Testimonials

“I am not sure where to begin-I suffered for over a year and a half with severe back pain.  I had several Epidurals – which worked for a short while and then things just got worse and worse.  I was in so much pain day and night and then my friend recommend I call and get a phone diagnosis with Dr. Choll Kim.  Besides being “over the top qualified” he was so reassuring over the phone and he felt he could really help me.  Following our phone call – I went to see him and was immediately ready to do the surgery – I did not feel like I was a number – he was so gracious and reassuring – even though he said I wouldn’t like him for the first 3 months.  It has been 6 months now and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of him and what he did for me – no pain – I have my life and smile back.  He is the best!!!!”

“I had sciatic pain level 9-10 to the point where I could barely walk. I had an L2-L4 laminectomy in 2000 and was on disability for 4 months. This time I wanted minimally invasive surgery. I researched various procedures and surgeons and took a chance with Dr. Kim. I sent his office my MRI to see if they might be able to help. To my surprise, I received a diagnosis letter from Dr. Kim himself stating that I was a candidate for LESS. The procedure went so well that I walked out of the hospital a few hours later and 3 months later there is only occasional minor pain (level 1 or 2). Throughout the entire process including post op, Dr. Kim and his office staff were totally professional, I would recommend to anyone that if they are contemplating back surgery; see Dr. Kim first.”

“I consulted with Dr. Choll Kim after injuring myself on duty. I had extreme lower back pain and pain going down both my legs. After completing months of physical therapy, Dr. Kim suggested his Laser Endoscopic Spine Surgery. It has been 1 month since surgery and I feel amazing, my back pain is gone and the pain in my legs has significantly decreased. I am looking forward to being back to work as a Firefighter very soon. Dr. Kim was polite, professional, and extremely knowledgeable. I would strongly recommend that anyone with significant back pain visit him.”

“I could not be more satisfied with the results of my surgery. I had laser endoscopic spine surgery to fix a bulging disc from an injury I sustained years ago playing football. After doing research and meeting with several surgeons, I knew I was in good hands when I met Dr. Kim. I could sense his passion for what he does right away. 

On the day of my procedure, I was a bit nervous about the amount of pain I would have during my recovery. I had a shoulder surgery a few years prior that was extremely painful. Much to my surprise, I never felt pain at any time during my recovery. I expected to at least have pain around the incision… but nothing. In fact, I was in a considerable amount of pain walking into the surgery center and that was the last of it. 

I remember waking up my wife the morning after surgery to tell her that I finally had no sciatic pain running down my leg. I hadn’t realized how much pain I had endured over the years until it was finally gone. A day after surgery, Dr. Kim texted me to see how I was doing. This was shocking to me. I have never had a doctor personally follow up with me the day after surgery and give me a direct line to contact them should I need anything. 

I have and will continue to recommend Dr. Kim to anyone who suffers from back or neck pain!”

“After researching a lot of different options, I decided Dr. Choll Kim was the best available surgeon for my back and leg problems. He came with great reviews and was a teacher of the type of surgery I was about to try. The traditional back surgeon told me I would have at least a three month recovery time and I hadn’t heard any rave reviews from his patients.

I had stenosis so severely that several nerves in my left leg had died and I suffered from back pain and sciatica. I was also told I had two discs that were degenerated. 

I traveled to San Diego from the Seattle area and went to the hospital the morning of surgery and after a few hours I was back in my hospital room a little drowsy but in no pain. The next morning, I was told I could get up, and to my amazement, I had no pain and felt better than I had in years. I didn’t even want a wheel chair to get out of the hospital.

It’s been four years now and I am active doing yoga, biking, walking and recently returned from a trip to Australia where I hiked and snorkeled in the Great Barrier Reef. I had great confidence in Dr. Kim and his skills and wonderful attitude surpassed anything I could ask for in a physician.”

“I have suffered back pain for as long as I can remember.  Prior to meeting Dr. Kim, I had already had three surgeries on my spine, including one for a ruptured disk.  I would classify all three as successful.

Despite those procedures, I still suffered from back pain.  Eventually, that pain began to radiate down my right leg, going down my hamstring all the way to my foot.  It got to the point that my quality of life was severely impacted.  Even walking minimal distances became very painful.

Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and sought help.  After much research, I found Dr. Kim.  Upon meeting him, I was immediately impressed by his calm, confident demeanor.  He diagnosed my problem and told me that he could alleviate the pain in my leg with a minimally invasive procedure that was referred to as “keyhole” surgery.  I agreed to the procedure, and Dr. Kim performed a right L4-5, L5-S1 laser endoscopic spinal surgery on me.  The surgery went well, and I was able to go home that same day.  Post-surgical pain was very tolerable, by far the least of all my back operations.  Recovery was quick, and, in a couple of months, I was out playing golf again.  Sadly, Dr. Kim’s surgery did nothing for my swing.

Post-surgery, Dr. Kim has followed my condition regularly.  Should new back problems occur, I would consider no one but Dr. Kim to take care of them.

It has been approximately five years since this procedure was performed, and, to date, the pain radiating down my leg and into my foot has not returned.”

“I was involved in a major car accident in 2011 that left me in pretty bad shape. I could barely get in and out of bed without feeling excruciating pain in my lower back and leg, let alone maintain a normal lifestyle of someone in their early 20’s. I consulted with several orthopedic surgeons and looked into all the different kinds of surgical procedures that claimed that I could be pain free with their help. A bit skeptical of their claims, I read through different post-operative surgical forums online regarding the different types of operations that involved artificial disc replacement and fusion, which all seemed a bit like using a sledge hammer to swat a fly. After consulting with Dr. Kim, he reassured me of the quick recovery and success rate of his minimally invasive laser endoscopic procedure. I was in and out of the operating room within an hour and finally felt like myself after several weeks. It has been nearly four years since my operation with Dr. Kim and I wouldn’t have been able to maintain the quality of life I enjoy today without his help. For anyone who’s having second thoughts, Dr. Kim is the best at what he does and I would recommend anyone who’s having serious back issues to consult with Dr. Kim and his team for the best possible care.”

“I arrived to Dr. Kim’s office with an injury that did not allow me to walk straight. I found it difficult to function walking day-to-day without limping and in severe pain. Since my laser back surgery, I’m now walking without a limp and have no more pain in my lower back.

I now feel like a new person. I would like to share with any of Dr. Kim’s patients who are considering this procedure that I have the utmost confidence in Dr. Kim and his ability to perform this surgery and recommend to any/all of his patients to make the choice and do the surgery!

I want to thank Dr. Kim for performing the surgery and to tell him, he has CHANGED MY LIFE!”

“I’ve lost weight since the surgery. The surgery was great, didn’t hurt and was extremely fast. The recovery was quick and hardly any scaring. I recommend this surgery to all considering it.”

“I am happy to say that I continue to have no pain 2 ½ years post-surgery. Prior to the minimally invasive procedure on my lumbar spine, I was in great pain, which ran down into my left leg. Standing and walking was terribly painful. After exhausting all the non-surgical alternatives, I chose to have Dr. Choll Kim go ahead with the procedure. Almost immediately after it was done, the pain was gone, and has not returned. I highly recommend this procedure for anyone who has been diagnosed to need it.”

“I am thankful every day for the wonderful work Dr. Kim did on me, leaving me pain free and with full mobility. It was amazing. I had surgery on my spine the year before with another surgeon but the pain and difficulty returned after a short time. Dr. Kim’s non-invasive procedure used a 1 inch or so incision (vs 6 inches the year before) and, amazingly, I was back home in my kitchen eating chicken soup (the ultimate medicine) that afternoon. The pain has never returned.”

“The laser endoscopic spinal procedure Dr. Kim performed was a breeze in comparison to the 2 previous traditional operations I underwent including the Laminectomy in 2003. And, the recovery was so much easier than the traditional operations I experienced. It’s been just over 3 years since my procedure and has resulted in a definite improvement of my chronic back pain.”

“In February 2012, Dr. Choll Kim performed a minimally invasive laser endoscopic procedure on my L2-3 and L3-4, which completely eliminated my pain. The process was minimally painful and over quickly. Dr. Choll Kim was both professional and comforting throughout.”