Patient reviews

Dr. Bae nearly paralyzed me. I needed emergency surgery to correct what he did. He refused to help me. When I asked for my medical records all I received was one page a fake page saying I was doing well. I couldn't raise my arms, walk, swallow. It was horrible. He should have his medical license revoked.

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Hyun Bae, MD

Dr Hyun Bae Might be a good surgeon, but will not operate on you unless you have a credit card or money available to give him, he is all about money. He probably was a great doctor surgeon when he first started as you can see if you read his reviews five years or more, but as of late Only with money will he talk to you or operate on you? Dr Bae sent me for an MRI and when I called him for the results, they would not put him on the phone without a credit card. It is sad to say that this is the type of doctor Dr Bae is It's so sad that he went to medical school and signed an oath to protect and to serve his patients and now he's all about the money There are other orthopedic and neurosurgeons that are kind and considerate and do the right thing for their patience. I'm sad to say Dr Bae is not one of them.

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Hyun Bae, MD

I saw Dr Bae in 2019. He said my surgery would be complex, and to come back when I couldn't stand the pain anymore. Well, today I called and found he no longer takes Medicare. I would now have to pay $250 for my first visit and $150 for every visit after. I was so disappointed as I thought Dr Bae cared for all his patients, but now only a certain group of people can afford to see him.

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Hyun Bae, MD

Came here for a consult for disc surgery. He recommended to do only a disc replacement (which is a MAJOR surgery). After seeing multiple surgeons all I needed was a micro-Discectomy which fixed everything fine. Then they have gave the audacity to send a bill for $500 cash for a 5 minute appointment giving me bad advice. They charge insurance companies $150 for this. Clearly Bae only looks how for Bae and doesn't care about the patient.

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Hyun Bae, MD

I scheduled an appointment recently with Dr. Bae for a consultation regarding possible back surgery. I had specifically scheduled this appointment with Dr. Bae based on a recommendation from someone he had operated on. Instead of seeing Dr. Bae when I arrived, he had me see another doctor who worked with him, whom I'm believe he was training. After spending maybe 20 minutes with this other doctor, I was told that he would be consulting with Dr. Bae and that then Dr. Bae would come in. When Dr. Bae came in, he spent less than 5 minutes with telling me that I would not need surgery before he left the room. He did not review the results of my MRI with me, or really say much of anything other than that my back looked fine. It felt like pretty much a total waste of my time. I would never recommend Dr. Bae to anyone in need of a consultation for back surgery.

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Hyun Bae, MD

[Part 1; See pictures] I had surgery with Dr. Bae and it literally ruined my life. I didn't want to write this review and I was actually afraid to for a long time because I did not want to be on Dr. Bae's bad side but since he has now told me there is nothing he can do for me going forward I feel like I am obligated to leave this review for other people to read. I was severely injured in a car accident at the age of 24. I saw Dr. Bae for the next 2 to 3 years because I was suffering from incredibly severe back pain which radiated around the side of my torso. After seeing Dr. Bae periodically and completing copious amounts of physical therapy as well as many other conservative treatments including numerous pain management procedures, Dr. Bae suggested a fusion surgery at the age of 27. Throughout my time seeing Dr. Bae I was deathly afraid because my condition was getting worse and worse and my quality of life was quickly deteriorating as a result. I was a very high-level athlete who was also attending grad school and working at the same time. I was afraid of the pain management procedures that were being recommended to me by my pain management doctor but had them done nonetheless. I kept Dr. Bae in the loop regarding the pain management procedures I had done and he said the lack of relief I had received from the different procedures indicated to him that it was time to go ahead and fuse my spine. Knowing what I know now, this was not correct and I feel he should have directed me to either try a different pain management doctor, or at least additional procedures, before fusing me at such a young age. When I woke up from the fusion surgery, I knew something was wrong. I have never felt such terrible pain in my entire life, even with all of the medications they were giving me to help ease the pain in the hospital. I don't believe words can do that level of pain justice. I was supposed to be out of the hospital in 1 to 2 days. While I was discharged after 1 to 2 days, I got home and was there for about 30 minutes and then began having incredible difficulty breathing. My girlfriend took my temperature and it was over 102°, Which combined with my incredible difficulty breathing, led to the hospital insisting I rush back to the emergency room to be readmitted. The hospital insisted that someone from my family drive me because they believed an ambulance would take too long in light of the severity of my condition. The hospital kept me for observation for 3 to 4 additional excruciating days and during that time it was discovered I had an infection in my lungs as a result of the surgery and I had blood coagulating inside of my lungs and chest, causing the extreme difficulty breathing. I felt like I was drowning on land, I don't know how else to describe it. About 4-6 days after the initial surgery I was rushed into an emergency surgery for a pneumo-hemothorax. When I woke up from that surgery I truly wished they had just let me die. The pain was indescribable. Like nothing I have ever felt in my life and as an athlete I have had numerous acute injuries over the years. After completing a total of somewhere between 10 to 14 days in the hospital as a result of my "successful" spinal fusion, I was discharged back to my home. For the next 3 to 4 months I could barely function. I went from someone who could do well at any sport or activity my entire life to being almost completely unable to care for myself across the board. The way Dr. Bae had explained my recovery would go and the way it actually went were worlds apart. After 3 to 4 months of essentially bed rest following the surgery, I began physical therapy and pursued it relentlessly, never missing an appointment and going at least three times per week for the better part of a year. MY PAIN LEVEL NEVER IMPROVED. MY PAIN ONLY GOT WORSE AFTER SURGERY. Dr. Bae was sure that this fusion would take care of the relentless pain I had been feeling which was constantly at a level of about 6 to 7 out of 10. Unfortunately following the surgery my pain went from being not only in the area I had initially complained of, to throughout my entire left side of my back, and even both sides in certain spots. Following surgery my pain sustained at a level of 8/10 to 10/10. I thought I could not live with the pain I was experiencing prior to surgery, but compared to the pain I feel now on an every day basis, even years later, I WOULD DO ANYTHING TO SOMEHOW GO BACK AND NOT HAVE ALLOWED DR. BAE TO PERFORM MY FUSION SURGERY.

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Hyun Bae, MD

Dr. Bae Review I had surgery with Dr. Bae and it literally ruined my life. After seeing Dr. Bae periodically and trying some pain management procedures, Dr. Bae suggested a fusion surgery at the age of 27 due to an injury from a motor vehicle accident. Throughout my time seeing Dr. Bae I was deathly afraid because my condition was getting worse and worse and my quality of life was quickly deteriorating as a result. I was a very high-level athlete who was also attending grad school and working at the same time. I was afraid of the pain management procedures that were being recommended to me by my pain management doctor but had them done nonetheless. I kept Dr. Bae in the loop regarding the pain management procedures I had done and he said the lack of relief I had received from the different procedures indicated to him that it was time to go ahead and fuse my spine. Knowing what I know now, this was not correct and I feel he should have directed me to either try a different pain management doctor, or at least additional procedures, before fusing me at such a young age. When I woke up from the fusion surgery, I knew something was wrong. I have never felt such terrible pain in my entire life, even with all of the medications they were giving me to help ease the pain in the hospital. I don’t believe words can do that level of pain justice. I was supposed to be out of the hospital in 1 to 2 days. While I was discharged after 1 to 2 days, I got home and was there for about 30 minutes and then began having incredible difficulty breathing. My girlfriend took my temperature and it was over 102°, Which combined with my incredible difficulty breathing, led to the hospital insisting I rush back to the emergency room to be readmitted. The hospital insisted that someone from my family drive me because they believed an ambulance would take too long in light of the severity of my condition. The hospital kept me for observation for 3 to 4 additional excruciating days and during that time it was discovered I had an infection in my lungs as a result of the surgery and I had blood coagulating inside of my lungs and chest, causing the extreme difficulty breathing. I felt like I was drowning on land, I don’t know how else to describe it. About 4-6 days after the initial surgery I was rushed into an emergency surgery for a pneumohemothorax (I believe that’s what it’s called, not 100% sure). When I woke up from that surgery I truly wished they had just let me die. The pain was indescribable. Like nothing I have ever felt in my life and as an athlete I have had numerous acute injuries over the years. After completing a total of somewhere between 10 to 14 days in the hospital as a result of my “successful” spinal fusion, I was discharged back to my home. For the next 3 to 4 months I could truly barely function. I went from someone who could do well at any sport or activity my entire life to being almost completely unable to care for myself across the board. The way Dr. Bae had explained my recovery would go and the way it actually went were worlds apart. MY PAIN LEVEL NEVER IMPROVED. MY PAIN ONLY GOT WORSE AFTER SURGERY. Following surgery my pain sustained at a level of 8/10 to 10/10. I thought I could not live with the pain I was experiencing prior to surgery, but compared to the pain I feel now on an every day basis, even years later, I WOULD DO ANYTHING TO SOMEHOW GO BACK AND NOT HAVE ALLOWED DR. BAE TO PERFORM MY FUSION SURGERY. During my last appointment with Dr. Bae following surgery, he told me “I don’t know what to do for you. I think you need a spinal cord stimulator. And you will need to see someone else for that.“ Essentially telling me he was done with me....great. Since then I have tried countless additional pain management treatments and procedures to no avail. As any reputable pain management doctor will tell you, a spinal cord stimulator is an absolute last resort, especially for someone my age (27 at the time of surgery, 30 years old now). Length and content of this review were heavily edited to meet the character limit.

Hyun Bae, MD

We went to Dr. Bae's office in Santa Monica; had a 10:00 AM appt. went prepared with copy of MRI and paperwork completed. We were brought back to a rear exam room at 10:30 and there we sat until almost 12:30! No one ever came in to check in or update us. My husband got up and went to the front desk; there was a PA standing there who said we can see you right now! He said, no Thank you! I paid $450.00 to be seen by the Dr., not a PA! I want a refund and I'm leaving! They had a couple of emergencies that morning, but no one ever told us! Not good medical service at all! No apology, no follow up phone call or nothing!

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Hyun Bae, MD

Had 1 appointment with Dr Bae. Overbooked and office staff has very POOR manners, specifically Dr Hyun Bae's physician assistant named "Lisa" - inhuman, insensitive, poor manners, disrespectful and disgusting.. Don't waste your time or money. Stay away from the American Spine Surgeons. All the best spine surgeons are outside of USA.

Hyun Bae, MD

PLEASE STOP AND RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION! Dr. Bae did surgery on me a few years ago. I was in so much pain after the surgery never getting better. By going to another doctor l found out that he misplaced the screws in my back. Going in from the side he placed the L4 screw which was longer than necessary therefore, jabbing me is the muscle and the L3 screw wasn't placed in the vertebral body but in front of it adjacent to the abdominal aorta. He ignored my complaints and tried to brush me off. It wasn't until I found out the truth and confronted him. He said "I guess your not one of my best surgeries!" I was in to much pain to deal with a suit! RUN DON'T WALK

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Hyun Bae, MD

Below is an email I received from the assistant (Tea) for Dr Bae. He does some type of donation fee of 200.00 for his phone consults. I don't mind paying a fee for a phone consult but if I don't want to donate to spinal foundation I shouldn't have to. This is a very strange practice. And just a way to go around the system and get funds when a phone consult isn't billable to insurance. I have had numerous phone consults and have never heard of anything so outrageous. Either charge a fee for a phone consult or don't but don't hide behind a donation fee to get your money. It sounds so dishonest and in fact is dishonest. I am not making a donation, Dr Bae is providing a service and for services rendered a fee is fine but they want you to send a check to the foundation of spinal restoration for a donation. Then they say Dr Bae doesnt get the funds....come on, really? No one believes that....if he didnt get the funds he would not require the supposedly "donation check" VERY ODD. AND VERY DISHONEST. You cant even get a receipt saying it was for a phone consult so you can turn it into insurance or taxes. If I want to donate to a charity with a check for $200 I will but that isn't a donation he is providing a drs consult. Charity is like donating to march of dimes.....so very odd. AND shame on his staff members and billing for being rude and lyars (Tea, Julie, Celeste). Below please find the instructions for scheduling and MRI Review and a PhoneConsult with Dr. Bae Please mail us the following: 1. CD with your latest imaging (MRI, CT etc.) 2. Short medical history, relevant to your spine 3. Check for $200, made out to the Foundation for Spinal Restoration* Please mail the packet to my attention, to the address noted below my signature line. Thank you * All of the proceeds from this review will go to the Foundation for Spinal Restoration. Tea Abshilava The Spine Institute Hello, The phone consults are not covered by Insurance and were donated to the Foundation for Spinal Restoration. Best Tea Abshilava The Spine Institute Center for Spinal Restoration

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Hyun Bae, MD

I went to him last week , after spending 2 hrs and 45 min, I walked out with wrong diagnosis, his stuff are very roud and unfriendly specialy his nurse , he spend about 3 min with me and walked out and refer me to someone in his office to give me a epidural ,(I gusse my 450$for his 3 min was not enough for him, just like that . DO NOT GO TO HIM , he is a waist of time ,with no bed side manner .

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Hyun Bae, MD

This is one of the worst doctors I have ever had the displeasure to watch in my own opinion. My sister was battling breast cancer and was having excruciating pains in her neck and back. The doctor walks in to see my sister for less then two minutes. He said, "it was a slipped disk, take this shot and you will be out of pain by the end of the weekend." Trusting his reputation based on his own celebrity endorsements, she thought she would be in competent hands. This was not the case. Her pain continued to grow. Seven months later after no answers from Bae's office( they would not release her records) she found out her cancer metastasized to her neck and spine. His lack of attention, attitude, and flat out arrogance contributed to losing time with my sister that I will never get back. Think twice before going to see this doctor. Again, this is just an opinion, but I wouldn't send my worst enemy(don't have any) to him. Please be advised.

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Hyun Bae, MD

arrogant, rude and lame. if i could leave less stars i would. showed up on time for a 1:30 intital consultation. waited over 1 1/2 hours to finally get into a treatment room. listened to dr. bae on the phone in the room next to me for another 15 minutes. he then came out, looked into my room, saw me, went back into his room, shut the door and continued talking on the phone. rude, disrespectful and just plain unprofessional. the rush-hour drive back from santa monica to l.a. was the cherry on the top. i wouldn't recommend this guy for anything. try dr. gart or dr. lavian.... much more class....but then again....it doesn't take much in this case.

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Hyun Bae, MD