Lee Lily L, MD

I want zero stars. The customer service at Dr. Lily Lee’s office is the worst. Both Beverly Hills and Manhattan Beach. I have been to both locations (only once each) and have been completely put off my the staff. A few years ago I was at Beverly Hills office and they were cold and not helpful when I had questions about whether my insurance covered the prescription. And when I asked them to have the Dr. call me, I had to call back a few times because they didn’t relay my information to the dr.
This past year I went to the Manhattan beach office. Once again, rude. After checking in and taking a seat, they asked if I had cash. And I said, don’t you take credit card? And they said no, for you we can only take cash because you don’t have insurance. I was confused as I do have insurance and I work for the same company with the same insurance. However, they never asked me about my insurance, it was just assumed that I didn’t have any. Then when I gave them my card to show that I had insurance, they said oh well the number changed. Which, that makes sense but they never asked for my insurance card and it was just assumed that I didn’t have insurance. They were talking down to me and made me feel like I was an idiot. They have an attitude and it’s not a friendly environment.
Then, I move to another state and I need my prescription transferred to another pharmacy. I called and asked the lady how it worked and she said that I can have my pharmacist call them. So my new pharmacist did and they said that I wasn’t a patient. umm??? Then my pharmacist called again and they said that they had my records but didn’t know what prescription I wanted (which I had talk to the doctor staff the previous day so they should have made a note). So I called the dr. To clear everything up. I tried explaining the situation and she actually kept interrupting me! Once I cleared it all up I asked if they could call my pharmacist to make it easier since you now know what I want. She tells me no because they are short staff.
And after this last encounter I thought it was time for a review. The Dr. Staff is supposed to make you feel comfortable. But, every encounter (phone or in person) is difficult and challenging. I dread talking to the staff at both Beverly Hills and Manhattan beach.

Fantastic Doctor! I can’t be more happy with the OB care I received during my first pregnancy. Dr Lee is truly one of the greats, the kind of doctor you hope to find but rarely do. Her caring and attentiveness is rare to find as well as her excellent bedside manor with her patients. She extremely thorough and takes her time to explain everything, I never once felt rushed or left with questions unanswered. She always returned my calls and calmed my fears and with a first time pregnancy I had plenty. My delivery experience was absolutely exceptional! I can’t imagine having any other doctor besides Dr Lee deliver my next baby.

Great doctor who needs to get to the 21^st century. I can’t handle the fact that she offers no email, no voicemail, no way to communicate other than live. Other doctors actually text me when I need to get in touch with them. The front office staff is horrible about getting her messages and she takes way too long to get in touch with her patients. I have had enough with this lack of customer service.

If I could leave Dr. Lily Lee 10 stars, I would!
I moved to LA 4.5 years ago and asked a few people in my office for OB/​GYN referrals. Dr. Lee was recommended by 3 people of the 5 I asked, so I thought why not?
I don’t remember how long it took to schedule the first appointment for my annual but I’m sure it wasn’t any longer than scheduling at another doctor — usually 2 – 3 months out.
Dr. Lee has always taken the time to answer my questions. When I inquired about family planning at my annual appointment in 2013, she spent 15 minutes answering my questions and even did a preliminary quick ultra sound (I was not scheduled for this — she insisted that we take a ‘quick look’) to see how my follicles looked and recommended a blood tests to check various things and ensure that I was in optimal condition. I was 37 at the time, and was concerned about my age. She quickly put me at ease. Forward a few months, I had a miscarriage and was obviously very upset. She called to check on me and provided insights to comfort me and let me know when I could ‘try again’.
When I did become pregnant, in July 2014, I was nervous. Dr. Lee consistently calmed me at each appointment. She did an ultrasound at every appointment and sat down after completing the prenatal checks and spent time probing me for questions and shared her vast insights. I looked forward to those appointments — her bedside manner was exactly what I needed to get me through those nerve-​wracking 40 weeks! Fast forward to the last few weeks of pregnancy and I was getting extremely nervous, but I had such confidence in Dr. Lee, I felt okay going into the birthing process. She recommended being induced, given my age and placenta issues.
I went into the hospital on a Monday at 10am. Dr. Lee was in constant communication with the nurses and checked on me twice via phone and stopped in twice during the 42 hours I was in labor. At one point, I was on the verge of an emergency C-​section, but she and the excellent nurse were creative, and tried just one more thing and I ended up having my baby naturally. She talked me through the whole thing, made sure I knew what was going on, and managed to keep me alert, though it was 12:30am and I know she had 2 C-​sections plus a full day of appointments that day! My husband and I were so thankful to have her deliver our child!
A lot of detail, I know, but I can’t begin to express how great this doctor is! I’ve recommended her to SO many people — even random dental assistants and assistants at my PCP office!
Side note, the front desk staff — it’s a doctors office. They are crazy busy! Yes, you are put on hold… this happens with every doctors office. Yes, my appointments have been rescheduled at the last minute — that’s part of what makes Dr. Lee so awesome, she is AVAILABLE to her patients when they need to, you know, deliver a baby? I’m sure that makes things crazy with her receptionists, but they always work so hard to accommodate!
Dr. Lee will be my OB/​GYN as long as I live in the area!

I love Dr. Lilly
Hands down the most caring Doctor.
She caught my kidney infection, when my other two Doctors at UCLA medical center dismissed it and said it was nothing. She went the extra mile to send in my blood/​urine to be cultured. The UCLA doctors misdiagnosed me for three days and didn’t once call me back when my tests were done. Dr. Lilly Lee would call me just to check up on me while I was bed ridden and to make sure I was getting better after she correctly diagnosed me!
I would and do recommend her to all of my friends, she is very smart, patient and polite!

I never had any issues going to Dr. Lily Lee’s office in Manhattan Beach. Everyone is very accomodating and friendly. She knows her work and will give very good advise. I would always go back to her.

The five stars rating is strictly based on Dr. Lily Lee. I have been seeing her for at least 4 years based on the recommendation from a friend. I love Dr. Lee because she is on the conservative cautious side. If something is odd, she’s going to look into it vs give it time to see if it goes away. I really need that. I read the reviews below and I would agree that she does run late sometimes BUT what doctor’s office doesn’t? I rather her run late and answer everyone’s concern then rush everyone out to meet the appointment time. I had two C sections through her and both experiences were great. I was extremely nervous about the first C-​section and all I wanted to do was cry. She saw my face and told me to let it out so I cried like a baby before we operated. It felt great and I was then able to be in the moment. While stating at the hospital, a few nurses commented on my incision area indicating that Dr. Lee did a great job. Since I was new, I asked the nurses what they meant and they indicated that not all incision are closed so nicely. In addition, one nurse asked me who conducted my son’s circumcision which was Dr. Lee. The nurse said Dr. Lee did a great job because she has seen some were they were not straight all around. The feedback from nurses and my own personal experience confirms that Dr. Lee is a great choice.
Oh, I do want to address something that was mentioned in previous reviews regarding the front office staff. I do see that there could be areas of improvement such as being more customer service friendly vs feeling rushed but I’m not going to Dr. Lee’s office for them. I’m going to see her and the treatment she gives me.

I must say, I was a little skeptical about seeing Dr. Lily Lee based on the reviews I read regarding the front office staff but I really needed a to find a great OBGYN Doctor. So, I made an appointment.
I realize everyone has their own experiences but mine was put to the test this year. I initially saw Dr. Lee last year for a checkup (I was having symptoms of spotting and what I thought to be implantation). She confirmed I had polyp the size of about 1.5cm.
She recommended surgery because I did want to have children; however, I was terrified of surgery. So, I pushed it off for about 7 – 8 months. Until I had had it with the symptoms, it was the worst and I had the courage to call her office to come in to see Dr. Lee.
She rearranged her schedule to fit my surgery in and the timing was good at Cedars-​Sinai Out-​Patient Center because before, they were 2months booked. It worked out that she was able to get me in for surgery a week after seeing me in her office.
Honestly, I was terrified of being put under for the surgery. I still had more questions regarding the surgery so I called Dr. Lee’s office and she returned my call and spoke with me and tried to reassure me that everything was going to be fine. –All this the day before my surgery.
I prayed the night before and the morning of my surgery and was fine after that. When I met the nurses at CS-​OP Center, I knew I was in good hands, they were my angels and so was Dr. Lee. She met my husband, spoke with him and before I knew it I was out of surgery. I am so grateful for the care that Dr. Lee and the nurses at CS showed me. Truly Angels!
I saw Dr. Lee two weeks after my surgery and all was GOOD! As for her staff, I haven’t encountered anything negative. They have been nice and professional with me. I have definitely recommended Dr. Lily Lee. –She is a wonderful lady and a godsend in my book. :)

I agree with everybody else. Dr. Lily Lee is a great doctor. The receptionist is terrible though… I am always put on hold for more than 3 minutes at a time… and the first apt took over 2 months to schedule something. I actually ended up having a medical emergency one week short of my appt and they told me since they didn’t see me, they could not have somebody see me. That’s a terrible way to treat a potential patient.
When I did meet Dr. Lee, I thought she was very patient and nice. She is very caring and probably one of the best gynocologists I have had.
Unfortunately, this office is also terrible about calling people back and providing test results. They say 5 days. and then unless you call them, you probably won’t find out and could be having scary thoughts of what could be happening. That’s a little irresponsible if you ask me.
So as a doctor, I think she’s wonderful. As an office, they have some work they need to do.

Although it took several months to get an appointment, and office staff called to reschedule multiple times, Dr. Lee is great. She’s smart and capable.

I love Dr Lee. She’s one of the best OBGYN in Manhattan Beach.
I didn’t give the five stars to her solely because of her receptionist! I don’t know if they’re under staff or just hire people who’re not respect other people time as a receptionist. First thing you would get once someone pick up the phone is
«Would you please hold?»
Then that beep beep of a hold sound can go for 15 – 20 minutes or at the least 10 minutes. Instead of taking my phone number down and call me back (that would cost the office money I guess), once she’s done with other caller or asking me to call back in half an hour. I would prefer that manner other than on hold for 15 minutes.
After someone can pay attention to you, then thing goes smoothly. The appointment person is the person who answer the phone call. I guess that’s why it taken so long to answer another caller.
And most of all and the only reason why I put up with her receptionist is Dr. Lee herself. She’s an absolutely attentive doctor… Love her, Love her, Love her!
Appointment can take up to a month or six weeks from the date you call especially if you request Manhattan Beach location appointment. So, call ahead of the time!

I love Dr. Lee. She delivered my son last year. I highly reccommend. =0)

I have been seeing dr. Lily Lee for 2 years now and just recently had my first prenatal appointment.
pros
— Dr. Lee answers all of my questions and has NEVER rushed me out of the room
— She personally calls you with follow up if needed and returns calls within 24 hours.
— Her nurses are awesome!
— She squeezed me in at the end of day because she wanted to see me before i went out of town. She stayed and answered all of my first time mom questions until 6:30 at night when everyone else in the office left.
–They are getting better with seeing you on time for your appointment. My last appointment was at 4:30 and was seen at 4:40
— She delivers at Cedars and is open to natural birth
— Her bed side manner is excellent. She is funny and caring
Cons
–The front office staff is not as friendly as Dr. Lee or her nurses. They are not outwardly rude but in comparison to the warmth you get once you are seen it is night and day.
— it can be difficult to get an appointment. I would guess this is because Dr. Lee is very popular :)

They did something right, The Dr. spends more time with you, thoroughly answers questions, and they saw me at exactly my appointment time! Thank goodness I stuck it out :)

I agree with some of the statements regarding difficulty to schedule, and staff lack of friendly service. I will then say I do not go to a doctor based off these criteria, rather I go to a doctor based on their competencies. I feel Dr. Lee is extremely competent, friendly, helpful, and informed (with up to date research news etc).Next I will say that she is so great, on many occasions where I’ve had questions or concerns, or where she had more questions for me (when I already left the office) she personally called me on my cell. Even though we played phone tag, she made sure to get me to follow up with either my questions or her own questions about me for her notes. Dr. Lee delivered my niece and also has helped me for the last several years. She is caring, kind, compassionate, non-​judgemental, and highly competent. Thanks Dr. Lee

I love Dr. Lily Lee. She has been my OB-​Gyn and has taken care of me for the past three years. She is very thorough and is an excellent doctor and surgeon, She delivered my twin boys this year and I can’t say enough positive things about her :)

As someone else mentioned, I never made it to actually see Dr. Lily Lee so my review is based on office reception & handling of their scheduling.
I made a new patient appointment almost two months in advance, which I know can be fairly regular with these types of things. Still not okay, but par for the course I guess.
About 20 minutes before my appointment time I got a phone call saying the doctor had to leave for a delivery so she was canceling the rest of her afternoon appointments. Frustrating, considering I just drove 45 minutes to get there a few minutes early but I’m sure I’ll need a doctor by my side in that type of emergency one day so, okay again I get it.
But then the receptionist mentioned that the next available appointment was another MONTH AND A HALF away. I don’t know about you, but I don’t just make OB/​GYN appointments for fun… generally there’s a reason. And this reason was fairly serious, so when I explained what I was concerned about and how I had anxiety every day for the last two months leading up to this appointment, I was expecting some level of understanding, or at least something other than a shuffle to the back of the line. I can’t imagine that this is a successful standard process — wait months for an appointment and then take the chance of it sticking, knowing Dr. Lee delivers regularly, and then get shifted back another couple months if you’re on the losing end of that ⁵⁰⁄₅₀ chance.
I asked to be put on a cancellation list, which I was told that they do not regularly do, but the receptionist would «keep me in mind.» Kind of how I «keep that in mind» when my little sister asks for a unicorn for Christmas?
I noticed that unlike most doctor’s offices, they do not call a day or two in advance to confirm your appointment… which would inevitably open up spots for some of these last-​minute cancellations like mine, if/​when some people need to reschedule. Let THEM reschedule two months out — not me, who was 5 minutes from your office before YOU called to cancel.
I made another appointment with a new OB/​GYN and immediately felt like I was 100% in better hands.

I’ve been seeing Dr. Lee for the past 3 years not because I’m satisfied with her, but because I’ve been so lazy to find another OB. But guess what? I’m moving on!
Yes, her staff (including front desk) is unbelievable rude, but this review is not based on anyone else but Dr. Lee.
The average wait time to see Dr. Lee is one hour. When I’m lucky, it’s 45 min but I’ve waited as long as 1.5 hour. This is absolutely unacceptable. I understand if the doctor is running behind because of morning surgeries, but if that’s the case, front desk should let me know and give me the option to wait or reschedule my appointment. My time is important too, you know. I’m taking time away from my job to come here, so please respect it. It’s like going to a clinic here. You are treated like a number, not a patient.
That’s not all. She literally spends 5 minutes with me after waiting for an hour. She rushes me out ALL the time, I have to hold on to her whitecoat to ask any questions. She doesn’t explain things well and gets annoyed when questions are asked. She should learn how not to talk so fast. I believe doctors should be like teachers. If the patient needs explanation the doctor should go over it thoroughly.
Dr. Lee is not accessible through email. I always have to call the office, go through 20 minutes of being on hold, then leave a message for the doctor. And she will call you back not today, but tomorrow.
Speaking of not being accessible, she divides her time between the Manhattan beach office and Beverly Hills office and it’s nearly impossible to see her. I know money’s good when you have 2 practices but it’s very frustrating when you can’t see your doctor not because she’s so busy, but she’s in another office.
There’s a lot of great female OBGYN’s out there. Try to find someone other than Dr. Lily Lee unless you want the «clinic experience».

I have no review on what kind of doctor Lily Lee is because I never got that far. The phone receptionists are horrible. The first time I called to make a new appointment, I was told that none of the doctors were taking any new appointments until November — 3 months from when I was calling.
After finding a doctor in another office that could see mee the following week, I called to cancel my appointment with Dr. Lily Lee. As with the other time I called, I was put on hold. I waited for over 8 minutes. I gave up.
Get some more receptionists!

I will give Dr. Lily Lee a five star. But her front desk staff 1 star.
Their phone lines are always busy and they always put me on hold for a very long time, which is not their fault. I completely understand.

But when I finally get to speak with someone, they always try to rush me off the phone. (I had to call in a few times to make or change
appointments due to Dr. Lee having surgeries for other patients).
At one time, I returned their calls about changing my appointment date, after I confirmed the date. They said, «OK. See you next week at 9am.» Click!!! I had to call back in, was put on hold for a long time again, then ask if they had my test results ready.
What drove me to write this post is that I had to request they transfer my medical records to my new doctor. I called, put on hold, then they told me to fax in a form to request transferring of my medical records. Click! I called back in and asked, what should I put on the form. They told me to put new doctor’s address, my name, birthday, etc. OK! I started writing a word doc to be faxed to them. My friend saw it and said I need to fill out a form from the doctor’s office. I called again, long wait, then asked if they need to fax a form to me for transferring medical record. She said Yes and got my fax number. WTF? Why didn’t the first staff tell me that they need to send me a form? Why do I have to call 3 times, put on long hold for 3 times, to make a simple request?
AGAIN! Great doctor! I had to transfer to another doctor due to personal reasons. But this last call made me glad I made the decision.