Your Path to a Pain Free Future
Why Choose Lotus — Dr. Steven Vasilev MD
At Lotus Endometriosis Institute, we practice Integrative Endometriosis Surgery™—a unified model of care that combines best-in-class excision surgery with board-certified Integrative Medicine. It’s not “holistic add-ons"; it’s a coherent, evidence-based strategy applied before surgery, during surgery through recovery—built around your biology, your symptoms, and your goals.
Trusted for Clarity, Precision, and Long-Term Outcomes
Why Patients and Physicians Trust Dr. Steven Vasilev
Endometriosis exists on a spectrum—from subtle early disease to deeply infiltrating, multi-organ involvement. What matters most is matching the level of surgical judgment to what level of disease may be present.
Patients and referring clinicians seek Dr. Vasilev for precise excision, anatomy-preserving technique, and an evidence-based Integrative Endometriosis Surgery™ plan that combines surgery, integrative medical options, and recovery. Whether you’re seeking a first opinion, a second opinion, or complex excision, our goal is the same: a clear diagnosis, a coherent strategy, and durable relief or fertility optimization.
A Higher Standard of Endometriosis Care
Uncommonly Broad Surgical and Integrative Medicine Expertise
Dr. Steven Vasilev MD brings a rare combination of elite fellowship-level surgical training, decades of minimally invasive innovation, and board-certified Integrative Medicine. Just as important, he has spent much of his career teaching advanced MIGS and robotic technique—training fellows and residents across multiple institutions and helping shape how complex pelvic surgery is performed. This blend—surgeon + educator + clinician–scientist—helps define what “best-in-class” endometriosis care looks like in practice. It supports what patients want most: precise excision, anatomy-preserving judgment, and a science-forward plan that integrates surgery, medical options, and recovery.
Foundations Built on Surgical Excellence
Training at the Highest Level
Dr. Vasilev’s surgical foundation was shaped by elite academic training and decades of mentorship in high-volume surgical environments. At USC, he trained in a program with strong focus in endocrine, infertility, and endometriosis care under leaders such as Dr. Daniel R. Mishell Jr.
He also pursued additional surgical rotations under Dr. Donald G. Skinner at USC to deepen operative anatomy and dissection mastery. He then completed a rigorous ACGME gynecologic oncology fellowship at USC Norris under Dr. C. Paul Morrow—an operative environment known for intense surgical training and complex pelvic surgery. Then as faculty at the City of Hope, he collaborated daily with general, urologic, plastic and thoracic surgeons, further elevating cross-disciplinary technical fluency.
This breadth of training and mentorship translates directly to endometriosis surgical care across the full spectrum—from subtle early disease to complex abdominal–pelvic, multi-organ patterns—supporting precise excision, anatomy-preserving judgment, and disciplined decision-making in high-complexity anatomy.
Endometriosis Focused
A Single Standard of Care—from Early Disease to Complex Excision
Dr. Vasilev’s clinical focus centers on endometriosis, adenomyosis, and complex abdominal–pelvic pain patterns. Patients seek Lotus for first opinions, second opinions, and surgery when appropriate—ranging from subtle early disease that can be easy to miss to advanced cases involving distorted anatomy, fibrosis, retroperitoneal anatomy, and multi-organ involvement.
The goal is durable relief and preserved function: precise excision when indicated, anatomy-preserving judgment, and a science-forward plan that integrates surgical strategy, medical options, and recovery support.
The same precision used in advanced and repeat cases can be a major advantage early—because doing it right the first time may reduce missed disease and persistent symptoms.
A Higher Standard of Endometriosis Care
What to look for in an endometriosis surgeon
Endometriosis can be straightforward—or it can require meticulous dissection around the bowel, bladder, ureters, pelvic nerves, and abdominal–pelvic sidewalls. The challenge is that the true extent is not always clear until surgery is underway.
Best-in-class care means being prepared for the full range—while choosing the most precise, anatomy-preserving solution that still removes disease completely when indicated. Dr. Vasilev is known for advanced and repeat cases, yet the same precision often benefits early disease by reducing missed lesions and untreated fibrosis.
The grid below summarizes practical benchmarks patients can use when choosing the right level of endometriosis surgical care.
| Category | Dr. Steven A. Vasilev, MD (Quaternary level excision) | Typical "MIGS Endo Specialist" | General OB-GYN (laparoscopy/basic robotics) |
|---|---|---|---|
Board Certifications | 4 (Gyn & Gyn Oncology ABOG/ABMS, Integrative ABOIM/ABPS) | 1 | 1 |
Fellowship Training | ACGME fellowship—highest tier gynecologic multiorgan & retroperitoneal training | MIGS AAGL non-ACGME variable depth of training fellowship or none | No advanced pelvic surgery fellowship |
Surgical Focus (Last 10+ Years) | Endometriosis all-stage + complex abdominal–pelvic disease (deep/redo/multi-organ) | Typically endo + many unrelated GYN surgeries | Broad OB-GYN practice |
Case Complexity | Deep infiltrating + multi-organ abdominal–pelvic disease (bowel/bladder/ureter/diaphragm when present) | Moderate–deep; often requires co-surgeons | Mild–moderate |
Experience | 30+ years; complex minimally invasive surgery since early era (pre-“MIGS” label) | Variable | Variable |
Academic Roles | Clinician–scientist–educator: multisite Professorships/Program Directorships | Variable | Minimal |
Multi-Organ Surgical Ability | Yes—built into fellowship training; prioritizes anatomy and function with strategy matched to disease | Variable; often requires co-surgeons/teams for higher complexity | Rare |
Robotic Surgical Mastery | Quaternary-level robotic excision: advanced retroperitoneal dissection + anatomy-preserving techniques | Variable robotics; not consistently retroperitoneal-expert level | Standard laparoscopy/basic robotics |
Redo/Recurrence Expertise | High (repeat-surgery salvage focus) | Moderate | Low |
Integrative Endometriosis Surgery™ | Board-certified Integrative Medicine applied as one unified surgical plan (pre-op → surgery → recovery) | Variable; often non-credentialed, generic, or referral-based | Limited; standard peri-operative guidance without integrative specialization |
Independent Vetting / External Validation | Independently video-vetted for simple through complex excision (iCareBetter) | Variably vetted | Generally not applicable |
Surgical Philosophy | Precision excision with anatomy preservation—strategy matched to disease complexity and patient goals | Variable approach; often depends on surgeon comfort and team availability | Best suited to straightforward cases; deep/redo disease often benefits from referral to higher-complexity surgeons |
Note on “teams”: For select cases, multidisciplinary support can be helpful. The highest-value teams share deep endometriosis expertise and a unified surgical philosophy—so decisions remain aligned with endometriosis principles, anatomy preservation, and long-term function.
Innovation that Redefined Possibility
Pioneer in Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery
Long before “MIGS” became a label, Dr. Vasilev helped advance complex minimally invasive pelvic surgery—well beyond routine procedures. His focus has been precision, safety, and expanding what can be achieved through minimally invasive technique, especially in high-complexity disease. His forward-thinking approach and dedication to innovation and teaching continue to inspire a new generation of surgeons—and to transform the lives of patients worldwide.
Early 1990s: among the first in the U.S. to perform radical intra- and retroperitoneal pelvic procedures laparoscopically, when most gynecologists were still barely learning and remaining limited to basic hysterectomy.
Mid-2000s: Among early adopters of complex robotic gynecologic surgery, using this next evolution of MIGS to improve precision and expand minimally invasive feasibility in advanced cases.
Published innovator in advanced cytoreductive techniques—methods performed by only a handful of surgeons worldwide and directly applicable to deep, infiltrative endometriosis.
Has trained hundreds of surgeons through residency and fellowship programs at USC, UCLA, UCI, City of Hope, Kaiser Permanente, White Memorial, Loma Linda, and Saint John’s Cancer Institute in MIGS gynecology, gynecologic oncology, endometriosis, urologic oncology and general surgical oncology.
Has been selected to proctor surgeons new to DaVinci robotic surgery via Intuitive Surgical
Dr. Vasilev’s pioneering work in laparoscopic and robotic techniques contributed to bridging the gap between traditional open surgery and today’s most advanced MIGS excision methods. His research, publications, and teaching have influenced the evolution of complex pelvic surgery across multiple disciplines.
Where Skill Meets Proven Outcomes
Measured Excellence
Surgical excellence is measurable: technical precision, consistency, and outcomes that hold up over time. Dr. Vasilev’s results reflect decades of disciplined practice and complex-case focus—where anatomy-preserving judgment and complete excision matter most.
10,000+
hours spent on advanced excision and complex pelvic reconstruction — not just bulk volume of routine cases.
Zero
major organ injury or major complication recorded in internal tracking over the past decade.
Zero
planned open laparotomies in tracked cases—all procedures completed via MIGS despite high complexity. (N.B. There is always a risk of conversion in any surgery.)
~ 5%
average recurrence at 5 years in tracked follow-up (advanced ovarian and DIE varies).
Team Leadership and Surgical Judgment
True excellence lies in judgment—especially in endometriosis involving bowel, bladder, ureters, diaphragm, or complex retroperitoneal anatomy. Dr. Vasilev serves as the lead surgeon and surgical quarterback, performing the vast majority of required procedures himself while integrating additional subspecialists when it truly adds value (e.g., thoracic surgery for VATS when needed).
This balance—broad capability with disciplined restraint—helps preserve anatomy, reduce disruption, and keep surgical decisions aligned with endometriosis principles and long-term function.
The Difference Expertise Makes
Why This Matters
Every credential and every hour of surgical experience translates to something patients can feel and measure:
More complete excision with fewer missed pain drivers
Lower blood loss, shorter operative time when feasible, and faster recovery
Reduced need for repeat procedures and fewer incomplete prior-surgery “cleanups”
Integrative peri-operative optimization addressing inflammation, nutrition, sleep, and recovery resilience
While many surgeons provide excellent care, Dr. Steven Vasilev’s combination of elite training, decades of teaching complex MIGS surgery, and board-certification in Integrative Medicine is uncommon. This integrated approach helps define what “best-in-class” endometriosis care looks like in practice.