Treatments, Procedures, and Surgeries
Ear, nose, and throat care at Dr. Ahn's clinic:
Our Physician
Transoral robotic surgery (TORS)
Over ten million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a blockage in the airway during sleep that, if left untreated, can lead to health problems ranging from high blood pressure and memory loss to heart attack, impotence, stroke and diabetes. OSA has also been associated with daytime somnolence, resulting in auto accidents. For all these reasons, the condition has been called a "silent killer."
Among the many purported treatments for sleep apnea, few are very effective. The best non-surgical treatment is a CPAP device; however, only half of the patients who start with CPAP can tolerate it in the long run. In some cases, laser surgery or dental implants can help. But until recently, many patients with significant obstructive sleep apnea or with obstruction involving the base of the tongue had to opt for a very aggressive surgical option: one that pushes the jaw forward, often resulting in painful recovery and a change in the shape of the face.
As Director of Sleep Disorder & Robotic Surgery at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, Dr. Jeffrey Ahn has been at the forefront of piloting a groundbreaking surgical alternative for these patients: da Vinci® transoral robotic surgery for obstructive sleep apnea.
Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) is a minimally invasive method that allows the surgeon to operate through the patient’s mouth, without any external incisions. Employing the da Vinci® surgical system, Dr. Ahn uses small robotic arms and a three-dimensional magnified high resolution camera to perform the surgery, whose results are more accurate as well as more patient-friendly.
Dr. Ahn was among the first surgeons in the world to perform da Vinci® transoral robotic surgeries for obstructive sleep apnea. As documented in the da Vinci® surgical records, he was also the first surgeon in the New York metropolitan area to specialize in the surgery, and has performed more TORS for OSA than any surgeon in the area. Meanwhile, he has innovated a method within TORS that focuses not only on tongue reduction but also on modification of the epiglottis, thus improving the surgery’s success rates.
Sinus Disorders: The
medical/surgical treatment of sinusitis is at the heart of Dr. Ahn’s
practice. Dr. Ahn is one of the pioneers in balloon sinuplasty, the
least invasive sinus treatment available, and in the use of Strata sinus
implants. He also performs endoscopic sinus surgery with the most advanced CT image-guided navigation for improved accuracy and safety, available in
the office surgery facility. Dr. Ahn is especially well known for his packing-free nasal and
sinus surgical techniques, which greatly minimize patient discomfort
during the post-operative period. The newest microdebrider technology with built-in bipolar cautery is used for minimally invasive turbinate reduction, promoting faster healing as one of the treatments of nasal obstruction. These surgeries can be chosen to be done as an outpatient procedure, either in Dr. Ahn's office or at Columbia University Medical Center.
Allergy: Full allergy testing and treatment such as immunotherapy (allergy shots) are available at Dr. Ahn’s clinic. Dr. Ahn especially focuses on mold allergy which is often overlooked in most routine allergy screening tests.
Snoring and Sleep Apnea: As Director of Sleep Disorder Surgery at Columbia, Dr. Ahn is a leader in the treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep study testing and CPAP (non-surgical) treatments as well as various surgical treatments for those patients having difficulty using the CPAP machine every night are available at Dr. Ahn’s clinic. Dr. Ahn’s methods include somnoplasty, injection snoreplasty, pillar palate implants, and laser or radiofrequency palate surgery.
Dr. Ahn is one of the only surgeons performing da Vinci® transoral robotic surgeries in New York. These in-hospital procedures include robotic uvulopalatoplasty and robotic tongue-based surgery. The da Vinci® Surgical System is the newest technology available and is potentially the most effective minimally invasive surgical treatment for diseases of the head and neck.
Head and Neck Reconstruction: Boarded in Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Dr. Ahn performs complicated nasal and septal reconstructions, head & neck reconstructions, and treatment of facial trauma and fractures.
Head and Neck Oncology: Dr. Ahn has a long record of excellence in surgical treatment of tumors in head & neck including thyroid tumors.
Other Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders: Dr. Ahn also has years of experience in treating patients with hearing loss, ear infections and voice disorders. Common pediatric problems such as recurrent ear infections, tonsil and adenoid problems are also treated at Dr. Ahn’s Clinic.
Hospital Affiliations
We are affiliated with the following hospitals:
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