Patient Stories

In the best hands possible

I had surgery at the end of July in 2024 at Sierra vista hospital by Dr. Vasilev and his team. I have to say the whole process was very smooth and impressive. I was able to email Dr. Vasilev and his PA whenever I needed to after the initial free 60 minute consultation. They were very kind and thorough, answering any questions I had, which I had many! They also don’t just do the surgery. They have you see a pain specialist, a pelvic floor therapist and in some cases (not mine) acupuncture, I believe. I didn’t have any complications and everything healed very nicely. The only issue is with them not taking insurance and needing a large deposit, which was explained to me that it’s because insurance doesn’t want to pay for the robotics speciality part of the surgery so it’s understandable. They are usually able to help most people despite how daunting it seems at first if you ask for it. I also definitely needed to take over the counter anti inflammatory drugs around the clock a week or so longer than they anticipated to stay on top of recovery pain. As long as I did that, the recovery was very doable. You are in the best hands possible with Dr. Vasilev and his team.

Nearly all of my symptoms are gone

I'm three months post operation and am extremely thankful that a specialist like Dr. Vasilev exists for those of us suffering from endometriosis. Nearly all of my symptoms are gone after surgery, and his PA Lisa Stern was very helpful throughout the entire process (as was Alese).

I feel SO validated!!

I did it!!! I survived a pretty intense 6 hour operation, thanks to Dr. Steven Vasilev. Dr. Vasilev was kind, compassionate and very thorough in answering all of my questions.
My symptoms have been building for 20 years! I am so grateful to have connected with such a skilled and compassionate surgeon, who made me feel like I was NOT a hypochondriac.

I ended up having a partial hysterectomy, appendectomy, bartholin’s gland excision from my vaginal wall, endometriosis excised from multiple places, but most notably the areas I was feeling pain! It was around my rectum, peritoneum near my bladder and near my left ovary. I am in so much pain right now, but I feel SO validated!!! Now to heal and enjoy a more peaceful, pain free life.

I have never felt better in my life

Dr. Vasilev and his PA, Lisa Stern provided excellent care. I have limited treatment options for my endometriosis so excision surgery was my best option. Thanks to them, I am living everyday nearly pain free. I also received specific guidance on nutrition and skincare products related to my health issues which has also been so helpful. I am so grateful for their drive, responsiveness and compassion in helping patients.

Excellent in every way

Look no further–only wish i had known of him sooner! Excellent in every way.

Caring & Thorough

I immediately felt at ease and in good hands with Dr. Vasilev and his staff and nurse practitioner. He took time to explain the surgery to me and was very thorough, allowing me time to ask all the questions I had and answered my concerns. The surgery was a success and the recovery was amazingly short and almost pain free! In comparison to the previous abdominal surgery I had which had a very long recovery time that included a LOT of pain. I feel very comfortable recommending Dr Vasilev and feel very fortunate to have had him as my surgeon.

The difference is remarkable.

The abdominal pain and bloating have not returned. The difference is remarkable. It's as if my physiology has turned back 5-10 years. The lack of pain and the decrease in Mast Cell issues has allowed me to once again begin training for a triathlon. The scars are as if done by a plastic surgeon: they are very small (except for the appendix) and just a tiny line. They're as if I don't have EDS.

 

I consider Dr Vasilev's work to be of the highest caliber. The care and preparation he [and Lisa] demonstrated is extraordinary in a world of specialized silos and 10 minute appointments. I am most appreciative of the excellent care, especially given my complex medical situation. 

I cannot recommend Dr. Vasilev enough

I cannot recommend Dr. Vasilev and his entire team enough. I struggled for years to find adequate care for my endo and fibroids to the point of absolute exhaustion. And sadly, I know so many women who have been/are exactly in that position. Dr. Vasilev and his PA Lisa Stern were so thorough in evaluating my unique case and determining the kind of treatment I would need. They were there every step of the way, consistently checking in and making sure I had all the detailed information I needed to make an informed decision on how I wanted to proceed. When it came down to the actual surgery, I felt so taken care of. Both Dr. V and Lisa made sure that I felt comfortable and safe and heard. My fears and questions were never minimized and I could ALWAYS reach someone before and after surgery. Lisa still checks in regularly (I'm abt 3 months post op) to make sure all is well. I have never felt better in my life and I am so grateful. Dr. Vasilev is one of the foremost experts in the entire field worldwide AND he also really shows up and advocates hard for his patients in every regard. It's not remotely hyperbolic to say that he's changed my life.

Views you as a person, not a statistic

Look no further ! He is the best ! One of the top surgeons and oncologist in the country. It is so difficult in a big city to find someone who views you as a person and not just a statistic. as I have recently found out ! Am so glad I found him.

I finally have relief

I am incredibly grateful for the care Dr. Vasilev and his team have provided me throughout the diagnosis and treatment of my endometriosis. After decades of pain, I finally have relief from inflammation, chronic back, leg and foot pain, and more. More importantly, I have hope for a healthy future.

Dr. Vasilev Lisa, and Alese are responsive, compassionate experts. Every single interaction – consultation, pre-operative tests and procedures (coordinated with my care team outside of CA), the surgery, and follow up – have been absolutely the best experiences I have ever had with any medical practice.

Immensely grateful

I am blessed to have Dr. Steven Vasilev. He is a compassionate medical professional who surrounds himself with a great team. I had robotic surgery and my healing is going very well. He continues to direct my ongoing after surgery treatment program and for that I am immensely grateful.

Thank you so much for listening to me

Steven and Lisa are some of the most understanding and helpful people I've ever met. I had been dealing with endometriosis pain for quite a few years and all the doctors and OBGYN's I had visited gave me little to no solutions. I was told my symptoms were not that simple, and that nothing could be done. But within weeks of seeing Steven and Lisa, I was able to get imaging done and my surgery scheduled. I cannot tell anyone how much they changed my life. Thank you so much for all your help and for listening to me when I was in so much pain.

Made me feel like a family member

You think you are invincible, not expecting you would be diagnosed with cancer, especially at a young age. Thinking you are done, not knowing what the next chapter is going to be, will there be a next chapter?

Dr. Vasilev and his team made me feel like a family member, not a patient, they were compassionate, knowledgeable, spoke to me in terms that I could understand, they made it so I only had to worry about showing up for my appointments, they fought the insurance companies, were able to get me all the necessary appointments that needed to happen.

The surgery was not complicated, I did not have post operative problems. I thought I would have to be in the Hospital for days, but because Dr. Vasilev specializes in robotic surgery, I went home that evening. I truly think that I had found the perfect Doctor to treat me.

I am not done with my journey, still undergoing chemotherapy, but I can say without a doubt, you don't ever want to see a Gynocologic Oncologist but if you are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Dr. Vasilev, Lisa and Z in my opinion are the only choice.

You will thank yourself

Words can't possibly describe the gratitude I have for Dr. Vasilev and his P.A., Lisa Stern. They showed immense care and support along a very emotional journey. I never felt pressured, or that they were trying to convince me to undergo surgery with them either way–they simply wanted the best for me no matter who I went to.

My case ended up being "one for the books" and I am so grateful to have been under the care of Dr. V and Lisa. They helped me get to the bottom of my chronic pelvic pain, and while I'm still not out of the woods, their expert analysis of my situation allowed me to look into pelvic congestion syndrome with another specialist, which I never would have known otherwise.

If you are navigating chronic pelvic pain, you will thank yourself for at least having a consult with Dr. Vasilev. Whether it ends up being fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis, or something else, you will be glad to have your questions answered, or at the very least be pointed in the right direction and saving yourselves potentially years of pain and frustration.

Thank you Dr. V and Lisa, from the bottom of my heart, for your expert care, warmth, and professional guidance.

I won the lottery finding Dr. Vasilev

Absolutely the best care you can receive. Dr. Vasilev, Lisa, and Alese have been compassionate, responsive, and knowledgeable every step of the way on my journey. There are only a handful of surgeons who specialize in endometriosis and related issues. Fewer still who are highly skilled in robotic laparoscopic surgery. Fewer still who can treat multiple abdominal and pelvic organs. I won the lottery finding Dr. Vasilev and his team. Forever grateful.

Very highly recommend Dr. Vasilev

Dr. Vasilev is a highly competent, compassionate, and helpful oncologist. I really appreciate the time Dr. Vasilev spent explaining my condition and his proposed surgical plan and also patiently answering my many questions. His consultation provided valuable insights into my medical condition (ovarian endometriomas that in post-menopause unfortunately became malignant). After it became apparent that my very restrictive insurance coverage would require me to utilize a different surgeon to remove the cancer, Dr. Vasilev was still willing to answer some questions I had concerning my resulting pathology report, which really demonstrated to me his level of compassion. I very highly recommend Dr. Vasilev for anyone experiencing endometriosis an/or any related oncological conditions.

Thank you so much!

Dr Vasilev, is the best surgeon I had stage 4 endometriosis, chocolate cyst, block tube and one other thing. He was able to do it all. His Endometriosis savy! Lastly his PA Lisa and RN Lisa is amazing also front desk Alicia. They are great team. Thank you so much!

An exceptional experience

I had an exceptional experience with Dr. Vasilev and his staff. From start to finish, the team was kind, knowledgeable, thorough, and highly professional. The entire process was seamless, with zero complications. The issues I was treated for have been fully resolved thanks to Dr. Vasilev’s expertise and skill in his field. I would highly recommend Dr. Vasilev to anyone seeking care within his area of specialty.

My health beautifully restored

If I could give this surgeon a hundred stars I would. The skill of the surgeon is so very important to one's recovery. My recovery is magnificent, my health beautifully restored, thanks to this highly skilled surgeon. The fact that he is an expert robotic surgeon gives patients an overwhelming advantage when one must have complicated surgeries and provides dramatically shorter recoveries. My wishes to use more holistic approaches for post op relief were taken seriously and my healing is definitely faster than expected. Dr. Vasilev is thoughtful, thorough and the most timely physician I have ever dealt with. Mine was a complex case on a few levels but he and his office came through for me and I really hit the jackpot with the level of care and kindness I received from him and his staff. As one might expect from a surgeon of his caliber, the expertise of his nurse Lisa Stern was just as high. I had the luxury and good fortune of receiving very high quality, expert care. If I had to create a barometer to measure a standard of care that every woman should receive the standard of care that I received from Dr. Vasilev would be the foundation.