Nicholas Colyvas, MD

Dr Colyvas is an excellent surgeon. I had a torn ACL and meniscus tear. It has been eight months and I am back to 100%. His team is professional and caring.

I have known nick for 5 years now, both as a colleague and as a patient.
I am an orthopedic surgeon my self and I had 3 operation on my shoulder with nick.
Why u ask, since I trust him 100%, I have been in several case with him and I have seen how skillful he is, he had amazing hands when it come to shoulder surgery specially .
I refer him all my complex cases.
U can’t go wrong with him,
Dr Farr

Dr. Colyvas is a great doctor. I had a meniscus repair surgery back in May. He was nice enough to call me before and after the surgery due to some concerns I had going in. When I had my initial consult with him, he met with me for close to an hour to answer all of my questions. I would definitely recommend him.

I was referred to Dr. Colyvas through a physical therapist and boy what an awesome referral. I am overly impressed with his office (Post Street) and his employees (Joni :)). Everyone is professional, kind and on their game.
I went in with impinged rotator cuff and adhesive cap. and was in a huge amount of pain. He sent me for an MRI before coming in, which I appreciated!!! It saves time for both parties and it was a decision that if I wanted to see him first he would accommodate me. When going through treatment options he told me that he wanted to be proactive and stay away from surgery. I was so relieved. He was always on time to the appointment, he was fast and to the point. My treatment did include Cortisone shot, and he heard me out about not wanting the shot. He did not push the shot, and I waited to see if my shoulder would calm down with physical therapy. Finally I broke down and asked for the shot and Dr. Colyvas gave me the perfect shot. Painless and quick.
My overall review for Dr. Colyvas and his office is fantastic! I had a great experience and I will always recommend him. plus I think I will miss them a little :)
Thank you Dr. Colyvas, Joni and the office team!

Dr Colyvas was great. I was very reluctant to get a cortozone shot in my knee due to the last cortozone shot attempt by another doctor who made me see stars after trying 2 times and never actually injecting the cortozone. Dr Colyvas was beyond excellent and made me feel very comfortable. His assistant was very nice and so was his front office girl. I was not going to get the injection and just live with the pain. I made the appt. with Fresca and she told me Dr Colyvas was excellent and reassured me it would be ok. She was right I didn’t even feel the shot. I was so shocked. I wish I had found him sooner. Thanks so much my knee already feels much better. :)

I was hit by a car while biking and broke my left collarbone in 2009. After using Unilocal to vet the insurance-​recommended doctors, I decided to consult with Dr. Colyvas. I liked him pretty quickly as a person and was happy I chose him for the surgery. He and his staff were easy to talk to and to get appointments with before and after the surgery. Most importantly I loved the results of his work and I would definitely see him again if I had to.

I initially went to see Dr. Colyvas for a dominant shoulder pain that had persisted for 2+ months. It wasn’t affecting my job at all, but it was preventing me from being 100% in my yoga practice — specifically the pose he has under his images (did I mention I also teach yoga). As a physical therapist with 10 years of experience under my belt, I initially tried to rehab it myself with the usually shoulder exercises, as well as ice, NSAIDs, etc. However, when it didn’t improve, I knew it was time for a second opinion. He was in agreement with what I suspected but advised a contrast MRI, which is what I was hoping he’d do, rather than tell me to do rehab, rest, etc. The MRI results weren’t 100% black and white, so he wanted to try an injection in hopes of pain relief but also as a diagnostic tool. The injection worked wonders. Immediately after the injection, he said it’d be sore (it was) for a few days and to rest about 48 hrs, then slowly begin trying to do the things that previously I couldn’t due to the pain. Those were the exact words I wanted to hear! A month later, I’m back to practicing yoga without any modifications!
What I really found refreshing about Dr. Colyvas was that he didn’t discredit my opinions about what I thought was going on. Instead, he respected my years of experience and knowledge in my field. Furthermore, he didn’t tell me to stop doing what I loved. From the first consultation, his plan of care entirely focused to getting me back to my full on yoga practice.
Thank you very much for all your help!
Namaste!

Dr Colyvas, and his whole team of professionals, where absolutely outstanding! As the result of a shoulder injury sustained while doing my job, Fire Captain, I was experiencing daily pain, taking huge amounts of Motrin, and finally had no choice but to be seen. Dr Colyvas consulted with me at length, gave me all the information I needed to make a solid decision, I opted for surgery. The surgery went extremely well, rehab went just as well, «Team Colyvas» was with me every step of the way. It was 10 months from start to finish, the pain is completely gone, and I’ve regained full motion and strength of the shoulder. I’m back on the job, serving the citizens of my community, and it’s all because Dr Colyvas is a very talented physician!
By the way. .. I’m 54 years old, have 1 year left on a 30 year career, and feel as good as I ever have. It was, and is my wish to walk out on my own terms and not be retired out on disability; Dr Colyvas was instrumental in achieving that goal. I would, and do highly recommend this doctor and his team to any and all that are in need. He’s efficient, effective and a total pro! Thanks again Dr Colyvas — Your work is greatly appreciated!
Keith A. Roberts — An Extremely Satisfied Patient

Consulted with Dr Colyvas upon reading numerous positive reviews at his Redwood City location (he practices in San Francisco and Campbell, his primarily clinic, as well). Thus, the Redwood City location is a shared office space with several other doctors and fairly spartan examination rooms.
Surgeries are performed in SF and Campbell. He by and large treats shoulders and knees, performing arthroscopy and does not perform total replacements. I was able to schedule the appointment within 3 weeks time.
Before seeing Dr Colyvas, my condition and history (treatments, diagnostic imaging, etc) were first reviewed and transcribed by his assistant. I relayed this information to Dr Colyvas after he entered. This was followed by a clinical exam, which was by and large procedural and not comprehensive. He then reviewed the MRI imaging I had brought along before making his diagnosis and recommendations for treatment. His assistant was present throughout, by and large transcribing my interaction with Dr Colyvas.
All in all, a very procedural, straight forward visit that was not overly rushed. I found Dr Colyvas honest as he noted how infrequently he saw and treated patients with my condition.

I am a patient of Dr. Colyvas’s at UCSF. I have issues with both knees for years now, and he has been exceedingly helpful in thinking about how best to approach and treat both knees.
He is knowledgable, kind, and generous. He has gone above and beyond in terms of calling me, taking time in the office visit to discuss options (not rushing), and has been extremely flexible when I have had a difficult time weighing the options.
Unlike alot of doctors, he treats the whole person and not just the joint, and talks to you like you are a real person instead of a nameless patient.
I cannot recommend him highly enough, and am grateful to him for the help he has given me!
Update March 2013:
Had the knee surgery with Dr. Colyvas I had been thinking about having. He was wonderful through the whole process, and checked in immediately after the surgery and by phone the next day.
It is 10 days post surgery, and everything has been going extremely well. I had my other knee operated on (same surgery) by a different doctor over a year ago, and the results with Dr. Colyvas are so much better. This time I have minimal swelling and pain, and am able to do things like bend my knee and activate my quad muscle a couple of days after surgery. With my first surgery with the other doctor, my knee was so inflammed it took many weeks and alot of physical therapy to be able to do these sames things I can do just a couple of days after surgery with Dr. Colyvas (bend my knee and activate my quad).
I am so grateful to Dr. Colyvas for his help, and cannot thank him enough!

I’ve been a patient of Dr. Colyvas for nearly 2 years now. He’s seen me through one of the most terrible chapters of my life — an open, comminuted fracture of the tibia and compound fracture of the fibula.
Dr. Colyvas is a great doctor! He knows his stuff very well and has most excellent bedside manner. This poor guy had to listen to so much of my whining and stupid questions of all sorts and was always very patient with me and explained things clearly and even drew pictures of things to help explain at times.
The staff Dr. Colyvas employs are great people and the facilities are kept clean and in very good shape.
I don’t think I could’ve had a better orthopedic surgeon caring for me and I recommend Dr. Nicholas Colyvas without reservation!

I promise you that you cannot have any better surgeon in your life infact I never had any better medicine personnel EVER !! He is super sweet, extremely calm, never rushes you. I got my ACL reconstructed and am doing so well ! no pain after 2 days and I feel like it could have not have any better experience. He called me from his cellphone the day before my surgery to discuss my option as I was confused between my graft option (WHAT Surgeon calls from his cell ???) Hint he is always reachable …
I would go to Dr. Nicholas for my entire life for any of my need in that matter and send anyone and everyone I know to him…
THIS IS how a doctor should make you feel and practice medicine !!!

Big fan of Dr. Colyvas. I fractured my hand playing baseball, and he and his team were incredible. They were very accommodating in terms of scheduling appointments and resulting surgery as quickly as possible, and three months later, the results have been great. My hand has improved quickly and I’m almost back to full-​strength.
Surgical skills aside, the thing that impressed me just as much was his kindness and ability to connect with me. Many doctors focus on the physical problem at hand, but he took the time to get to know me, answer all my questions and those of my partner, and ulitmately assure me that all would go well and I’d be fine in no time.
Just a great guy who took excellent care of me. A crappy injury was made less crappy by a fantastic, and a staff who were always responsive, friendly, accommodating, and just cool.

It’s been over 5 years since I had dislocated my shoulder at a heavy metal concert (yes, I learned my lesson.) After having it painfully re-​dislocate a few times each year since then, I finally had the smarts to get it taken care of. In comes Dr. Colyvas and his big, magical doctor brain.
Everything since then has been quick and easy. The surgery went smoothly and I was in-​and-​outout. Everybody at both of their offices — here in San Francisco as well as in Campbell, have been nothing but professional and communicative. My shoulder is now stable and I’m well on my way to being the cliffhanger I’ve always dreamed of.
If you have any doubts… stop. Just make an appointment. You can thank me later.

I am not a marathon runner. Nor do I bike to work everyday and play soccer on the weekends. Going into a sports medicine facility to have a doctor look at my knee injury is not a pleasant experience.
Dr. Colyvas was patient, listened attentively, and examined the injury with care. I have re-​injured my knee several times over the course of the last four years. I am tired on the in-​mobility, the pain, and the weight gain. His diagnosis was based on a long term full recovery plan. And he was without judgement.

Doctor Colyvas did my knee last year (meniscus) and just did wife’s shoulder today. (rotator cuff tear) He came out to the waiting room and sat down to tell me what went on and that she was fine.
Five stars is just not enough by a long shot. Professional, caring, accomodating, GREAT STAFF. Joni is just top notch. His team at the California street campus are super. His choice of assistants also is great (Hi Dr. Dintcho!) He only does knees and shoulders which fit our falling apartedness just fine. SIX stars! * * * * * *

Dr. Colyvas is not only handsome and charming (he reminds me of Gabriel Byrne), he’s also a wonderful doctor!
I was in intense pain when my family doc referred me to Dr. Colyvas. His staff was so kind and was able to squeeze me in on short notice. I called at 11am, and was able to see him at 2pm.
He was able to assess my situation quickly (injury to L4S5), prescribed an immediate treatment (Trigger point injection to temporarily reduce the pain) and a subsequent long term treatment (surgery to correct the injury).
I was pain free within 2 weeks. And now a month after the surgery, I’m about to get back into training for my half-​marathon!
Thank you Dr. Colyvas!

I recently slammed my shoulder doing a rail slide on my snowboard. After waiting a couple of days, I realized it wasn’t going to be a quick recovery. Dr. Colyvas was able to squeeze me in on short notice, which was great.
Dr. Colyvas has a staff of doctors that help him. I worked with Dr. Tito (can’t remember his last name) and Dr. Colyvas. Both were super friendly and not rushed at all. They took the time to pull a model of a shoulder and explain exactly what happened and how to strengthen my shoulder. I asked a bunch of questions and they took the time to give me in-​depth responses without being rushed.
Fortunately, there were no broken bones, so I just have to let it heal for a couple of weeks and avoid falling on it again :-) I highly recommend Dr. Colyvas if you have any unfortunate accidents in the future.

perfectly organized office with staff that has been there quite a long time (aka loyal employees :-)
Colyvas is outstanding — a true gentleman. I had a horrible experience with another ortho doc in SFO and was very frustrated. Colyvas was referred to me by my workers comp insurance. He knows his stuff, allows you to ask questions, and takes time to listen.
Colyvas did not do any surgery on me, but what I have heard he is an excellent surgeon.