Developed Narcotic-sparing recovery protocol
A recovery protocol built around whole-body healing and opioid-free recovery — designed to minimize, and often eliminate, narcotics after spine surgery.
Orthopedic Spine Surgeon in Beverly Hills, Serving Los Angeles
The smallest spine surgery
that actually works.
Minimally invasive & biportal endoscopic spine surgery in Beverly Hills
Dr. Hooman Melamed has spent two decades proving that spine surgery does not have to mean a long incision, cut muscle, or months of narcotics. Biportal endoscopic technique, done through openings under a centimeter — most patients go home the same day.
Out of state? Send your MRI for a free review — no travel to start.As featured & recognized
Trusted on national television and by the profession.
- The Doctors (national TV)
- KTLA 5
- KCAL 9
- Super Doctors
Authority & leadership
Two decades of leadership in minimally invasive spine care
Two decades spent pushing spine surgery toward smaller incisions, fewer fusions, and less reliance on narcotics — with the procedures, research, and recognition to back it.
Signature · pioneering procedure
Biportal Endoscopic Spine Surgery
Performing ultra-minimally-invasive biportal endoscopic spine surgery since 2019 — two sub-centimeter incisions, muscle spared rather than cut, and same-day discharge for most patients. It’s the technique the entire practice is built around.
- < 1 cmtwo working portals
- Same-dayoutpatient for most
- Muscle-sparingnothing cut through
Developed 
Champions Motion-preserving alternatives to fusion
Favors procedures that keep the spine moving, led by artificial disc replacement and supported by regenerative therapies, over one-size-fits-all fusion. Patients told they need a fusion are evaluated for disc replacement first.
Teaches Research & thought leadership
Lead author on peer-reviewed spine research and a presenter to the North American Spine Society, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and the Scoliosis Research Society.
Leadership Former Director of Scoliosis, Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey (2013–2021)
Recognition Repeat Castle Connolly Top Doctor & Super Doctors honoree
Credentials Fellow, AAOS · Member, Scoliosis Research Society · Board-certified, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (2007)
National media The Doctors · KTLA 5 · KCAL 9
On YouTube
Spine surgery videos, explained on camera
Dr. Melamed has built one of the most in-depth spine-education libraries on YouTube — 200-plus tutorials, explainers, and real patient stories, in plain language.
How to avoid spinal fusions with BESS
3 myths about endoscopic surgery, debunked
A life-changing scoliosis correction
The patient saved from potential paralysis
- 200+videos on YouTube
- Tutorialsexplainers & how-it-works
- Real patientsstories & Q&A
As seen on national television
Spine surgeon Dr. Melamed on national television
Dozens of national and Los Angeles broadcast appearances — explaining spine surgery, real patient outcomes, and his opioid-sparing approach.
Why I Stopped Prescribing Opioids
How to Get in Shape Without Hurting Yourself
A different starting point
Conservative spine care first: we try to talk you out of surgery.
The right answer is often the smallest one. Before anything invasive, Dr. Melamed reviews your imaging and asks whether conservative care, an injection, or a sub-centimeter procedure can solve it. Surgery is a last resort — not a default.
- Imaging read personally — your MRI reviewed by the surgeon, not a coordinator.
- Honest second opinions — many patients learn they can avoid a bigger fusion.
- Narcotic-sparing by design — muscle preserved, so recovery needs less medication.
- Whole-person care — treat the cause and the person, not just the scan.
The differentiator
Biportal endoscopic spine surgery (BESS) in Beverly Hills
Two tiny incisions, a high-definition endoscope, and no muscle cutting — most patients walk the same day and return to life in weeks, not months.
- Incisions under 1cm — no large open wound
- Muscle-sparing: preserved, not cut
- Outpatient / same-day discharge for most
- Dramatically less narcotic use
- Faster return to work and activity
Traditional open Biportal endoscopic
Incision Several inches, open exposure Two openings under 1 cm
Muscle Cut and retracted off the spine Spread and spared, not cut
Setting Often inpatient, hospital stay Typically outpatient, same-day home
Visualization Direct line of sight High-definition endoscopic magnification
Narcotics Higher post-op need is common Designed to minimize narcotic use
Recovery Weeks to months, variable Many return to light activity in weeks
See how BESS works →
Muscle-sparing, outpatient, and designed to minimize narcotics — see the full breakdown.
How we treat it
Minimally invasive spine treatments & procedures
BESS leads, and motion preservation comes right behind it. Every option is chosen to keep as much of your natural spine as possible.
- 01
Biportal Endoscopic Spine Surgery (BESS)
The flagship. Two openings under a centimeter and a high-definition endoscope. Muscle is spared, and most patients go home the same day.
- 02
Artificial Disc Replacement
Motion preservation. A worn disc is replaced with a moving implant, including for patients who were told they needed a fusion.
- 03
Bertolotti's Endoscopic Resection
The false joint at the base of the spine, removed endoscopically through an incision under 1 cm with CT and navigation guidance.
- 04
Transthoracic Decompression
Navigation-assisted, minimally invasive access through the side of the chest to free a compressed thoracic spinal cord.
- 05
Scoliosis & Kyphosis Correction
Custom-made rods, surgery planned in two stages, and a non-narcotic recovery plan for adult and complex deformity.
- 06
XLIF & ALIF Minimally Invasive Fusion
From the side or the front, sparing the back muscles. Used when fusion is actually needed, not as a default.
- 07
Focused Shockwave Therapy
Non-invasive, in-office care for Modic changes, tendinopathy, tendinosis, arthritis, and bursitis. Also available: InBody 970S body-composition analysis for spine optimization.
What we treat
Spine conditions we treat
From sciatica to scoliosis — if it starts in the spine, it is likely on this list.
2-minute check
Am I a candidate for minimally invasive surgery?
Answer five quick questions about your pain and history. You will get a personalized next step — no email wall to see your result.
Start the candidate quiz →No cost, no obligation
Free MRI / CT review
Already have imaging? Send it in and Dr. Melamed will personally tell you whether a smaller option is realistic for your case.
Upload your scans →Out-of-state & international patients
Out-of-state spine surgery in Beverly Hills. Start from home.
A large share of Dr. Melamed's patients travel in. The path is built so nothing is wasted: your imaging is reviewed before you book a flight, the consult happens by video, and follow-up is coordinated with your local team.
We work with many major insurance plans and also see out-of-network and self-pay patients. Our team verifies your benefits before any procedure.
- 01
Send your MRI
Upload your imaging for a personal review, no travel required to start.
- 02
Telehealth consult
Meet Dr. Melamed by video and get a specific, honest plan.
- 03
One focused visit
We coordinate travel and schedule surgery and recovery efficiently.
- 04
Recover at home
Follow-up scans and check-ins are handled remotely with your local team.
Patients, in their words
What patients say on Google
The newest reviews from Google, quoted as posted. The row scrolls on its own. To stop it, use the Pause scrolling button under it, hover over it, tap a review or tab into it.
- Rated 5 out of 5. Google review
“Dr. Melemed is truly the best! He genuinely cares about his patients, and it shows in every aspect of the care he provides. I recently had an outpatient procedure, and I cannot say enough about how impressed I was with the surgery center. …”
Renee Smith
- Rated 5 out of 5. Google review
“Dr. Melamed is an exceptional physician. I initially came to him for my spine concerns, but he took the time to look at the bigger picture, truly listen, and help me find the right resources and specialists for a separate, complex medical condition outside his specialty. …”
Melina Rodriguez
- Rated 5 out of 5. Google review
“I was incapacitated, couldn’t stand, sit or walk. The pain was excruciating. I’ll spare you the diagnosis, but it was serious. I could only lie down with my foot up to reduce the pain. It required EMERGENCY surgery. …”
Mark Myers
- Rated 5 out of 5. Google review
“I want to thank Dr. Melamed for taking great care of me. Dr. Melamed performed a minimally invasive microdiscectomy to free nerve that was being pinched and causing pain in my back and in my leg. Dr. Melamed’s approach is a very conservative, which I very much appreciate. …”
Eric Nepomnaschy
- Rated 5 out of 5. Google review
“Dr. Hooman Melamed: An Outstanding Surgeon and a Blessing to Our Family If you or a loved one are suffering from severe back pain and feel like you have run out of options, please read our story. For a long time, my wife lived in a state of constant agony. …”
Salvador Duran
Individual results vary.
Meet your surgeon
Dr. Hooman Melamed, board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon
Trained where the hardest cases go. Practicing where patients come to avoid them.
Dr. Hooman Melamed brings a rare combination of advanced surgical skill, leading-edge innovation, and genuine compassion to every patient he treats. He graduated summa cum laude from UCLA with a degree in neuroscience, earned his medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, completed his orthopedic surgical residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and pursued a spinal-surgery fellowship at the Cedars-Sinai Institute for Spinal Disorders.
- Summa cum laude, UCLA (Neuroscience)
- MD — University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
- Orthopedic Residency — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Spinal Fellowship — Cedars-Sinai Institute for Spinal Disorders
- Former Director of Scoliosis — Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital
From the journal
Spine care articles, explained clearly
Plain-language writing on procedures, conditions, and getting care — meant to help you decide, not to sell you.
View all articles
Conditions
Spinal Stenosis: Symptoms and Modern Treatment Options
Stenosis has a telltale pattern: legs that ache when you walk and ease when you lean forward. Here's what's happening, and how treatment has changed.
Conditions
How To Tell If Your Back Pain Is Serious
Back pain is incredibly common, with up to 80% of adults experiencing at least one episode of back pain in their lifetimes. In fact, it is one of the costliest medical problems in the United States, and a leading…
Concierge Care
Flying In for Spine Surgery: A Guide for Out-of-State Patients
A large share of our patients fly in — many after being told fusion was their only option. Here's how the out-of-state process actually works, step by step.
Conditions
Comparison of Innovative Therapies for Chronic Back Pain Relief 2026
Up to 80% of adults will experience an episode of back pain. Even mild chronic back pain can be disruptive and frustrating. Historically, treatment options have been limited.
Good questions
Minimally invasive spine surgery: frequently asked questions
Straight answers. If yours is not here, ask it at your consultation.
Book a ConsultationAm I a candidate for minimally invasive spine surgery?
Most patients with sciatica, a herniated or bulging disc, stenosis, or nerve compression are candidates. The fastest way to know is to upload your MRI or CT scan for a personal review by Dr. Melamed.
How is biportal endoscopic surgery different from open surgery?
It uses two incisions under a centimeter and a high-definition endoscope instead of a large open wound. Muscle is spared rather than cut, so most patients go home the same day with far less pain and narcotic use.
Do you accept insurance?
Yes — Dr. Melamed works with many major insurance plans and also sees out-of-network and self-pay patients. Our team verifies your benefits before any procedure.
I live out of state. Can Dr. Melamed still help?
Absolutely. A large share of our patients travel to Beverly Hills. We coordinate telehealth consultations, remote MRI review, and travel logistics so your visit is efficient.
Will I need narcotics after surgery?
Dr. Melamed's approach is designed to minimize narcotics. Muscle-sparing technique and outpatient recovery mean most patients need far less pain medication than with traditional surgery.