Lewis Leng's scheduling practices are a joke. I mean how do you end up canceling an appointment three times in a row last minute?? Do you know how frustrating that is to re-arrange your schedule three times to try to make one appointment? He was supposed to see my mom for a tumor. (Thankfully, it was benign, which we already knew, but protocol is to have the diagnosis confirmed by a neurosurgeon.) But our appointments were triply postponed because of so-called emergency surgeries. When we finally were able to see him, I questioned him about his scheduling, and he simply stated that it was the nature of neurosurgery. If he doesn't operate on a patient right away, "that patient will die." (His very words.) He never followed that assertion with the only statement which could possibly justify this urgency: There is a shortage of neurosurgeons (either in the Bay Area or his medical group). I pressed him again, and he never said it. So I suspected it wasn't the case. One of my best friends is also a surgeon in the Bay Area, so I'm pretty familiar with the demands on a surgeon's schedule. True he isn't a neurosurgeon, but he obviously knows those who are and the field as a whole. When I told my friend what my mom had to endure and asked him if this were typical of neurosurgery, my friend immediately answered, "He shouldn't be scheduling patients to be seen in clinic by him and being on-call in the hospital at the same time." Exactly! Just have one of your fellow neurosurgeons cover the ER, while you take care of your appointments, like other surgeons do! My friend also brought up another valid possibility. He said that since my mom wouldn't require surgery and Leng's insurance reimbursement would be minimal compared to a surgery, it's not unreasonable to believe that he was uninterested in seeing her...and that Leng "probably has his practice workflow designed to max income" to quote my friend. I was appalled by this possibility. But it makes tragic sense that this is how some doctors operate (pun unintended). And it makes total sense to me that that's likely how Lewis Leng operates. Maybe if you are "fortunate" enough to require neurosurgery, Leng will see you at your appointed time. Otherwise you are probably "out of luck." I asked to meet the manager of the department to make a complaint. To my surprise, she not only listened to my complaint, but asked if I could put it in writing because she was tired of having to deal with all the patients who had the same complaint! (And I did exactly as she suggested.) So if you have a choice, I highly recommend you seek another neurosurgeon. Even if you do need surgery, you have to wonder whose best interest would Leng have in mind. Yours...or his? read more

Lewis Z Leng MD - Why a pic of his door? It's a metaphor: The door to Lewis Leng's office is more often closed than it is open. - Neurologist Near Me - Novato, California

This is a long overdue review for Dr. Lewis Leng, who performed my cerebellopontine angle meningioma surgery. When I first met Dr. Leng, I was overwhelmed and anxious after discovering a brain tumor in an incredibly delicate area. right beside the nerves for hearing, balance, and facial movement. From the beginning, he explained everything clearly, answered every question, and guided me through the options with patience and respect. When the tumor grew and surgery became necessary, I felt confident I was in the best hands. During the operation, Dr. Leng worked millimeter by millimeter near critical nerves, preserving my hearing, facial function, and long-term quality of life. His skill, judgment, and care made all the difference. Today I am healing, hearing more clearly, regaining sensation, and living fully, a result I credit to his expertise and thoughtful decision-making. I am deeply grateful to Dr. Leng and recommend him with the highest appreciation and respect. read more

INITITAL: Bedside manner excellent. When you have a tumor in your brain, you do want your doctor to be emphatic but reassuring of course. Dr Leng gave us enough info to decide what we plan to do. November 2024 The 2nd set of MRI images with explanation was very helpful in helping us decide immediately. UPDATE: I did have my surgery with Dr Leng and his team, Dr Mandpe. Dr Betty, NP Christina, and I new the RN's name until I forgot it. It was excellent experience from surgical team to Recovery RN Ashley and ICU RN Stephanie. I not only felt important but the post op care and visits were spot on individualized attention from everyone. December 2024 read more

This past June I celebrated my two year anniversary of life-changing spine surgery. I'm way overdue to share high praise for my very skillful and caring neurosurgeon and his team. Dr Lewis Leng was the third surgeon I met for a consultation, having tried everything I could do to avoid spine surgery for severe lumbar spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis. I had reached the point where I couldn't walk down the block without bending in half several times to try to open up my lower back to ease the pain. When I called to schedule my first appointment, my MRI was requested in advance. I was amazed how quickly Dr Leng made time to fit me in (on his noon hour!) saying he could imagine I was in a lot of pain after reviewing my MRI. At the first visit, Dr Leng took time to explain my diagnoses and treatment options, and warmly welcomed questions and discussion. After another visit, I decided to take the plunge. My surgery was all set for March 2020 -just as the pandemic lockdown took effect. It was postponed twice again, but finally went ahead on June 16th, 2020: TLIF (transforaminal interbody lumbar fusion, with a minimally invasive side approach) for severe lumbar spinal stenosis and spondylolithesis. The surgery went very well (I heard I was on the table for 7 hours), followed by two overnights in the hospital, and months of helpful physical therapy at CPMC Davies. Thanks to Dr Leng's superlative surgical expertise, the surgery has proved to be a big success. I never expected to be doing this well after spinal fusion. My back is now pain-free and I've fully regained my ability to bicycle, walk long distances, dance and even climb scaffolding and ladders for home improvement projects! Dr Leng, his NP Christina and MA Jean work as a very effective and caring team from the very first consultation through the surgery, and post-op follow-ups. I'm so grateful to Dr Leng for restoring my mobility and well-being! read more

I cannot believe the one star review left by a previous irate individual obviously him/her/they/she whatever pronoun you want to use has a room temperature IQ if that. Dr. Leng is a NEUROSURGEON not a PLASTIC surgeon which plastic surgery is the cash cow of medicine not neurosurgery. The majority of plastic cases are elective , cash pay. On the other hand neurosurgery is not elective. This surgeon spends over half his life in school to provide life saving surgeries to pts only to have a nasty ignorant individual c a so called doctor friend leave a one star review. If you were provided info that there is not a lack of neurosurgeons I would recheck my sources. If you or your family had a stroke or brain tumor uhh yes look up what a stroke is and the different types of strokes you would gladly give up your appt and be thankful you were not that pt needing this NEUROSURGEON to save their life. It is clear your case was not an emergency or your a-- would have been admitted through the ER and in the OR stat. Instead you are complaining about rearranging your schedule well at least you could run your mouth and complain and rearrange appts. This review is written by a previous pt who also worked as a Registered Nurse who had the misfortune of a botched surgery by another NEUROSURGEON and this NEUROSURGEON--- Dr. Leng saved my life!! I was on my way to living as a quadraplegic my cervical graft had fallen out due to the previous NEUROSURGEON shaving off too much of my vertebrae resulting in an inadequate fit of the graft between my vertebrae which fell out caused a CSF leak and was lodged in my spinal cord. Not to worry though the prior NEUROSURGEON elderly Caucasion doctor is retired now. Dr Leng and his skill saved my life and allowed me to be present when my son graduated from USF in nursing and place his graduate nursing pin on him from standing I was standing and walking c my son not in a wheelchair he is , now entering a nurse anesthestic program and he gave me my life to continue to watch my young daughter grow up . If you have to wait because he has an emergency you never know if that emergency case one day will be you, your family or friends. Before trashing a physician do some soul searching please. read more

Excellent specialist as I had a spinal fusion operation which fortunately was uneventful by itself. Following day the big discomfort and pain began, of course, and it was totally rough as one can imagine even with this being a 'minimally invasive surgery'. It's still major surgery so don't believe the talk that you'll be up and walking immediately. I could barely manage to stand upright! I had to be assisted while still in the hospital and for weeks at home. Immediately could feel a bit of strange numb feeling on the other side of surgery area. I was brushed off, however, and was told that that was not due to the surgery at all. I also wasn't given 100% information prior to the surgery as to the details of what the surgery itself entailed which I found to be quite poor. I had no idea that human cadaver bone shavings would be used. Found out on my own post surgery from Dr. Google. I wished I had known beforehand because it's just unsettling. All I was told was what a breeze this surgery would be, that I'd be walking without pain immediately the day after. Other than the extreme discomfort I found out from reading more about the procedure that other areas nearby could be stressed and affected, that even the screws can break (they typically do not break but it can happen resulting in more surgery to repair). All in all, the surgery helped the original affected area, but now the numb area is still around. Therefore, I suggest a bit more empathy about what a patient is feeling post surgery as well as doing thorough communication pre surgery as to what the entire surgery would entail both during and for the future. read more

No one wants to have to see a neurosurgeon. I went to him for a second opinion and he was so helpful and h=gave me such detailed and honest information. He made teh whole situation easier for me. I hope you never need him, but if you do... he is your best bet! read more

I was recently seen and treated by Dr Leng at CPMC in San Francisco. He listens and takes in whatever you have to say. He is kind and gentle. I didn't get the particular intervention that I had wanted, but truly it was what I needed. He is a good man. And a great doctor. read more

I was recently diagnosed with a meningioma that was causing grand-mal seizures, putting me in the ER. The initial diagnosis was on a Thursday afternoon. Dr. Leng operated on Saturday morning. The surgery itself involved opening a 2 inch square hole in the back of my head and removing the tumor using tools guided by an MRI image that was previously taken. It took about 4-5 hours, but I don't remember a thing after the anesthesiologist introduced herself. I was up and able to walk around the next morning. By mid-day Monday, I was only needing Tylenol for the remaining pain and was gladly discharged from the hospital. To be clear, I was able to leave the hospital a day and a half after Dr Leng operated on my brain! The diagnosis of "brain tumor" sounds apocalyptic, but Dr Leng's manner was very reassuring and he answered the laundry list of questions from myself and my family with patience and good humor. I would wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone needing neurosurgery and while I hope I don't need his services again, he would be my first choice if I did. Additionally, the nursing staff at the California Pacific Medical Center -- Davies Campus (where Dr Leng practices) are awesome. I stayed in the north tower ICU/stepdown (4th floor) for four nights and all of the nurses assigned to me were caring, attentive and had an excellent sense of humor that helped put everyone -myself, my family, visitors-- at ease. When I made requests like changing pain medication, they listened and were able to quickly accommodate me. Like Dr Leng, I hope I don't need their services again, but if I do, I know I'll be in good hands. read more

The need for spinal surgery is not ever really good news. But Dr. Leng explained the pros and cons very clearly, and answered all our questions in full detail. He took enough time with us, and when we realized my loved one needed surgery *now*, he took the time to clear his calendar and performed the surgery. I was the caregiver, and he let me know exactly what to expect and do. I also want to mention that the Davies nursing staff seemed to respect and like him, which makes the professional care team at the hospital hum along nicely too. We were there 3 days. It is great that CPMC and Dr. Leng have invested in new technology, and a process that Dr. Leng brought from the East Coast. My sweetie is good as new, thanks to Dr. Leng. Here is a money-saving tip: Take a pic of any back brace, etc., and get the same exact item for half the price online. read more

Took my several years to write this. Hands down best neurosurgeon. I worked as RN for twenty six years prior to my " Botched" anterior cervical surgery c3/c4 performed by an elderly Caucasion neurosurgeon at Los Gatos El Camino Hospital. Post op I suffered a CSF leak, severe headaches , weakness in extremities, etc. I was on the path to living life as a quadriplegic. I followed up numerous times c the original neurosurgeon and multiple visits to the ER EL Camino Hospital located in Los Gatos and Mountain View. This neurosurgeon is truly a gift from above. He performed a complicated cervical spine surgery . I would not even entertain the idea of anyone other than Dr. Leng performing neurosurgery. Besides having wonderful bedside manner he has exceptional surgical skill. Thank you to Dr. Leng and all the wonderful staff at CPMC. read more

Dr. Leng is the rare blend of being an exceptional surgeon and kind to his patients. He treated my mother following a stage IV cancer diagnosis that spread to her brain. She would have succumbed to the brain tumors within weeks of diagnosis, however, Dr. Leng was able to successfully remove the danger and she went on to live an additional 19 months. He was patient, kind, and thorough. He is excellent at what he does. If you are searching Yelp right now, like I did, it's because you are likely searching for confirmation that he is a great surgeon. Rest assured, you will be in good hands. read more

I have a rare condition that necessitated a brain biopsy, never news you want to hear. But luckily my neurologist recommended Lewis Leng, who is a surgeon at the top of his game and then some. He uses all the latest computer guided technology to assist him in his precision. I could not be more happy with the result. I've had very little pain and it is astounding how good I feel just 24 hours after surgery. I can not recommend Dr. Leng more highly. read more

If you want a doctor that is thorough and actually cares about you as a person, go to Dr Leng!!!! I have struggled with chronic headaches for over 5 yrs. He actually took time to examine me, listen to ALL of my symptoms and give me explanations of everything. He was kind and very warm. He came up with a plan and I feel relief! read more

Dr. Leng is the absolute best surgeon there is. The 5 stars is an understatement of his ability to save lives. From the genesis of my husband's consultation to the day of surgery, he guided us through a scary process and eased our minds with his confidence, intelligence, and support. Dr. Leng was honest about the procedure, all the details of what would happen during, and what the outcome would be from a microdiscectomy of the L5-S1 bulge of the spinal root nerve. Immediately after surgery, Dr. Leng greeted me in the waiting room, with a kind smile, and told me how everything went. He advised that the surgery was a success, walked me through the next steps, and answered all of my questions. My husband felt instant relief from the pain in his left leg, which was a symptom of the disc herniation. My husband was able to go home and stand on both legs, with minimal soreness. The surgery worked! Dr. Leng is a healer and I truly believe he saved my husband's life and I am completely indebted to Dr. Leng. I'm grateful we live in a place that can offer the best medical care for complicated cases, such as my husband's. This is the first day of the rest of our lives, with no pain and no numbness. I've never had such a positive outlook on my husband's recovery. read more

I was diagnosed with a 7 cm benign pituitary adenoma back in March which had grown to enormous size, had also wrapped itself around my carotid artery, and was putting pressure on my optic nerves and hypothalamus. This was first discovered when I began losing my vision, went to the eye doctor, then got in to see the ophthalmologist who referred me to both Dr. Leng and to get an MRI. In less than a week from the time I first met with Dr. Leng following the MRI, he had me in surgery. I underwent a 12 hour endoscopic tumor resection in which they were able to go in through my nasal passages to remove most of the tumor. I've been on medication for the rest. Like Matt's comment above, the last thing I remember was being wheeled out of the pre-op room and I think I met the anaesthesiologist. The next thing I remembered was waking up in ICU. I spent 8 days in the hospital and around a 3-4 months of a recuperation period. I had no problem moving around, walking, or doing anything of that sort afterwards, but I think the biggest issue was just that I was quite tired afterwards. That had nothing to do with Dr. Leng and everything to do with my recovery which wasn't too bad considering. Dr. Leng is an amazing neurosurgeon. He's methodical, thoughtful, and an all around great person/ and doctor to have in your corner. I know it was his job, but he saved my life. Some doctors maintain a little too much distance with their patients and I can understand that from a business perspective. Dr. Leng has just the right kind of bedside manner but he also knows what he's doing and when to act on what he observes. I never imagined I'd have a neurosurgeon in my corner at my age (31) or that I'd develop a tumor on my pituitary gland that could grow to such a scary size. Not only that, but I often wonder how Dr. Leng was able to get through a surgery of approximately 12 hours! You need to have some kind of mental super power to do that. He's an amazing doctor and there should be more people like him! read more