Your Path to a Pain Free Future
Why Choose Lotus — Dr. Steven Vasilev MD
Accomplishing the Impossible
Why Patients and Physicians Trust Dr. Steven Vasilev
When hope feels uncertain, patients and even other physicians turn to Dr. Vasilev for solutions that others might call improbable, if not impossible. His unparalleled training and experience make him the trusted choice for advanced endometriosis care, where surgical precision, compassion, and innovation converge.
Unmatched Expertise & Credentials
A Surgeon in a Class of His Own
Dr Steven Vasilev MD is the only verifiably quadruple-board-certified endometriosis excision surgeon in the United States—holding boards in Gynecology, Gynecologic Oncology, and both Integrative and Holistic Medicine. This rare combination merges cancer-level surgical mastery with a whole-person philosophy of care. His expertise spans the full continuum of endometriosis and complex pelvic disease—from root-cause discovery in a research lab to advanced robotic excision and individualized peri-operative optimization.
Foundations Built on Surgical Excellence
Training at the Highest Level
Well beyond the many who briefly train in variably-focused fellowship programs and declare “expertise,” Dr Vasilev’s foundation was built through decades of mentorship within elite academic and surgical environments. At the University of Southern California (USC) under Daniel R. Mishell Jr MD, Dr. Vasilev was immersed in endocrine, endometriosis and infertility care due to program focus. Also, unlike OB-GYNs planning a career in obstetrics and routine gynecology, Dr. Vasilev opted for general surgery and urology rotations—mastering anatomy and dissection techniques alongside leaders such as Donald G. Skinner MD, a world-renowned pioneer in urologic oncology.
He then completed an intense, high-volume surgical gynecologic oncology fellowship led by internationally respected master surgeon C. Paul Morrow MD. Following this, he spent nearly a decade on faculty at City of Hope, collaborating daily with general, urologic, plastic and thoracic surgeons. This extensive cross-disciplinary experience forged superlative surgical judgment and technical fluency above and beyond the capabilities of just a 1-2 year MIGS or endometriosis fellowship trainee, and beyond standard Gyn-Onc fellowship training alone.
Endometriosis Focused
Focused Exclusively on Endometriosis and Complex Pelvic Disease
Dr Vasilev’s practice is dedicated exclusively to endometriosis, adenomyosis, and related malignancies. He applies the breadth and precision of oncologic surgery to benign disease, routinely managing cases other centers deem “inoperable” or "too difficult." Both patients and physicians refer to him since the best outcome is optimal excision using advanced retroperitoneal dissection, nerve-sparing, and fertility-preserving techniques.
Innovation that Redefined Possibility
Pioneer in Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery
Long before advanced robotics and minimally invasive excision became common, Dr. Vasilev was helping shape the field itself. His forward-thinking approach and dedication to innovation 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: one of the earliest adopters of DaVinci robotic technology in gynecology, harnessing 3-D precision for ultra-complex disease excision and reconstruction.
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 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 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
Behind every successful operation lies a record of precision, consistency, and care that can be measured. Dr. Vasilev’s results reflect decades of disciplined practice, uncompromising safety, and surgical mastery that set a rare benchmark in advanced excision. His outcomes are not only exceptional—they are verifiable proof of excellence, especially since the practice focus is on advanced cases.
Learn More About Dr. Vasilev
10,000+
hours spent on advanced excision and complex pelvic reconstruction — not just bulk volume of routine cases.
Zero
organ-injury or major-complications in any surgery over the past decade.
Zero
cases requiring large open incisions — every surgery completed minimally invasive, regardless of disease severity.
~ 5%
or less recurrence rate at five years post surgery, among the best outcomes reported worldwide.
Team Leadership and Surgical Judgment
True excellence lies in judgment. Endometriosis that involves bowel, bladder, ureters, or diaphragm demands advanced expertise. Team orchestration across surgical disciplines, when necessary to optimize results, is also key.
Dr Vasilev serves as the lead surgeon and quarterback, able to perform over 95% of required procedures himself while knowing precisely when to integrate additional subspecialists—thoracic for VATS resections, neurosurgery for guidance of advanced perineural excisions, and similar. This balance of capability and discernment defines the pinnacle of surgical leadership.
The Difference Expertise Makes
Why This Matters
Every credential and every hour of surgical experience translates to something patients can feel and measure:
Complete, safer, shorter operations
Reduced risk, less blood loss, faster recovery
Single-digit recurrence rates and restored quality of life
Comprehensive integrative optimization addressing inflammation, hormonal balance, nutrition, and healing