Dr. Arena is the best! The minute you meet her, you know you're in good hands. She manages to be no-nonsense and kind all at once. She took her time with me both times I met with her. I knew she was busy and was also scheduled to do surgery later that day but she gave me her complete attention -- she made me feel like I was her only patient. She answered all my (many) questions and I felt completely well-informed of my condition and my options. I can't recommend her enough. Her office staff is also kind and warm. read more

This review is embarrassingly overdue, as I've been seeing Dr. Arena for almost a year now. But I simply can't say enough wonderful things about her and her entire team. After receiving the news that I had developed breast cancer in early 2025, I started seeing Dr. Arena to discuss post-chemotherapy surgery options. She was nothing short of kind, cool, funny, and erudite. She performed my bilateral mastectomy in August and everything went smoothly. It was my first surgery ever, and she answered all my questions and kept me from going off the deep end with anxiety. Her team is fantastic, too. As an office, they are 100% on top of their game all the time. I never once felt like I was constantly following up with them or couldn't get them on the phone. It always felt like they were two steps ahead, keeping me on track with appointments and other things I needed to do. Can't recommend Dr. Arena enough. She is lovely and also played a major role in saving my life. It's a debt I can never repay. read more

Dr. Arena has been my doctor for 5 years. She performed my mastectomy. She has provided the best possible care. Not only is she an excellent Surgeon but a very knowledgeable and a beautiful human being .Since my first visit,I felt very confident being there. She is a wonderful person. read more

Elizabeth Arena, MD - My first office visit with Dr.Arena - Surgeons Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Dr Arena is a rarity in the medical field, especially in LA. She is whip smart and appears incredibly up to date with current studies and the ever changing standard of care, but operates humbly and with humanity/quality of life/women's health as top importance. I've been seeing her for a couple years now. I have "active" breasts that need lots of monitoring and occasional excisions and she has been an angel helping navigate ongoing decisions, with both low stress and vigilance. On a different note, I have been to most of the top BC oncologists in LA with a friend going through breast cancer and accompanied her to the first oncology consult, which was Dr Arena. Dr A spent two hours talking her through the results and next steps. She was able to relay the complicated information with accuracy, humanity and digestibility. She's a real gift to her patients. read more

I'm always happy to take the time to update my reviews of Dr. Arena. In December 2025, it will be three years since Dr. Arena performed double mastectomy surgery following my breast cancer diagnosis. Dr. Arena continues to monitor me and at each and every visit she is wise, professional, and compassionate. She never rushes through the visit, she thoughtfully makes recommendations, always exuding confidence and kindness. Though a cancer diagnosis is never a lucky one; I always feel lucky and grateful to have been referred to Dr. Arena. I will always recommend her with a gazillion stars!! read more

Dr. Arena has the best bedside manner and takes incredible care of her patients. I had the best experience with her and I couldn't recommend her more. If you need a surgeon that actually cares look no further! read more

Dr. Arena and her entire team are extraordinary. Her excellence goes far beyond surgical skill--she provided me with generous emotional support and guided me with the kind of kindness and grace every patient hopes for. There were moments when I found profound beauty in her intelligence, reflected through her calm, compassionate gaze. Special thanks to Yan, Maribel, and the rest of the medical team--your warmth and attentiveness helped me feel truly safe and cared for. read more

I can not say enough good things about Dr. Elizabeth Arina. As a very pleasant patient, I truly felt cared for every step of the way. She's not only professional and knowledgeable, but she also genuinely does everything from the heart. You can feel her warmth and dedication the moment you walk in. A special thank you to Yan, her assistant, who is absolutely incredible so kind, attentive, and always on top of everything. Together, they make you feel like you're in the best hands. l'm beyond grateful for their care! Hiwot D read more

I was originally referred to a different doctor and scheduled with Dr. Arena as a second opinion. When I saw the original doctor, his assistant docs spoke to me for 10-15 mins about the surgery and minimum options. Then the actual surgeon came in for about 5 mins. He was great but when I met Dr. Arena, I forgot all about the original doctor. Dr. Elizabeth Arena sat with me for a full appt time. 30 mins to 1hr and she explained everything so well and in detail that I finally truly understood what was happening with me and what to expect. She listened to my concerns and gave me advice on my decisions and was very open-minded, which I appreciated. So many doctors are jaded from seeing the same things over and over again that they don't consider anything fresh and new. I appreciated her knowledge and patience. Her scheduling nurse Yan was soooooo patient with me. She was amazing also! My insurance company was giving me such a hard time and it took so much back and forth and time to get approved. She never made me feel like I was annoying her. She had so much patience and was so kind. I'd recommend this doctor to anyone. I had a great experience and so far my surgery scar seems to be healing very nicely! I'm so grateful!! read more

I have been a patient of Dr Arena for many years, first to monitor me as high risk and then as my surgeon when I did get breast cancer. Her surgical skills are obviously exceptional, surpassed only by her empathy, knowledge and accessibility. During such a vulnerable time, she is exactly who you want on your team. read more

Excellent doctor and staff. Dr. Arena is vey detail-oriented & skilled surgeon. Easy to communicate. Very caring doctor and understanding patient needs. And she listens to patients. Dr. Arena always tries to help patient any way that she can. Staff at the office are very sweet and kind. They help tremendously to go through every step and procedure that you need to get done. I highly recommended Dr. Arena and her staff. read more

Dr. Elizabeth Arena and Yan her assistant go above and beyond to make a cancer patient feel alive and hopeful. Dr. Arena is true caring humanbein...a patient is not just a patient nor a number, but a human being. She actually cares, listens, and is compassionate will not take ten minutes to hear you, but an hour if needed...that's a true calling of an exceptionAl physician. I have no words, but to express my gratitude towards them. Her staff is polite, patient, respectfu, and professiomal. I wish there were more physicians and stafff as the surgery group of Los Angeles. Dr. Arena has a genuine heart of platinum. read more

Breast cancer is a long-term game, and with new research constantly updating treatment plans, it's important to have a surgeon who specializes in breast cancer. You need a doctor who listens to you and always responds to your 2 am emails first thing in the morning. (Thanks Doc!) Dr. Arena is not only an excellent surgeon, but she is also calm, understanding, and thorough. She is the nucleus of my medical team and the one I can count on to guide me on this daunting journey. I was referred to Dr. Arena by a friend who was a vascular surgeon at Cedars for almost 50 years, and it was the best and most important referral I've ever received. I didn't need to shop around, and thank goodness, because I didn't have the bandwidth or the time. I was so relieved after our first meeting because I knew I was in good hands. I am cancer-free from my first, and God willing, only surgery. Now, I am about to start the next phase to keep it from recurring, and I'm very confident knowing Dr. Arena has referred me to my other doctors because I trust her completely. I also love that she is a woman, but that wasn't a deciding factor; it's just a huge bonus. Yan, in the office, has been amazing at navigating me through the insurance process, which is the most distressing part after being told you have cancer. She and I texted often, (yes! Texted! which is my preference, btw) and when I asked her to explain what I was asking my insurance to allow, she responded with patience and kindness, explaining everything in simple terms. This is the longest Yelp review I've ever written, but I know how scared and confused I was and how fortunate I am to have been referred to Dr. Arena, so I want to pay that forward. I hope this helps in your decision process, and I wish you all the best with your breast cancer journey. And for the record, Dr. Arena also has a great sense of humor. I tend to lead with jokes, and she gets me. read more

Elizabeth Arena, MD - 2 weeks post surgery. - Surgeons Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My mom and I walked into Dr Arena's office with fear of unknown and anxiety of what's about to come! Dr Arena did an excellent job of explaining my mom's diagnosis to us! I have worked with a lot of physicians myself and I would consider Dr Arena to be extremely knowledgeable, patient, and with amazing bedside manner. She listens to her patient's concerns and addresses all the questions and concerns. My mom is definitely lucky to have been cared for by Dr Arena. We are forever grateful to her and her amazing medical staff. We appreciate you all very much! read more

Dr. Arena is brilliant, unassuming, personable, and kind - the best combination of attributes you could find in a surgeon (and amazingly hard to find!) read more

I had the privilege of visiting Doctor Arena's office during my battle with cancer this last year. She and her entire staff are incredibly kind, attentive, organized and professional. I saw a lot of specialists, and this was by far my easiest experience. I wish I didn't go through this battle with breast cancer, but at least I felt at ease in her hands during my surgery. read more

Fantastic doctor! I came in like a wrecking ball in need of quick medical advice. Dr. Arena listened to all of my concerns and put together a plan that worked for us and carefully explained her reasoning. She followed up with me on everything and took the time to call me and explain it all. read more

I would like to take this opportunity and Thank to Dr Arena who is Doctor of my Mother. My mother had a surgery with Dr Arena about 3 weeks ago. Dr Arena is the best Doctor ‍ ever or I would say the best Doctor on this earth planet. My mom praise her every single day. I haven't met with Dr Arena, but I am very impressed and fan of Dr Arena just by listening about her from my mom. We have very few minds in this world like Dr Arena. May God keep shower of blessings on Dr Arena she is the hope of people who are suffering from Cancer Once again Thank you Dr Arena for your thoughts and efforts towards my mom (Khanum Mahmood) read more

I had a really great experience. When she came to see me at the start of the surgery, I was awed by how steady her hands were. She is down to earth, a great and kind communicator and has no ego. She is open minded and a caring human. I highly recommend Dr. Arena. read more

We are extremely grateful and fortunate to have such knowledgeable, caring and professional doctor for treating our mother for her breast cancer. Dr. Arena is so caring, she explains everything very thoroughly and patient with all of our questions. She is everything we look for in a doctor and beyond. The front desk staff are always so courteous and friendly. What a wonderful team. Thank you! read more

Horrible doctor went to her for my breast and she said everything is fine nothing wrong with it but I was telling her I have pain she made me sound like I'm crazy .Then I went to my gynecologist and he said see a surgeon there is a problem and what do you know I had a problem and I just had a surgery and they removed something and plus all that there office staff had no clue about health insurance and how it works . Horrible service all together. This review is not inaccurate. Just because someone has no cancer that doesn't mean their condition is not real or needs treatment. My surgery was not unnecessary. It was instrumental in my healing process. I have every right to share my experience on this platform. It doesn't shine the brightest light on you when you come here belittling a patients experience. read more

I was recommended to Dr Arena by my gynecologist, as soon as I met her I knew I'm in the right place. Dr Arena is a very compassionate and empathetic. She provided me with choices and helped me get to the right one for me. She is an outstanding human being beyond being a doctor, she called me while on her vacation to tell me the results on my test, because she knew I was very nervous. While I was out of the country she answered all my concerns and tried to help even from far. Dr Arena addresses all your needs while considering your feelings, she is very attentive and genuinely caring. Her staff is incredibly caring as well from Liz to Mayra and everyone else. Very highly recommended and appreciated !!!!! read more

Dr. Elizabeth Arena is the godsend I had previously begun to think was never going to happen to me. I felt like I was at the end of my rope, emotionally & physically, frustrated by surgeons who weren't listening to my concerns, questions, and desires both as a cancer patient and as a female who was facing both a change to my health and a change in my body's appearance. I had already consulted with 3 other breast surgeons to no real avail until a very gracious & understanding radiation oncologist referred me to Elizabeth (and fortified by a gifted plastic surgeon who often operates with Dr. Arena). One phone call was made on a Friday night by the radiation oncologist, and Dr. Arena had me come in to consult within 4 days. She made time for me, quickly. And then it was as if the sunshine had broken through the rain clouds. Seriously. Everything started looking up for the better, and surgery was scheduled for 10 days later. I had only wished that Dr. Arena was the first breast surgeon I had consulted with, which would have spared me a lot of time & angst. Ultimately, though, I do believe that everything happens for a reason. My meeting with her was meant-to-be. This was divine timing. I was incredibly confident in her from the first 10 minutes in my meeting with her. I had found one of the most intrinsic parts of my team. And it has made all the difference in the world. No one tells you when you get a cancer diagnosis that your opinion on your surgical options and course of treatment matters. Take it from me: it does matter. You matter. Dr. Arena knows that you - and all that you think & feel - matter. The wrong doctors will tell you your opinions aren't valid to your case or will simply give you no room to make an informed decision. They may take forever to get in to see, too. The right doctors will listen to your opinions and give you options, empowering you and making you feel like part of the plan. And they will see the urgency in your case. Too often, patients can feel like they aren't being heard or respected. And when it comes to breast cancer, in my experience at least, I wanted to feel included in the plan of action. And I was. Dr. Arena did just that. And she did it in a friendly, down-to-earth yet very professional manner. I felt safe with her. She personally answers emails and will call you when needed. She very diligently studies your case and your images and health history. Her technique is flawless (I, personally, had a nipple, areola, and skin sparing double mastectomy. You can barely even detect the incisions. And she got all the cancer and tissue cleanly & carefully out. She is meticulous). She follows up with you enough to make sure you fully recover and is never more than a phone call away should any questions or concerns arise. And her office staff are so friendly and lovely and knowledgeable. Dr. Arena is more than a surgeon. She is a caring, compassionate, personable female who actually takes the time to listen and very much incorporate you into your care process so that you can achieve the desired outcome and face it with a winning spirit and get your health back! I still can't believe my great good fortune in having a Yale trained surgeon like her get me through the most harrowing time of my life. She was the light at the end of what seemed like a long, dark tunnel. In my opinion, Dr. Arena isn't just a rarity in her field but in medicine as a whole. Not every surgeon has the "people skills" Elizabeth does. Between her training, her credentials, her expertise, her experience, her gifted hands, her flawless technique, her sense of humor, and her willingness to hear you out, and her need to follow through on your health & your care, I would honestly give her credit for being the absolute best breast surgeon Los Angeles has to offer. I mean that very much. I am very honored to have been her patient and so fortunate to be cancer free because of her. Thank you, Elizabeth. You saved my life in more ways than you know. read more

Dr. Elizabeth Arena is the BEST doctor I've ever had. I wish she was my primary doctor, but unfortunately she is not. She made me feel at ease every time we spoke. She is very empathetic and compassionate. She is an amazing human being she answers emails in a timely fashion, she is very consistent and thorough! I wish my primary doctor was a clone of Dr. Arena. Her office staff is very professional and nice you can't even get mad when they say oh! We do not validate lol! But overall amazing office and team! #womenpower read more

Dr. Elizabeth Arena was referred to me by my oncologist. Dr. Arena has a long list of impressive credentials, and I feel very lucky to have her as my breast surgeon. She is very highly skilled, and the surgery results were great under the circumstances. She is down to earth, compassionate, and takes the time necessary at every appointment to ensure we address everything, including my concerns. At my very first appointment I told her not to pay attention to my crying, I have "white coat syndrome". She left the room for me to put on a gown, and when she returned she was no longer wearing her white coat. This speaks loudly to the level of compassion she has for her patients. She instantly made me feel less stress and better able to handle such difficult news. The staff is always pleasant and helpful, and always on top of paperwork in a timely manner. I tell everyone about Dr. Arena. She is truly an amazing doctor as well as an amazing person. If you are in need of a breast surgeon, go see her. You will be so glad you did. read more

The front office displayed remarkable ineptitude and directly lied to my face. They said my insurance was accepted when that wasn't the case at all. In all my years of seeing different doctors at Cedars, I have never, not once, have seen a doctor out of network. So when I discovered a problem that required immediate medical advice from an Oncologist, and after looking at many doctors, I called the office of Dr. Elizabeth Arena to book my appointment and asked the lady if the offices accepted my insurance, which she replied, "YES." On the day of my appointment, I walked in, briefly approached by the lady in the front and she asked if she could photocopy my insurance card, I filled out several forms, asked politely AGAIN, "Do you accept my insurance?" Her reply, "YES!" Well I was informed 7 months later that your office didn't accept my insurance which lead to a massive bill. After multiple calls to reach and speak with the doctor I was just given the same abrupt and curt response again and again. So why would the front office tell me twice that my insurance was accepted which clearly wasn't the case? And why would I choose a doctor out of network, knowing the bill would be outrageous when they're are plenty of other doctors at Cedars to choose from that are in my network? read more

Dr. Arena is a knowledgeable, talented, skilled doctor with a genuine caring bedside manner. She is the most skilled breast surgeon around. I felt safe and in great hands during a scary double mastectomy. She may be young but has the talent and skills of a doctor twice her age. He office and staff are just as great, professional but personable. I can't say enough great things about her. She is a lifesaver. read more

I saw Dr. Arena for a series of visits over the course of 3 months. My experience could have been very stressful and scary with a different doctor. But Dr. Arena was calm, communicative, and made sure I understood and knew what to expect from every stage of the diagnostic process. There was never a moment I felt unclear or unsure about what was happening and why. And if I had, she and her staff make themselves available and accessible for any kind of question or concern that may arise. This process took place over the holidays, and Dr. Arena made a point to email me on Christmas Eve with important test results, making sure I didn't have any questions. I did end up having a small surgical procedure with Dr. Arena, and she is incredible skilled and professional. I'm so grateful to have been referred to her. read more

Dr Arena is a gem. I was referred to her by my primary care physician after feeling a lump in my breast. I decided not to return to my former breast center after an unpleasant experience, long wait times and lack of responsiveness. Dr Arena's office squeezed me in for a same day appointment. She is thoughtful, kind, personable, extremely credentialed and experienced, and has superior communication skills/bedside manner. She returns calls herself and takes the time to get to know you as a person. Her office is lovely - as is her staff. Calls were answered and returned promptly and professionally. I subsequently needed a lumpectomy and breast revision surgery. Dr Arena coordinated all logistics with my plastic surgeon over several calls between them, and took the time to be across town to perform my surgery with him at his surgery center, enabling me to have only 1 day of surgery rather than 2 separate operations. Pathology reports were shared without me having to facilitate. My plastic surgeon also commented on how much he enjoyed working with her. Within 2 weeks of finding the lump, it was all behind me. I've healed beautifully and feel extremely grateful to have found Dr Arena. Doctors are only as good as they are when you truly need them, and she's the best. She really deserves 10 stars. read more

Dr. Elizabeth Arena is gracious, compassionate, and patient. She is a gifted, brilliant surgeon, and a remarkable human being. Albeit, I opted not to undergo a lumpectomy (have numerous medical issues), Dr. Arena allowed me to take my time to make the best decision. Hence, during my consultation, Dr. Arena made me feel comfortable and answered all of my questions. Likewise, Dr. Arena personally called me to discuss my genetic testing results. Words cannot express how great she is. She is a dedicated physician who really cares about the well being of her patients. Notwithstanding, I want to personally thank her for treating patients who have Medi-Cal. The fact that a doctor of her caliber accepts Medi-Cal is demonstrative of her generosity, empathy, and selflessness, which is truly commendable. As such, I am eternally grateful for her kindness. read more

Dr. Arena is a wonderful doctor. She has great bedside manner, and is very knowledgeable as well. I recommend her 100%!