Many don’t know this, but our office for head and neck disorders in Los Angeles can conduct extensive surgery on those who need it. In Los Angeles, many locals work in the entertainment industry, public speaking industry, or in sales, forcing them to use their voice most of the day.
Overuse of the voice box can lead to laryngitis, polyps, nodules, and cysts. Some of these vocal issues can go away with rest and recovery, but in some cases, our ENT specialists will recommend that you get surgery.
Throat surgery is a very invasive and delicate procedure, but our ENT doctors are used to operating within these bounds. In fact, they even offer the intricate surgery of rhinoplasty where the function and appearance are scrutinized.
The use of your throat is essential to your quality of life at any age, and difficulty swallowing or talking can severely impact your social life and professional success. Undergoing throat surgery can be nerve-racking, as a mistake can permanently affect your voice, but know that visiting an ENT doctor in Los Angeles at Westside Head & Neck minimizes any risk.
Our throat specialists can diagnose and treat your vocal disorder over the course of multiple appointments, and they will also schedule follow-up visits to ensure your head and neck surgery was a success.
Westside Head and Neck uses a team-based approach to diagnoses throat problems, and our staff will use their training in otolaryngology, voice and speech therapy, and thyroid disorders to pick a treatment plan that will put your issues to rest.
During your assessment, your medical history will be scrutinized and our doctors will conduct a physical exam to check for any surface-level issues like nerve compression or thyroid gland problems. Our doctors may even need to do a direct laryngoscopy, where a thin, flexible fiberscope is inserted through the nose or mouth and down into the throat.
In some cases, a reflux test, biopsy, X-ray, or additional endoscopic examination may also be necessary.
Depending on your diagnosis, you will be worked into our schedule for laryngeal framework surgery, injections, or vocal cord surgery in Los Angeles.
There are multiple treatment options that are dependent on your diagnosis.
Laser surgery of the vocal cord: Microlaryngoscopy uses lasers to treat benign lesions, cancer of the vocal cord, and tumors on the vocal cord. This minimally invasive treatment is conducted in an operating room using general anesthesia and usually lasts 60 to 90 minutes. Because of its non-invasive nature, most patients go home the same day.
Laryngeal framework surgery: Laryngeal framework surgery targets the cartilage where the muscles attach to the vocal cords, and this can help your vocal cords vibrate better to create a clearer voice for speaking and singing. Laryngeal framework surgery restores the shape of the larynx to help those with vocal cord paralysis or laryngeal stenosis. This surgery is also used to treat people who have lost their voice to neck cancer or damage from surgery.
Vocal cord injections: Similar to cosmetic surgery, fillers can be injected into the vocal cords to treat vocal cord paralysis or muscle weakness. Collagen and other kinds of gel fillers can positively impact voice or swallowing function. In some cases, medicine can be injected. Injections will be administered in our Los Angeles ENT office, and our doctors will inject this material directly into the vocal folds through the skin of the neck.
Total laryngectomy: In some cases of throat cancer, your voice box is so overtaken by the malignant cells that it needs to be removed completely. The larynx connects the mouth and lungs, so a laryngectomy requires that it be replaced with a stoma, which is attached through a hole in your neck.
Neck dissection: Removing the lymph nodes in a neck dissection can greatly reduce the chances of neck cancer returning.
The board-certified ENT surgeons of Westside Head & Neck are experts in issues affecting the ear, nose, and throat. Through extensive and exhaustive training, our doctors are trained to treat serious conditions such as neck, mouth, and throat cancer.
We accept most PPO insurance plans, Medicare, and select HMO’s. Our two offices are located in Santa Monica and Culver City. To set up an appointment to discuss your ENT issues with any of our physicians at either location, please call (310) 361-5128 or email appointments@westsidehn.com.
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