Dr. Karen Lee is an outstanding physician and surgeon. Literally world class, and I would recommend her highly to anyone (and I do not take such things lightly, I would never recommend anyone without knowing beyond 100% within myself that this person is outstanding at what they do). Dr Karen Lee delivered my son, and I have continued to use her office and services ever since then. My experience during my pregnancy was outstanding, I could not have conceived of a better experience (pun intended). The same applies to my subsequent experience. I have recommended many friends to her office in the past decade, and all have been very grateful to me for the outstanding recommendation, and have subsequently called me to thank me for the referral. Not only is Dr Lee extremely knowledgable and proficient at what she does, but she is also an outstanding surgeon. I recently had to have an emergency surgery due to a very painful fibroid tumor and was in and out her office many times in the past couple of months. They always managed to fit me in and take care of me, irrespective of how busy they were and the staff was always more than courteous. (They really went out of their way to make sure all the i's were dotted and t's were crossed with medical insurance and everything else) Another factor that is indicative of what an outstanding practice she runs, is that the same nurses who helped me deliver my son are still there with her, and greet me like old friends. At the end of last week, I was scheduled for emergency Laparoscopic surgery. Although my procedure ended late in the day, by christmas I was feeling well enough to attend an annual christmas party which I have not missed in 15 years. The folks who I did tell what procedure I had had 5 days ago, were shocked to hear that I had had even had surgery 5 days prior, let alone such a major procedure. I am now on day 7 post-operative and just returned from her office, where as usual I had a warm and welcoming experience (not that I would ever expect that from a physician, they are there to provide a medical service and competence is primary as a concern). I quite literally feel better 7 days post-operative than I did going in. I am grateful and thankful to have such an outstanding physician and surgeon and to be feeling this good again. Thank you Karen Lee, for your outstanding medical knowledge and skills and for the fact that I now feel I have my health back. All this being said, I recommend Dr. Karen Lee highly, and would do so to anyone in person as well. It is truly amazing what modern technology and a great physician/surgeon and team can accomplish these days. read more

This is my first pregnancy and from my very first appointment it has been a pleasant experience. Dawn (the receptionist) has always greeted me by first name and tries to work with my schedule in getting me in every month/week. She has always settled any anxiety I have had by simple conversation from her experiences as a mom to sports chatter. I can always count on a reminder call from Dawn or Chantelle the day before my appointment. Katie, Soria, and Holly are very caring and compassionate, addressing any questions/concerns I may have. As a new, soon to be mom I had no idea what to expect during the 40-42 weeks of pregnancy and at every appointment I was informed of what was normal vs abnormal and when to call if I had a concern. It was reiterated to me from Dawn, Chantelle, Katie, Soria, Holly and Dr. Lee that if I ever had a concern or THOUGHT something was wrong to call the office no matter what. In fact, I will never forget them telling me, "We would rather have a call from you and everything be ok than not have a call and risk the health of you and your baby." This was very reassuring and made me feel at ease. The few times I did call, they did not hesitate to either get me in immediately or help me understand what was occurring over the phone. You may wait a little longer to see Katie or Dr. Lee but I can understand why, they both take their time with you and give you their undivided, uninterrupted attention; Addressing every question you might have. Each month they walked me through what to expect for the following month. I have never felt rushed or that I was just "another patient." The entire staff, including Dr. Lee, are straight forward and honest. If you ask them a question, they will give you the answer without beating around the bush. I appreciate this, knowing that they are there to help rather than to sugar coat the situation. When I discussed my birthing plan with them, they were open minded, respected my decisions and have since worked with me on this plan throughout my entire pregnancy without pressure. My original OB/GYN of 8+ years is no longer delivering babies- this is why I was referred to Dr. Lee and I could not have asked for a better Doctor and office. I plan to stay with Dr. Lee's office even after I deliver my baby this week. read more

Dr. Lee has been my doctor since 1992. She helped me deliver both of my children, one by c-section, the other a natural v-back delivery (which was one of the best experiences of my life). Both my children and I remained healthy and well-cared for through both pregnancies and births. Whenever I've needed extra information, Dr. Lee or her nurse have always provided it, either by phone call or a follow-up visit. Never once have I felt neglected or mistreated in any way. My sister is also an OB in Boston and has always concurred with what Dr. Lee recommends. Also, I am a former medical malpractice attorney and know my way around doctors and offices, am familiar with the appropriate standard of care and she has always exceeded all my expectations. Dr. Lee has helped refer me to various specialists for mammograms and other issues and I've also had good luck with the facilities and doctors she refers me to. I've referred friends to Dr. Lee who have also had very good experiences. My former next door neighbor's daughter also went to Dr. Lee and also had a c-section. We both agree Dr. Lee is an excellent surgeon. She also listens to patients and agreed to my decision to have a v-back, gave me space to deliver my child naturally to avoid a second c-section, and she worked well with my doula. All in all, I have nothing but positive things to say. She has my respect, admiration, and gratitude. read more

Clean, comfortable office. Dawn at the front desk is very friendly and helpful. Katie, the Nurse Practitioner, is awesome. I found Dr. Lee to be impersonal but efficient & effective. At about 7 weeks pregnant, I came in with bleeding & pain. Dr. Lee showed me on the ultrasound that it appeared there had been 2 babies and now only one. Her matter-of-fact demeanor felt cold to me since I just found out I'd had a miscarriage, but she was not rude, and I don't expect my doctors to have me crying on their shoulders, just doing their job so this was okay for me. She & Katie found the baby to be breech 2 weeks before the due date, and Dr. Lee agreed to do a version (turn the baby by pushing on the belly) rather than C-section at my request. She said that works about half of the time. I don't know if all/most OBs are willing to try versions, but I was thankful she offered an alternative to C-section. The version was unpleasant, but it worked. Competent and good doctor, but not warm & fuzzy if you care about that. Katie is warm & fuzzy, and I see her for birth control info. I'm very self-conscious talking about that kind of stuff, but she makes it so comfortable! She was also very honest about how birth control really works and understands my concerns and works with them. read more

Thing is, it is likely benign, statistically, but if you are that 1/10 of 1%, you are 100% fighting cancer. Look at the numbers, and consider how health care wiil devolve over the next decade with price controls in place for Dr.s and RNs, everyone but the lawyers. I have been with Dr. Lee on and off for over 20 years. (off when I moved to other cities) Dr. Lee is classically British. I don't need warmth, I need facts, and she, Sariah, and Katie are armed with them. I appreciate the matter of fact approach. I've had my two babies delivered by her at Scripps, it was a terrifying for the first, as it was the first, and ended up as an emergency c-section. She commandeered the OR, and saved the day. It's a two way conversation, I ask questions, a test may be benign, and if i'm not feeling confident I get another opinion, or even two. Dr. Lee is telling you the facts, it is probably benign, you are over 40 and your two deliveries were difficult, do not try to push for a third child etc. -- it is up to us as overseers of our health to take the facts and act on them. I don't want an alarmist. I want facts. I am sorry you have/had cancer, and I will pray for you, it is beyond frightening. read more

BEST OBGYN EVER!!! Dr. Lee has been my Doctor for over 5 years and i have never been taken care of better! I have a complicated medical history and have had 2 emergency surgeries and Dr. Lee has been more than thorough when it came to all of this. Considering my medical history and bleeding disorder, i was very scared and nervous when I found out that I was pregnant for the first time. Her confidence and skill made me feel so comfortable that it was all going to work out just fine. She kept in close contact with my other physicians to ensure quality of care, which made a world of difference. She delivered my first child without any complications on July 9th 2010. We are now expecting our 2nd child and have NO reservations that everything is going to go just as smooth as the last time. The office staff is very competent and has always been there for me when i needed anything. The efficiency of the entire office is remarkable. I will not ever go to another OBGYN!!! Dr. Lee is a brilliant physician and I couldnt have asked for anyone more qualified than her. read more

O.k. Move to a new city gotta find a new doc right? Well Thankfully I have one down successfully on the first try! I went to the Solana Beach location on 550 Lomas Santa Fe and I have to say impressed. great location. Beautiful hardwood floors not that I am a neat freak but I have been to many Doctors offices that look less than spotless and I was surprised by the style and warm environment here. the doctor is English and has a charming accent seems very well rounded and bright. They answered all my questions and made me feel like they have some unity there and like their jobs. it's a good. Down home small business atmosphere without the corporate cold feeling my old doctors office had. I have no complaints. I recommend them to anyone without reservation based on my experience. Off in search of more 5 star experiences. I love Solana Beach! read more

From the moment you walk through the door of Dr. Lee's office the experience is exceptional!! Their wonderful receptionist Dawn, is very warm, friendly, caring woman who makes you feel comfortable from the start. The entire staff at Dr. Lee's are so down to earth, friendly, and caring group of people. They make you feel comfortable and at ease immediately. Dr. Lee is exceptional. She is open, kind, very sweet and extremely easy to talk to. So often doctors put on airs... and the staff members are too busy to take the time to listen to your needs. This is not the case at Dr. Lee's. She and her staff are highly trained professionals at the top of their fields. Whom I have complete confidence in. I have referred my friends and family. I cannot say enough about this Doctor and her wonderful staff. read more

I just started seeing this Doctor who is now located in Solana Beach so someone needs to update this..but anyways... I love the location and the staff was pleasant. Parking was full so that was a little frustrating but I have to say that the Doctor was really kind to me and put me at ease with the situation I am dealing with after having been treated badly elsewhere and made to feel as If I had done something wrong is was great to be treated like a human being, respected and actually listened to for once. I would and will recommend this Doctor to anyone who is looking. I am not a complainer or a prasier in general but when you finally find a place that knows how to treat people right I figure its better to share that if I can help some people avoid the embarassment I felt elsewhere... read more

I'm also confused by the negative reviews of Dr. Lee. She and her staff have been wonderful to me. I was trying to get pregnant and decided to start with simple IUI. Dr. Lee helped me. She and her staff went as far as to go into the office on a Saturday so I could have my IUI at the right time. They had to bring there families in with them as it was normally their day off. Really!!! Does that sound like someone who is cold and uncaring? I am 44. I got pregnant and had a missed misscariage at 11 weeks. Dr Lee was so compasionate and kind. I'm not sure what else a person could ask for from their OBGYN. I have waited a bit in her office, but never more than about 20 minutes. Her staff at the front desk have always been warm and friendly. read more

I have been going to Dr Karen Lee for close to 10 years. My experience has been exceptional. Dawn is the friendliest down to earth real person one can hope to be greeted by. Obviously when you are going to this office you can be a bit nervous or on edge. The staff puts you at ease immediately. Dawn will chat you up while you wait and remembers your kids names and what has been going on in your life. This is rare at a doctors office. Dr Lee is amazing. She is honest professional and doesn't hide anything from you. I like the office staff and credentials so much I referred my daughter in law who just gave us our first grandson. Anyone who is looking for a warm and friendly environment from the minute you open the door to having a healthy should read more

So far so good. I went here for my first visit regarding hormones. More like Boremones because I am bored to death with Hormone issues but they need to be dealt with lol so... Nice staff, easy parking. The Physicians Assistant really impressed me, she clearly knows her stuff and the manager helped me jump my dead car battery! LOL stupid me left my lights on..but I felt she was very nice and that was really over the top kind and unexpected. I thought she would just let me wait there for triple A but she helped..hooked up the cables and got it started..and was pleasantly sweet about it. I go back again in two weeks to discuss labs. Hope they provide some answers so I can get these hormones back in line! read more

I think this office is great!! I was recommended to Dr. Lee by a friend who has been going to her for a long time. The office was pretty busy, but I was immediately checked in by Dawn the receptionist who was very friendly. I didn't wait very long and the appointment was quick. All the staff smiled as I walked through to the exam room and Dr. Lee was very nice. I loved her accent, and she answered all of my questions in detail, unlike most docs. I am very pleased with my experience and will be coming back AND bringing my daughter!! The only thing I would suggest is updating the decor a bit, but I will take a good doctor over perfect wallpaper anyday!! read more

Dr . Lee and her staff are amazing! She has been my Doctor for 18 plus years! I have two amazing children thanks to Dr. Lee and her expertise, Had it not been for her I would not have had successful pregnancies. She and her staff have always been wonderful, informative and very thoughtful. They all care about the welfare of the patient and the babies they bring into the world. It is refreshing to have a doctor who truly cares about the patient and the outcome. I am past having babies now but Dr. Lee is still my doctor who I can count on to manage my female health moving forward. Lisa L. A. read more

I just went here for the first time in July 2011. I was very stressed out do to what another doctor told me was Pre menopause symptoms. I was so stressed and in disbelief. He wanted me to start hormones, I was overwhelmed at 40 that this could already be happening. I went to Dr. Lee for a second opinion. Turns out my hormone levels were find and It was my thyroid that was out of whack! I am not in menopause.! Dr. Lee was very kind and understanding. Unlike the other doctor she sent me for a blood test not just some odd in office saliva testing. She is classy, savvy, and most importantly accurate read more

This is a follow up to my previous review of Karen Lee, MD Dr. Lee wouldn't return my call when I had an abnormal mammogram and She had a nurse call me to tell me that I had to make an appointment to see her to discuss results. I then drove to see my old OBGYN in Los Angeles. My LA doctor wasn't comfortable with the findings of "probably benign" and I went for a biopsy at Cedar Sinai. I was diagnosed with breast cancer. THANK GOD, I didn't listen to Dr. Lee What kind of doctor doesn't return patients call when they have an abnormal mammogram? read more

I just needed to write an update. I was in a battle with my insurance to get them to pay for my medication and if this office had not helped me I would likely still be without it. They took the time to do a prior authorization for me which I greatly appreciated and no other office would do for me (my primary care) because they just wanted to save time by switching me to something else without caring this is the medication I wanted that worked best for my body. Thank you especially to Soraya and Jaime for being so patient and kind. read more

I just saw her for the 1st time last week after being super freaked out by an unfaithful partner and her staff was kind and caring. They worked me in which was not easy I am sure, I got a call today confirming my results and everything is great. I recommend her highly. Dr. Lee was kind and seemed genuinely concerned. Also her front desk was nice to me about the billing issues as I forgot a copy of my card that day and they helped me look it up online. Safe choice ladies. Everything is very professional and confidential. read more

I really like this place. I have some ongoing female issues abd U am happy I found them. I came on a friends advice and I am glad I did. Warm staff, very nice Physicians Assistant that totally "gets" me and is helping me fine tune my birthcontrol pills once and for all. I would recommend to anyone. Not a huge fan of the no weekend appointments, hence 4 stars out of 5. Otherwise I love them! read more