Stephen Yoo, MD

What happened to my mother was the worst nightmare that could possibly happen to any patient undergoing surgery. Dr. Stephen Yoo performed multiple surgeries that ended in the most horrific sufferings before her death at Cedar Sinai Medical Center in 2015. It went from just a single planned to a series of surgeries for a 87 year old multiple myoloma patient. The condition called for her surgery was diverticulitis, an infection of her colons. In the beginning I preferred a surgeon with more experience as my mother was quite frail at the time. Nevertheless, this surgeon was quite confident that my mother should do well as he puts it «the decision for the surgery was more difficult than the surgery «.
After he operated on her for a procedure known as sigmoidectomy, complications developed that she required blood transfusions and additional surgeries just to keep her alive. She died three weeks later in the intensive care unit due to multiple causes including septic shock, infections, etc. It was an absolute nightmare! After the initial surgery, it took days to detect the mass hemorrhaging from her bladder! I had to call Dr. Yoo on a late Sunday night to demand the cat scan must be done immediately. I was right as they detected mass hemorrhaging and brought her back to surgery. Unfortunately, the hemorrhaging was so severe and her belly was way too swollen to be closed as sepsis sets in. A couple days later this doctor performed another operation to remove all of her colons while she remained in critical condition. The trauma team of surgeons at CS subsequently took over the mess. Her swollen remained open that they had to change the wound bag and clean the inside of her abdomen without general anesthesia. That protocol had to be repeated every three days until her death! What happened was beyond my wildest imagination. There are more to this nightmare! Lots of questions need to be answered.
Prior to the initial surgery, my mother was alert and not in much pain. We had put our trust on this surgeon and opted for the surgery. I simply cannot accept how they tried to explain as the cause of the hemorrhaging. There is absolutely no excuse to justify what had happened under any circumstances. A life is lost despite such horrific sufferings for an 87 year old patient! To have allowed this doctor to operate on my mother is something I would regret this for the rest of my life.

What happened to my mother was the worst nightmare that could possibly happen to any patient undergoing surgery. Dr. Stephen Yoo performed multiple surgeries that ended in the most horrendous sufferings before her passing at Cedar Sinai Medical Center in 2015. It developed from just a single planned surgery to a series of surgeries for a 87 year old multiple myeloma patient. The condition for her surgery was diverticulitis, infections of her colons. My mother was quite frail at the time but nevertheless, this surgeon was confident that she should do okay as he puts it that the decision for the surgery was perhaps more difficult than the surgery itself. Her condition was serious but not critical. We initially opted for a more conservative course of antibiotic treatment but surgery was recommended by her doctors.
After this doctor operated on her, complications soon developed that she required blood transfusions and additional surgeries just to keep her alive. She died three weeks later in the intensive care unit due to multiple causes including septic shock. It was an absolute nightmare to watch what she had to endure! After the initial surgery, it took days just to detect the mass hemorrhaging from her bladder. I had to call this doctor on a late Sunday night to demand the cat scan be expedited without delays. They detected the mass hemorrhaging and brought her back to surgery a few hours later. The hemorrhaging was severe and her belly was way too swollen to be sutured back. Her entire body swelled like a water melon from head to toe. A couple days later they performed a third operation to remove the rest of her colons while she remained in critical condition.
The trauma team of surgeons at CS subsequently took over the mess. They had to change the wound bag and do the washout of her open abdomen without general anesthesia. That protocol was repeated every three days for a 87 year old patient until her death! What happened was beyond my wildest imagination! Finally they blamed the cause of the mass hemorrhaging on «diffuse bleeding» as something just naturally happened. Really? Had there be no surgery, would that have happened? Lots of questions need to be answered. There was no clear or acceptable explanation from this doctor on how something that dreadful could have happened to a patient!
I had a long chat with my mother before the surgery. She appeared nervous but I told her to put her faith on this surgeon. What happened would haunt me for the rest of my life. Dr. Yoo was referred by the hospital. He indeed has great demeanor and is quite amiable which made me comfortable and earned my trust. There is absolutely no excuse to justify what had happened under any circumstances in this age of modern medicine. There is not one day that I didn’t feel the pain and anguish after witnessing the brutal suffering and death of my own beloved mother. It was distressing trying to recollect the gruesome events while writing this review. I will never be able to get over the loss!

Dr. Yoo is the best doctor you can ever go to. He’s not only great as a doctor but he’s a great human being too. He was always there to help and he never judged me once through the whole procedure. I went to him after child birth and 4^th degree caused by the birth. I know it sounds exaggerated but I can’t imagine my life if it wasn’t for Dr. Yoo.

Dr Stephen Yoo is great. I saw him over the course of a couple weeks. He was extremely helpful in our time together. I’m not exaggerating… extremely.fucking.helpful.
He’s very kind with a calm and purposeful demeanor that helped bring down my own stress levels. Good guy,. good doctor. Easy 5 stars.

Dr Stephen Yoo is great! He’s very kind with a calm and purposeful demeanor which helped bring down my own stress levels. Great guy,. great doctor. Easy 5 stars.

I had a surgical procedure done by Dr. Yoo last week. He was very responsive post-​op and did a great job explaining things. I believe him to be a qualified surgeon, based on what was done thus far. I am still recovering and will update review as time passes. Hopefully my issues clear up and I can go back to my old routine. Highly recommended for pilonidal patients.

My experience with Dr. Yoo has been nothing short of exemplary. I recently had a major Lipoma removed by Dr. Yoo, and three days later I feel ready to resume my active lifestyle. The pre-​op, surgery, and post-​op experience was seamless and painless. I had one minor hiccup, which was caused by myself, and Dr. Yoo was available for support at almost midnight via phone and/​or email at all times. Dr. Yoo sets the bar on professionalism. If I could give six stars I would. Thank you Dr. Yoo!

Quality of life. Dr. Steve Yoo gave mine back. I was done being in severe pain after 5 years. I couldn’t sit for days sometimes, and while I’m not the type to let anything slow me down, it’s been brutal for too damn long. I was scared of the knife but wow was that easy.
I met this precision guy with the steady hand and wall of stellar credentials on a Wednesday and I had my ass in the air by Friday. Let’s call it what it is: relief. I went directly back to work same day. No issues at all. Steve Yoo is a wonderful guy/​dr/​surgeon.

Dr Stephen Yoo is really a rarity these days when most health care professionals are antipersonal, cold and money focused. I brought my wife to consult with him about some hemorrhoids that were bothering her, It never seemed that he was rushing for her to finish asking the dozens of questions that she had about the options and cost of the different procedures as we pay out of pocket for these things. He was very clear and thorough in answering all her questions and insecurities, he never pushed her to make a decision as soon as possible or take the most costly route. We finally agreed in having her take the most non invasive method and it worked wonderfully and quickly, the only proctologist/​gastroenterologist we will ever consider in the future is Dr Yoo, we are grateful to have found him and we highly recommend him to all our friends.

Amazing, professional, knowledgeable.
Expect the best!
Even if you do have to wait a while to see him, it’s worth the wait. He’s nonjudgmental, open to teaching patients about their condition and available solutions, and he definitely knows his stuff!

Dr. Yoo is a great doctor. He’s professional, he takes his time, he’s thorough. It’s really refreshing to find a doctor in LA that I like and feel comfortable with. I’ve had some bad luck with doctors in the Los Angeles area but Dr. Yoo truly is a caring, professional doctor.

Dr. Yo is the best GI doctor I have been to. Although it’s a three hours excursion for me to drive to his office and back everytime it is totally worth it. He is sincere and genuine. I was examined very carefully each time. He does not rush in and out of the room like others do. He also respond to my emails very promptly. I am super impressed by his professionalism.

If I were to write a review for Dr. Yoo it would be a five star review. As a Dr. he is stellar. As far as the medical practice, I was disturbed by what I was told, not only did I have to pay my copay but I was going to have to pay for the appointment upfront. I don’t have a deductable and they insisted that I had to pay that upfront.
I understand the reason why. The next time I walked in, I was immediately told my co-​pay when I asked about the the credit I have on the account, the girl looked at me really confused, she acted like she had no idea what I was talking about while the girl next to her was telling another patient about having to pay for an appointment as well as the co-​pay.
I presented my insurance statement showing that it was paid (a few weeks ago) and she walked away somewhat confused. She said she wouldn’t charge «This Co-​pay» and I couldn’t get a clear answer as to when I would be seein a credit on my credit card.

I am not much of a «Yelper» and the reason for that is because there is usually nothing that spectacular to say. Except for now. Thank you Dr. Stephen Yoo for not only making a very uncomfortable siuation a bit more tolerable, but for your genuine concern regarding my situation and getting an appointment. You made me feel that I mattered and was taken care of. I was diagnosed with Lupus earlier this year and I have been dealing with so many health issues, your concern, was a breath of fresh air. Thank again.

Stephen Yoo is amazing! After another doctor sent me to four wrong specialists I finally figured out I needed a proctologist and found Dr. Yoo. He sat down with me and went over all my concerns and he really knows way he is talking about. He is so intelligent and professional and the visit was so pleasant!

Dr. Yoo is a compassionate and skilled surgeon. My wife was in great pain and needed a rather serious operation and Dr Yoo put us both at ease with his manners and way of sharing knowledge without ever being patronizing. The operation was a success and, fingers crossed, she remains healthy 3 years on. When I needed a much more minor treatment I remembered the way he had been with my wife so decided to see him. Dr Yoo was again tremendous, taking time to listen to my issues and was un-​rushed in his examination. His diagnosis was on point and helped my issue and he will be the only Doctor in this field that my wife and I will go to.

Couldn’t be happier with my visit to Dr Yoo today!
Being pregnant and in pain, he totally gave me peace of mind and patient enough to explain everything so thoroughly.
Also giving me his email and paiger for any questions or emergency which meant a lot to me.
I feel in completely safe hands, can’t recommend him enough.

I have been to GI doctors all over the Westside and Dr. Yoo is the absolute best I have seen, by far.
I have had several ongoing GI issues for over 18 years. Dr. Yoo is the first doctor to sincerely listen to me, ask me relevant questions, directly address the problems, and work towards long-​term solutions. Other doctors I had seen blamed me or dismissed my problems as not being treatable. Dr. Yoo is young and perhaps as a result very current and cutting edge in his treatment planning. He thinks outside of the box and is flexible, but he is still very pragmatic. Trust me, that can be a difficult balance of qualities to find in a doctor.
I am still not in the clear, as these are chronic problems, but I am going to keep collaborating with Dr. Yoo to improve my health. Based on my experiences, I have total confidence in him. He has been excellent!

Since I first found Dr Yoo on Unilocal I thought I had to write him a review. When you meet a doctor, it normally means not the best time of your life. I was suffered by a serious pain and worried. However, I found myself comfy and confident after he cared and talked to me.
At the end of conversation, he gave me his desk number and email so I could contact him any time with any questions. I never met a doctor giving me an email for questions, instead other physicians had me visit physically for all matters. You know the reason. Not to mention that he replied my questions and checked my status kindly. Simply put, he puts his patients first.
On another note, the office has a web-​system that patients can write up forms and make an appointment electrically so you don’t have to spend 5 – 10 minutes to fill a form for a new visit. The front is kind and everything is smooth.
One comparatively small thing I did not feel convenient about is Parking. The office is located in the center of Beverly street and the building does not have a lot of spaces like less than 15 lots. You may end up with parking at Public parking facility after searching for an empty spot around the building, and walking about 5 minutes. As walking was PITA (pain in the ass) hard for me for the first visit, I wish they had a close and large parking lot.
Overall, Dr Stephan Yoo is one of the best doctors I could met and I will definitely recommend him to my family and friend.

I have met MANY doctors and have struggled to trust the medical industry but since meeting Dr. Yoo I have never felt safer in the world of medicine. He is extremely honest and has assured me that if it’s not the best option he won’t do it and has even gone out of the way to tell me names of other doctor’s if he himself can’t give the exact attention needed. Many physicians are out to make a profit because it’s a business but Dr. Yoo has proven he’s a doctor because he cares about PEOPLE. He is extremely friendly and likeable and always asks questions about my life and how I’m doing. I highly recommend him and if I could give him more stars I would!!!

My name is Ashley and Dr. Yoo has been the best colorectal surgeon I could have asked for. He is so patient and kind. I so appreciated how he would respond to my e-​mails even though he was out of the office when I was having health difficulties. He was so patient and reassuring, answered all my questions and gave me amazing patient care. When I had my colonoscopy Dr. Yoo took great care of me and made me feel relaxed and safe in his care. He is amazing and i’m so lucky to have him as my doctor.

Here is my update after seeing him numerous times. Best doctor ever! Caring, easy to talk to and will email with you if you need him. I have been a patient of his for almost 2 years now and will continue on with him…

After surviving Dr. Yoo’s treatment for healing my two anal fissures (which I had previously decided to postpone and procrastinated about having a suggested constructive-​surgery) he performed a rehabilitating Lateral Internal Spinchterotomy. My amateurish lengthy attempt to try and heal them naturally over the following eight months with Nitroglycerin ointment and diet had failed with exhausting disappointments. After serious consideration, I finally «Threw In The Towel» sort of speak and agreed to have the surgery. In time the fissures healed as a result of Dr Yoo’s skillful talents. Like an «In and out Burger» the surgery was a «Piece Of Cake.» After a memorable morning of commitment, I recovered at home that afternoon and resumed a specific high-​fiber soft-​foods diet. Some pain killers were needed, but in the interest of possibly over relying on them, I had gracefully withdrew from using them entirely. The recovery was a timely strategy and a tolerating ordeal, but in the long run achievable and doable none the less.
Six months went by without any additional problems until one day some new irritations appeared. They were in the form of «hemorrhoids!» Once again he came to the rescue. Over a few separate visits he performed a series of three strangulating-​bandings. They were arduously bullet bitters, but in the end (no pun intended) they resolved the issues.
Thanks to Dr. Stephan Yoo, and the pleasant staff at LA Colon/​Rectal Surgical Center in Downtown Beverly Hills they have made my life bearable and back on track once again. An overall nice guy «In The End» & literally a light at The End Of The Tunnel“
All the best to Dr. Stephan Yoo, a major empathetic asset in our society.

this is one of my favorite doctors ever.
he entertains and thoroughly answers the same questions repeatedly without showing his frustrations, he draws really helpful diagrams, and he calls to see how you’re doing after he’s rectally violated you. he truly cares.
after a year of resistance and aversion to surgery, he’s the first colorectal surgeon (out of the three i’d seen) whom i trusted to take me under the knife. i believed him when he said he wouldn’t make me incontinent. and he didn’t.
he’s wise about the choices he makes; he weighs out which procedure will have the highest probability of success, given your unique set of conditions. the surgery he performed on me was successful, which, i guess is the most important factor.
if you’re having problems with your tush, don’t waste your time letting anyone else poke around in it. go see dr. yoo — he’ll make you feel comfortable, despite the inherent awkwardness of the situation.