Business Details
Expert ENT Care in Bellingham, WA
Bellingham Ear Nose Throat has served the Whatcom County community for over three decades, specializing in advanced diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose, throat, head, and neck disorders for both adults and children. Our team of dedicated physicians utilizes state-of-the-art diagnostic and surgical equipment to deliver cutting-edge treatments, including minimally invasive procedures like balloon sinuplasty and microscopic surgeries. We prioritize patient-centered care, offering a warm environment with convenient onsite CT scanning for head and neck imaging. Our surgeons perform over 350 tonsil/adenoid procedures annually and maintain a 90% success rate in parathyroid surgeries, reflecting our commitment to excellence. With fellowship-trained specialists like Dr. Andrew Verneuil, one of the few laryngologists north of Seattle, we combine extensive expertise with personalized attention.Our practice emphasizes safety, quality, and accessibility through flexible payment options and interest-free financing. We operate at the Whatcom Surgery Center and Peace Health St. Joseph Medical Center, ensuring patients receive both outpatient convenience and hospital-level care when needed. Our multidisciplinary approach integrates speech pathologists and voice coaches for comprehensive treatment of voice disorders. We maintain rigorous follow-up protocols for cancer patients and employ real-time 3D CT imaging for complex sinus procedures. Our physicians hold clinical affiliations with leading institutions, ensuring our practice remains at the forefront of ENT advancements.
Services
Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
Septoplasty
Skin Lesion Removal
Microscopic Ear Surgery
Tonsillectomy
Thyroid Surgery
Parathyroid Surgery
Sleep Apnea Treatment
Voice Disorder Therapy
Facial Plastic Surgery
Highlights and features
- We offer over 30 years of specialized ENT experience in Whatcom County
- Our physicians perform 134+ thyroid surgeries annually with minimally invasive techniques
- We maintain a 90% success rate in parathyroid surgeries
- Our onsite Mini-Cat Sinus Imaging system enables precise diagnostics
- Fellowship-trained laryngologist available for complex voice disorders
What people say
Successful sinus surgery
Expertise in voice disorders
Effective sleep apnea treatment
Compassionate care
Quick recovery times
Services
Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
Our physicians perform Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) using nasal endoscopes to treat chronic sinusitis. This minimally invasive procedure accesses sinuses through nostrils, avoiding external incisions. Patients typically return to work within a week with reduced post-operative discomfort.
Septoplasty
This corrective procedure straightens deviated nasal septums through internal incisions, improving breathing and sleep quality. Most patients experience minimal pain and resume normal activities within seven days, with optional turbinate reduction for enhanced results.
Thyroid Surgery
Our surgeons perform over 134 thyroid procedures annually, including minimally invasive techniques for goiters, Graves' disease, and cancer. Patients receive same-day or overnight care at accredited surgical centers, with 99% vocal function preservation using nerve monitoring.
Tonsillectomy/Adenoidectomy
We conduct 354+ annual procedures for recurrent infections and sleep apnea. Adenoidectomies allow same-day return to school, while tonsillectomies require 7-12 days recovery with pain management support and dietary guidance.
Voice Disorder Treatment
Specialized care for hoarseness and vocal cord issues combines laryngeal stroboscopy diagnostics with multidisciplinary treatment. Options range from voice rest and exercises to microsurgical interventions, with fellowship-trained expertise in complex laryngology cases.
People
Andrew Verneuil, M.D.
Laryngologist
Fellowship-trained laryngologist and University of Washington clinical faculty member, Dr. Verneuil specializes in voice disorders and microsurgical treatments. He serves as the only fellowship-trained laryngologist north of Seattle.
Thomas Stackhouse, M.D.
ENT Surgeon
Board-certified ENT specialist with extensive experience in head and neck surgeries, Dr. Stackhouse contributes to comprehensive patient care at Bellingham ENT's Whatcom Surgery Center.
Joost Knops, M.D.
ENT Specialist
Experienced ENT physician providing advanced diagnostic and treatment services for ear, nose, and throat conditions at Bellingham's dedicated ENT practice since its founding.
David E. Olson, M.D.
Head & Neck Surgeon
Specializes in complex head and neck cancer treatments, utilizing both surgical and multidisciplinary approaches to provide comprehensive care for oral cavity and throat malignancies.
Jason C. Lichtenberger, M.D.
Facial Plastic Surgeon
Skilled in facial skin lesion removal and reconstructive surgery, Dr. Lichtenberger offers expertise in treating both benign and malignant conditions of the head and neck region.
Questions
What insurance plans do you accept?
We accept Medicare and most private insurance plans. Contact our office for specific verification before your appointment.
Do you offer same-day appointments for urgent issues?
We prioritize urgent cases and often accommodate same-day evaluations for acute ENT problems like severe throat infections or sudden hearing loss.
What advanced diagnostic tools are available?
Our office features onsite Mini-Cat Sinus low-radiation CT scanning and laryngeal video stroboscopy for precise head and neck diagnostics.
How are complex sinus cases treated?
We employ balloon sinuplasty, functional endoscopic surgery, and real-time 3D imaging for complex sinus disorders, with most patients returning to work within a week.
What thyroid surgery experience do you have?
Our surgeons perform over 134 thyroid procedures annually, including minimally invasive techniques with nerve monitoring to preserve vocal function.
How are voice disorders evaluated?
We use laryngeal stroboscopy and flexible laryngoscopy to assess vocal cord function, followed by personalized treatment plans combining medical and surgical options.
Reviews (5)
Maureen Pecaric
Jun 21, 2022
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Called four times and wasn't ever able to stay on hold. I've never called a doctor's office where you're hung up on if you don't leave a message. Really ridiculous!
Andrew Starkenburg
Jun 15, 2022
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Dr. Stackhouse was friendly but said I would hear from a surgery scheduler the next week. A MONTH LATER after leaving messages, I finally called and got in touch with one only to find out they don't schedule out farther than 2 months. Hard to make surgery plans on such a short timeline when they take so long to (not) get back to you. Going to try my luck in Skagit County, maybe the smaller town will have better customer/patient service.
P. Jenni
Jan 07, 2022
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Special Thanks to Dr. Knops and his amazing team. My son had the most severe nosebleed and we made few visits. They always took us in for in any last min due to his situation. Dr. Knops recently performed an adenoids removal for my son, the preparation, the process was smooth and he kept us informed as much as he could as he understands our worries about the surgery. He always answer everything thoroughly, and he is very friendly to young children, as my son do not like any clinic visits, but he likes Dr. Knops and name him 'the funny doctor'. :
Melita Brito
Oct 20, 2021
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Staff was very helpful and got all my appointments set up in one day, including a covid test, Dr. Hecht was very friendly and answered all my questions, I was a little nervous for my surgery but he did a fantastic job, I didn't feel a thing for my tongue tie procedure and he walked me through all the steps and made sure I was comfortable. Would definitely recommend!
Doug Osborn
May 21, 2021
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The office was able to get me in immediately to treat my nose bleed, the exam was very quick and thorough, was given a excellent handout on prevention and instructions in case if emergency. Dr Lichtenbeger was very caring and fixed my problem. I highly recommend him to anyone in need.
