Best Dr I've ever had! He is very proactive. takes charge, and just does what a Dr should do....help us!

MONSTER! BE WARNED! Background: My 93-year-old mother-in-law is the sweetest, and most gentle soul on this planet. She prays for people and sees the light in even bad circumstances. She never has an unkind word toward any human. She was seen by Dr Mester to have her ear wax removed. What happened: Dr Mester for some reason decided to de-wax her ears using monstrous metal instruments and suction, rather than ear drops and water jets. He scraped her inner ears so much and so repeatedly that she began to cry. ...and the doctors response?--"Well it needs to be done!" He continued despite her obvious pain. She later stated that she would "rather have her toenails pulled out than go through at again!" Subnote: As my sister-in-law left the office with her, they both overheard this huge, burly man leaving Dr Mester's office who was bawling crying. Seems to be a common thread at his practice. End note: If you don't have basic compassion for humanity, don't be in your profession. People come to you in their hour of need and trust you. I pray you will have an epiphany and treat others with the respect and kindness and the gentleness they deserve. There is no reason this doctor couldn't have used the proven and more humane process of ear drops and water jets for removal of ear wax. read more

Pre-2020 (no option for this early date with the format). Erratic, unpredictable behavior ranging from totally charming to outright rude with the same patient on different occasions. Also, unkind, insensitive hands. read more

I went to Mester for what had become a chronic issue with my left ear feeling like it was constantly plugged with water. After waiting for my appointment for over an hour, when I did see him, he was curt to the point of being rude. After an extremely rough examination, complete with powerful suction where NOTHING was extracted, he told me that I needed to lose weight because I had FAT ear canals? After seeing another specialist, I was diagnosed with a perforated ear drum! read more

He is thorough, competent and kind! I had cancer and he diagnosed The types in my throat, and called the best oncologists without wasting any time. I began treatment last fall and was cured by April. He doesn't make small talk or up sell, he is supremely confident and your health is paramount to him. Without question one of the best in his field. read more

WARNING: Dr Mester was aggressive, impatient and inappropriately stern with my 17 year old daughter during our first (and only) visit to him to have her nose cauterized for nosebleeds. Having endured the procedure periodically over the years (NOT by Dr Mester), she and I are both very familiar with the process; it is not pleasant, but not terribly painful and takes only a few minutes. After an amiable introduction, he abruptly snapped and became shockingly cruel and sadistically rough. As instructed, she sat very still and when a single tear fell from her eye, he demanded that she stop crying because "it doesn't hurt!!!". The violent way he held her nose as she hyperventilated, was truly barbaric and sickening. She suffers from extreme panic/anxiety attacks which I clearly explained, but he continued to verbally berate her as he forcefully held and squeezed her nose so hard that she COULD NOT BREATHE. She was left traumatized and very, very, very bruised. He was merciless and unstoppable. Upon completion of the procedure, he then spoke to me with a disturbingly condescending tone and for some absolutely insane reason, I simply and shamefully said "thank you". I was in shock. It's now one day later and I am seething over the experience. This doctor needs to be seriously investigated before being allowed to continue practicing medicine. We trust doctors for their knowledge, experience, expertise and compassion and are thankful for their years of schooling and practice to offer the best care available. Dr Mester's inhumane method and lack of empathy is a black stain on the medical profession and Sanum Clinic should be repentant for his behavior. Personally, I am not one to write many reviews and am STUNNED to see ANY positive ones for this man. Had there been a way to pull him away from her and run - I would have done so immediately. read more

While I rarely write reviews, I feel compelled to do so because there are so many questionable ones on Yelp about this doctor. I saw Dr. Mester last week. He was on-time, professional, and thorough. He was also very kind and non-alarmist, which I appreciated. I recommend him highly. A+ read more

I am a senior saw this man for help with smelling and tasting. I had this disability. He told me with great authority that I would never ever regain that ability. He had done studies which assured that I could not smell or taste in the future. But he was wrong! I totally enjoyed my breakfast this morning tasting everything. I now walk by Jasmine And love the aroma. I can smell and taste almost everything. This is thanks to another physician who discovered that I have a very unusual problem called Churg Strauss. With appropriate treatment I have regained 95% of my smell and taste Granted this is a rare condition. I don't mind his missing it as much as his utter conviction that he told me that I could never solve my problem. read more

Follow up: I went to Dr Mester yesterday bc I'm a singer and he works with opera singers. Apparently I have acid reflux and need to make changes. But my review of Mester is this: he's arrogant, doesn't have much of a kind bedside manner. He was rough putting the camera in my nose. And wasn't patient. And He didn't know musical theatre is a genre of singing (how he doesn't know is is beyond me--I had to tell him about Broadway singers 2x). In addition to his ignorance of the above, when he prescribed ranitidine to me, I said I had experience taking that as an antihistamine. He then curtly says, Ranitidine isn't an antihistamine. Not impressed with is knowledge of prescriptions either. It was developed as an antihistamine and the properties that make it good for acid reduction as those exact properties. Also, after he told what was wrong, he flew out of the exam room to go home for the day. Didn't ask me if I had any question. I'm left with some lingering concerns. I'll try to call the office and ask a nurse. read more

I saw Dr. Mester in late 2013 for chronic right-side congestion and headaches. He prescribed ranitidine, a mild acid blocker, to be taken at bedtime. He did not present any alternatives, there was no follow-up, and I did not think at the time to question the doctor's choices of medication or dose. I experienced slight improvement in my symptoms. It was not until a few years later that another, more enterprising doctor suggested that we experiment with the medication and dose. The result of these trials is that I'm currently taking a ranitidine tablet as needed in the early afternoon, and an omeprazole--a much stronger acid blocker--at bedtime, with the latter being taken regardless of whether I have symptoms or not. The new regimen has improved my symptoms by 90 percent. So, I would say that Dr. Mester was on the right track, but that he lacked the necessary imagination and perseverance to find the right treatment. Phillip M. Feldman Home Page: http://phillipmfeldman.org read more

I had to see Dr. Mester, ENT (01/16) for a second sinus/hearing opinion-it was a pleasure to interact with a doctor that asked All the right questions; that listened to me without cutting me off; was very compassionate about my sinus and hearing problems and carefully did a thorough exam without adding to much pain during the exam... Dr. Mester was pleasant all the while maintaining his professionalism-(which doctors these days mostly maintain a level of arrogance) So, Thank you Dr. Mester; for listening to me, for being sympathetic about my health issues and for caring and understanding them...Vicki T. read more

Dr. Mester is fantastic! I just had my deviated septum repaired with major surgery and it is amazing how much better I can breathe and smell. Dr. Mester is so good that I didn't even need pain medication. I spoke to a friend of mine that had the same surgery, but with someone else and said that it was one of the most painful things she's ever endured. I am so grateful for such a gifted doctor. I highly recommend him (especially to any singers out there). I am an opera singer and I feel like this surgery has opened new resonance in my sound that I never had before. Truly a miracle worker! read more

I went in today to see what can be done with an ear ache I've had for over a week. The answer I got was that my dentist I'm currently using right now is not good and kept suggesting that I go see a new one. I'm not sure how an ear ache and dentist is related and in fact I followed up with my dentist after this appointment and my current issue has nothing to do with the dentist. I got two opinions on this and both said the same. I was spoken to as if I did not know my own body and issues I'm having. In fact I told him when he was looking at my ear that it hurt the way he was touching it and all he said was "it shouldn't." Most of the reviews seem to be the same of him not providing useful feedback, therefore, I will be seeing another doctor In the clinic and it was a waste of an appointment. read more

I wish I could give Dr Mester 0 stars but unfortunately, that is not an option and yet words could not even begin to describe how awful my experience was with him. Growing up I always had these horrible, constant nose bleeds that would without fail ruin my day. And so I got my nose cauterized (a process that most people only ever have to endure just once) by an ENT specialist in Belgium. However, the treatment only lasted about a year and before I knew it, I had gotten cauterized 5 times (all of which were done by doctors other than Mester). Just recently, the nose bleeds have returned in full force, and I mean worse than ever, and so I booked an appointment with Dr Andrew Mester to have the procedure done yet again. When we first arrived at the office 5 minutes early (as asked) to our 9:45 am appointment, we were left in an empty room waiting until the doctor finally came in at 10:45 and spent the fist 10 minutes of our appointment asking about our family and where we're from; he was being nice... but that wouldn't last long. Now I would like to remind you once again that I of all people knows very well how this process goes and feels, and I have never had any problems with it before other than momentary discomfort during the cauterization itself and have been able to get right back into my day following the appointment, but whatever dr. mester did was much worse. After squirting some special "numbing spray" into my nose he would use full force to adjust my head (but I mean a lot more than needed to be applied) before aggressively inserting the burning stick into my nostril and onto my blood vessels. And I mean OUCH. I know that these things are never not painful but when I tell you that I've never been in more pain... I mean it. And my mom kept saying to him "it looks like you're hurting her" to which he replied "no. this does not hurt". I'd like to see him experience this nose torture and see if he still thinks it feels like nothing. But wait, it gets worse. Because the pain was so bad I shed a tear (not even a real cry, a single tear) and he started to get mad, and so I grew anxious and my mom made it abundantly clear to him that I suffer from pretty bad anxiety and panic attacks, but that didn't make any difference. Anyways, the pain became excruciating and I began to actually cry. Now the untouched other nostril is bleeding and within moments, my entire sweatshirt was covered with blood. Then I started to hyperventilate and have a full on panic attack while he is simultaneously squeezing my nose to stop the bleeding, but he was squeezing so hard that I nearly passed out. It was like I blacked out but I didn't, and I was trying to push his hand off of me but he just yelled at me instead. Then while I'm still hyperventilating freaking out he jams the burning stick up the other (still bleeding) nostril and misses and burns the tip of my nose (which is now black) and above my mouth (same story). At this point the pain was so bad I completely lost it after my mom told him that I had no control over my breathing and he pushed me back in my seat and yelled aggressively "STOP CRYING, THIS DOES NOT HURT". I was so pissed off at this point I just sat there crying looking down at my now red sweater trying to catch my breath when he yelled "LOOK AT ME" and I didn't and he yelled again and so I did and he showed my mom the cream we needed and then turned to me and just said "bye bye" and walked out of the office. This experience was so traumatic and awful I wouldn't wish it on my worse enemy. Never ever again will I visit Dr. Andrew Mester. Horrible guy. read more

The first thing I noticed in the room I was in before Dr. Mester entered was the art on the wall; it was eclectic, but organized, interesting and I was thrilled. I told him I was glad he didn't hire some pretentious decorator that in medical fields think they know what patients and doctors want. As for me, there was some work of interest. He thanked me. I went to him for vertigo; it was very clear he knew exactly what to do after a brief exam; in the exam room and a no-nonsense Epley maneuver which put me in an immediate vertigo episode so he could see in my eyes what was going on. "I am going to cure you he said," and he did after 2 more maneuvers. I went home with trepidation of the following morning when I had to continue the Epley maneuvers myself -- but lo and behold, I was cured. I sent a note and asked him if I should continue and he said yes, do it for a month. I will. I would send anyone to him for this issue. As for bedside manners, I don't care..."bedside manners" are nothing more than doing some self- marketing of one's graciousness, not of one's expertise in the medical field or specialty. Leave that up to the receptionists or the nurses to be overly sweet. read more

Worst bedside manor of any doctor I've seen. Makes you feel like an idiot for asking a question. Short with his answers. Zero explanation of what is happen and why. I've had an ear infection for over a week while on antibiotics. The pain is getting worse and on a follow up visit I told him that I am concerned about a trip to Mexico I have coming up. He looked and me and said "I cant cut your ear off." Don't go to him...you will regret it. Check his Google reviews. read more

Dr. Mester performed a tonsillectomy and septoplasty on me, and it could not have gone smoother. Post-surgery is much less painful than I expected (and that's without pain meds) and Dr. Mester has provided me with enough knowledge about the procedures so that I feel secure and prepared for a strong recovery. read more

There aren't that many ENT doctor options in Santa Barbara but thankfully I found Dr. Mester. After Urgent Care put me through the ringer and had no idea what was wrong with me (after being sick for 14 days), Dr. Mester spent 10 minutes with me and knew exactly what was wrong and how to fix it. He gave me very detailed instructions on how to get better and called in prescriptions right away. When I had another question, he happened to be available on-call and called me back within 10 minutes. I am extremely impressed with his knowledge, his professionalism and his demeanor and I plan to continue to with him for a long time. read more

I am eternally grateful for Dr. Mester! I traveled 5 hours countless times to see him. He was extremely patient with me and I can't imagine what my situation would be without finding him! He took cultures of the infections that I had and prescribed the approriate antibiotic for the infection. He would call on Saturdays to give more information. I found him to be very empathetic and caring. He recommended deviated septum surgery after treating my obsessively occurring infections. As another contributor stated...he is the best! There was no medication need for pain. There wasn't enough pain to complain. I took a few ibuprofen and rested a few days, but was back to work soon! I have moved out of the state and wish I could just visit with him, since my sinus issues have gone away! He was such a pleasant man! :) read more

I went to the ER for a bloody nose that just would not stop. Every time I got discharged, my nose would start to pour blood the second I got to the exit. Finally after about 4 major bleeds, they called in Dr. Mester. He knew exactly what to do, and took extremely good care of me. He put his own patients aside to help me, which I could not believe. He gave me his personal number to call him in case of an emergency. I could not believe he was willing to work an entire full day at the office, and then come and operate on my nose at 8pm at night, just so my problem could be fixed. That is unheard of. I waited in excruciating pain for 3 weeks just to have an initial appointment with a neurosurgeon to correct a disc herniation in my back. I have never been catered to by a doctor before. Dr. Mester actually cared about me and definitely knew what he was doing. In my opinion, the best ENT doctor I have ever encountered. I would recommend him to anyone and everyone. The staff in his office was excellent as well. Very professional team. read more

I had to wait an hour and a half just to get into a room. Waited another 30 minutes after that. Explained what had been happening and there was no empathy and told me that I needed to just live with one of my problems and sent me on my merry way. I don't think so. Then I get an outrageous bill for all of that? Smh. Buyer beware. Run! read more

We are very unhappy with the treatment that my father had with Dr. Mester in June 2016. He had to wait approximately 45 minutes for his appointment. My Father is almost 97 years old and cannot walk. He is in a wheel chair and has care givers around the clock to take care of him. When the Doctor finally saw my father he came in and said: THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO FOR YOU!!!! and left the room. This is disgraceful for a doctor to not even explain to an an elderly man what the problem is and if there are any cures? I would not recommend this doctor, he is very unprofessional and un-careing. read more

Appt to see why dizziness -- no explanations from him as to cause, simply told me to go to the other room for exam and then abruptly did the epley maneuver three times in a row. I was extremely nauseous and spaced out by the time he was done.... Should have not driven after but had no other option. Agree w/review that he says strange things and has absolutely no bedside manner. Would never recommend this doctor. read more

I'm still healing from a septoplasty he did so I can't say how well he performed his tasks yet, but I can say that he never gave a rats ass about how I was doing or how I felt. He refused to answer any of my questions. Once HE thought that my problem was due to recreational drug use, his attitude changed, and he appeared to give me the minimal attention and was in a hurry to leave the room. He never called me a day after the surgery to ask me how I felt or tell me how it went. Sure, his fellow doctors and staff all love him for his cute accent and his smile, but that does not translate to his patients. See his reviews at RateMDs. Go elsewhere. read more