaluated and treated by an experienced head and neck cancer team. Since she has not had radiation or chemoradiation, these may be opti... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Healthy weight: A major cause of obstructive sleep apnea is weight gain. Therefore, maintaining a healthy weight or losing weight can help with this. Also, avoid se... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old male asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
CPAP alternatives: It depends on your body type. If you are overweight, you can begin by trying to get down to a lower weight. A dental appliance might work for you de... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Not necessarily: You should be evaluated by a reputable ENT specialist. These cysts are common and may not be contributing to what you are experiencing.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
No: Bulging veins when babies cry is very common.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Surgery: Aggressive surgical therapy is the best choice.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A female asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Ear infection: This could be an external ear infection most commonly caused by a bacteria that you get from water contact (swimming, for example). Other less common... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 49-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Nerves?: Voice change after thyroid surgery is not uncommon. You should be evaluated for any nerve damage by an ENT specialist. They may be able to improve y... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Mostly yes: Dental problems and infections often cause the lymph nodes to swell as an inflammatory reaction. Sometimes, the dental infection becomes more serious... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 54-year-old male asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Yes: Yes, all of those treatments can have long standing side effects. With time, these side effects should improve but may never fully go away.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old male asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
No: This will not narrow the nose but reduce any hump that you may have. Narrowing the bridge of the nose will require osteotomies (breaking the bone).
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old male asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Mostly time: Giving it time to heal and avoiding any trauma to the area (rubbing it, burning it, etc) are the best ways. Sometimes topical steroid medications can... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Not easily: If your ear drum is bulging from an infection or fluid, the only way to clear it immediately is to have it drained by an ENT specialist. Occasionally... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Generally not: Having something stuck in the ear canal will not cause permanent hearing loss unless a complication occurs like a significant infection. This would b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Depends: Most of the time, thyroid cancer does not change thyroid function. However, after being treated for thyroid cancer, you will be hypothyroid if your t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Speech therapy: Dangerous causes of hoarseness should be ruled out by an ENT doctor. Following that, speech therapy can be beneficial for vocal nodules.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Many possibilities: This could be many things - growths, infections, cysts, etc.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
It is a risk factor: Second hand smoke is thought to be a risk factor for head and neck cancer but not nearly as much as smoking first hand.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Maybe: Those two indications probably will not be covered by your insurance. If you have other symptoms, these may be covered. You should see an ENT specia... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Antibiotics: You should be on antibiotics and an ENT specialist should advise you on the need for any surgery.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Discharge: Ear drum rupture usually is caused by an acute ear infection. Commonly, a bloody and/or purulent discharge occurs that may be accompanied by pain. A... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Yes: Popping your ears causes air to enter the middle ear space through the eustacian tube. If you have a ruptured ear drum, the pressure generated by thi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Probably not: Neck swelling can come from a lot of different things. The most common are related to swollen lymph nodes or salivary glands. If this does not impro... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
No: Antibiotics that are prescribed for sinus infections are targeted to the most common bacteria that cause them. Not all antibiotics treat the same typ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Yes: There are tests for hpv in the oral cavity and throat. One can be tested in the saliva. Others need a small amount of tissue, usually from a papillo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Yes: Yes, Clindamycin is a common antibiotic given for bacterial throat infections.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Yes: Gargling everyday is not dangerous.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Depends: If the lump is cancer or suspicious for cancer than surgery is the best option. If the lump is benign (not cancer), than it can be left alone.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Immune system: Tonsils are lymph tissue that help your immune system.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Yes: A nasal fracture can cause nasal obstruction depending on what other structures were affected. A proper exam by an otolaryngologist - head and neck s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Recommended: While it is not necessary, your child will benefit from improved sleep if they are suspected to have sleep apnea or have documented sleep apnea.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Nerves: It is common to have referred pain to the ears when there is something going on in the throat.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Surgery can help: If the conservative measures fail, minimally invasive sialendoscopy can help in certain situations.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Need hearing tested: If you haven't had an audiogram (formal hearing test), you should. Once you've had that, your doctor can discuss it with you. The determination on w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:

Dr. Ted Leemanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Overnight test: Most sleep studies are done at a sleep laboratory. You will show up and they will hook up a bunch of different monitors on you. Then, you are suppos... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >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.
2
Recommendations
57
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Leem is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Leem is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
This saved my life. Thank You! Thank you sooo much
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful!
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful!
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, CO
Graduated 2004MD
Medical/Graduate school
University of Colorado Boulder
Graduated 2000MD
Residency
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Awards
Top Otolaryngologist, Second Place, Colorado - Summer
2013
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