Description

Top 10 Neurosurgeons in Los Angeles for Brain & Spine Surgery
Choosing a neurosurgeon is one of the most important healthcare decisions a patient or family may face. Whether you are dealing with a brain tumor, spinal disorder, herniated disc, spinal stenosis, epilepsy, aneurysm, or another neurological condition, finding the right specialist can make the treatment journey feel much more manageable.
Los Angeles is home to several major academic medical centers and specialty hospitals with experienced neurosurgeons treating complex brain, spine, and nervous-system conditions. Patients looking for a neurosurgeon in Los Angeles can find specialists focused on brain tumors, skull-base surgery, minimally invasive spine procedures, cerebrovascular conditions, spinal tumors, and other highly specialized areas.
In this guide, we highlight 10 notable neurosurgeons and neurosurgical specialists in Los Angeles and the surrounding Los Angeles area. The list is designed to help patients understand each doctor's area of expertise, where they practice, and what to consider before scheduling a consultation.
Medical note: This article is for informational purposes only. A neurosurgeon's suitability depends on your diagnosis, imaging, medical history, age, overall health, and treatment goals. Always discuss your individual case with a qualified medical professional.

 

1. Linda M. Liau, MD, PhD, MBA — UCLA Health

Overview
Dr. Linda M. Liau is one of the prominent neurosurgical specialists associated with UCLA Health. She serves as Chair of the UCLA Department of Neurosurgery and is Professor and Director of the UCLA Brain Tumor Program.
Her clinical work focuses heavily on brain tumor surgery, including the use of intraoperative functional brain mapping and intraoperative imaging to help surgeons safely operate around important areas of the brain. UCLA identifies her expertise in treating gliomas, meningiomas, and metastatic brain tumors.
Services Offered
* Brain tumor surgery
* Brain tumor resection
* Glioma surgery
* Meningioma surgery
* Metastatic brain tumor surgery
* Intraoperative brain mapping
* Intraoperative imaging
* Brain cancer treatment and research
Why Choose Them
Patients seeking advanced brain tumor care may find UCLA's multidisciplinary environment particularly valuable. UCLA's neurosurgery program covers a broad range of subspecialties, including brain tumors, cerebrovascular disease, spinal disorders, functional neurosurgery, trauma, and pediatric neurosurgery.
Location
Westwood Neurosurgery
300 Stein Plaza, Suite 420
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Website
UCLA Health
Contact Details
* Phone: 310-825-5111
Serving Areas
* West Los Angeles
* Westwood
* Santa Monica
* Beverly Hills
* Brentwood
* Greater Los Angeles
 

2. Langston T. Holly, MD — UCLA Health

Overview
Dr. Langston T. Holly is a neurosurgeon associated with the UCLA Spine Center. His clinical specialty is spine surgery, making him a potential option for patients seeking specialist evaluation for complex spinal conditions.
UCLA lists Dr. Holly among its Spine Center physicians and identifies him as a specialist in spine surgery and neurosurgery.
Services Offered
* Spine surgery
* Neurosurgical evaluation of spinal disorders
* Complex spine care
* Surgical management of selected degenerative spine conditions
* Multidisciplinary spine treatment
Why Choose Them
Spinal surgery often requires close coordination between neurosurgeons, neurologists, rehabilitation specialists, and other clinicians. UCLA's multidisciplinary model can be useful for patients whose spinal problems require detailed diagnostic and surgical planning.
Location
UCLA Health Westwood Neurosurgery
Los Angeles, California
Website
UCLA Health
Serving Areas
* Westwood
* Los Angeles
* Santa Monica
* Beverly Hills
* Culver City
* Greater Los Angeles
 

3. Daniel C. Lu, MD, PhD — UCLA Health

Overview
Dr. Daniel C. Lu is another UCLA neurosurgeon with a focus on spine surgery. UCLA lists him as part of its Spine Center and identifies him within the Department of Neurosurgery.
His inclusion is particularly relevant for people searching for spine surgeons in Los Angeles rather than a doctor focused exclusively on brain conditions.
Services Offered
* Neurosurgery
* Spine surgery
* Evaluation of complex spinal disorders
* Surgical spine treatment
* Multidisciplinary spine care
Why Choose Them
UCLA's Spine Center provides access to specialists from different disciplines, which can be helpful when determining whether surgery is appropriate or whether a nonsurgical treatment should be considered first.
Location
UCLA Health
Westwood, Los Angeles, CA
Website
UCLA Health
Serving Areas
* Los Angeles
* Westwood
* Santa Monica
* Culver City
* Beverly Hills
* Southern California
 

4. Gabriel Zada, MD — Keck Medicine of USC

Overview
Dr. Gabriel Zada is a board-certified neurosurgeon at Keck Medicine of USC. His areas of expertise include brain, skull-base, and pituitary tumor surgery, along with endoscopic and minimally invasive neurosurgical techniques.
Keck Medicine states that Dr. Zada has treated more than 2,000 patients with brain and skull-base tumors using minimally invasive and open cranial approaches.
Services Offered
* Brain tumor surgery
* Skull-base surgery
* Pituitary tumor surgery
* Endoscopic neurosurgery
* Minimally invasive neurosurgery
* Complex cranial procedures
Why Choose Them
Patients with tumors located around the skull base or pituitary region may benefit from seeing a neurosurgeon with specific experience in these anatomically complex areas.
Keck Medicine's neurosurgery program provides treatment for a wide range of neurological conditions and uses techniques including endoscopic neurosurgery, stereotactic radiosurgery, and other advanced approaches.
Location
Keck Medicine of USC
1520 San Pablo St., HC2, Suite 3800
Los Angeles, CA 90033
Website
Keck Medicine of USC
Contact Details
* Phone: 323-442-5720
Serving Areas
* Downtown Los Angeles
* Boyle Heights
* East Los Angeles
* Beverly Hills
* Glendale
* Greater Los Angeles
 

5. Michael Safaee, MD — Keck Medicine of USC

Overview
Dr. Michael Safaee is a neurosurgeon specializing in spinal disorders. Keck Medicine identifies his areas of focus as neurosurgery and spine surgery, with particular interests in scoliosis, kyphosis, tumors, and revision surgery.
Services Offered
* Spine surgery
* Neurosurgery
* Treatment of spinal tumors
* Scoliosis surgery
* Kyphosis treatment
* Revision spine surgery
* Complex spinal disorder management
Why Choose Them
Patients who have already undergone spinal surgery and require revision procedures may need a surgeon experienced in complex or repeat operations. Dr. Safaee's listed focus on revision surgery makes him relevant for this patient group.
Location
Keck Medicine of USC Spine Center
1450 San Pablo St., HC4, Suite 5400
Los Angeles, CA 90033
Website
Keck Medicine of USC
Contact Details
* Phone: 323-442-5300
Serving Areas
* Los Angeles
* Arcadia
* Beverly Hills
* Pasadena
* Glendale
* Greater Los Angeles
 

6. Thomas C. Chen, MD, PhD — Keck Medicine of USC

Overview
Dr. Thomas C. Chen is a Keck Faculty Physician whose specialties include neurosurgery, spine surgery, and brain tumor surgery. His listed areas of focus include brain and tumor surgery as well as spine surgery.
This combination makes him relevant for patients looking for a neurosurgical specialist with experience spanning both brain and spine conditions.
Services Offered
* Neurosurgery
* Spine surgery
* Brain tumor surgery
* Brain and tumor surgery
* Complex neurological conditions
* Surgical evaluation and treatment
Why Choose Them
Keck Medicine's neurosurgery program brings together specialists treating conditions affecting the brain, spine, and nervous system. The institution also emphasizes minimally invasive techniques and coordinated specialty care.
Location
Keck Medicine of USC
1520 San Pablo St., HC2, Suite 3800
Los Angeles, CA 90033
Website
Keck Medicine of USC
Contact Details
* Phone: 800-872-2273
Serving Areas
* Los Angeles
* Glendale
* Arcadia
* Beverly Hills
* Pasadena
* Southern California
 

7. Mike Y. Chen, MD, PhD — City of Hope

Overview
Dr. Mike Y. Chen is a neurosurgeon at City of Hope with a particular focus on complex operations involving brain and spine tumors. City of Hope also notes that he treats benign and degenerative spinal conditions.
He has been part of the City of Hope neurosurgery team since 2007 and is board-certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery.
Services Offered
* Brain tumor surgery
* Spine tumor surgery
* Brachial plexus tumor surgery
* Complex spine surgery
* Degenerative spine treatment
* Neurosurgical oncology
Why Choose Them
City of Hope has a dedicated neurosurgery division that treats benign and malignant brain, spine, and pituitary tumors. Its multidisciplinary approach brings neurosurgery together with oncology, radiation oncology, pathology, and other specialties.
Location
City of Hope
301 West Huntington Drive, Suite 400
Arcadia, CA 91007
Website
City of Hope
Contact Details
* Phone: 877-460-4673
Serving Areas
* Los Angeles
* Duarte
* Arcadia
* Pasadena
* San Gabriel Valley
* Greater Los Angeles
 

8. Lisa Anne Feldman, MD, PhD — City of Hope

Overview
Dr. Lisa Anne Feldman is a neurosurgeon at City of Hope whose clinical expertise includes brain cancer, spine tumors, and degenerative spine surgery. Her academic and research interests include neurologic oncology, tumoral oxygenation, and immunotherapy.
Services Offered
* Brain cancer surgery
* Brain tumor treatment
* Spine tumor surgery
* Degenerative spine surgery
* Neurosurgical oncology
* Complex neurological care
Why Choose Them
Patients dealing with brain or spinal tumors often need more than surgery alone. City of Hope's multidisciplinary brain tumor program combines neurosurgery with medical oncology, radiation oncology, diagnostic imaging, pathology, and supportive services.
Location
City of Hope
Los Angeles Area / Arcadia
Website
City of Hope
Contact Details
* Phone: 877-460-4673
Serving Areas
* Los Angeles
* Arcadia
* Duarte
* Pasadena
* San Gabriel Valley
* Southern California
 

9. Alexander Tuchman, MD — Cedars-Sinai

Overview
Dr. Alexander Tuchman is a neurosurgeon at Cedars-Sinai with expertise in neurosurgery and spine surgery. Cedars-Sinai lists him as accepting new patients and provides his Los Angeles practice location.
His background includes fellowship training in spine-related care at USC/Keck Medical Center.
Services Offered
* Neurosurgery
* Spine surgery
* Surgical treatment of spinal disorders
* Complex spine evaluation
* General neurosurgical care
Why Choose Them
Cedars-Sinai offers a comprehensive spine program and minimally invasive spine surgery services. Its spine specialists evaluate patients for different treatment options and provide both surgical and nonsurgical pathways when appropriate.
Location
Cedars-Sinai Neurosurgery – Los Angeles
127 S San Vicente Blvd.
Pavilion, Suite A6600
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Website
Cedars-Sinai
Contact Details
* Phone: 310-423-7900
Serving Areas
* Beverly Grove
* West Hollywood
* Beverly Hills
* Mid-City Los Angeles
* Hollywood
* Greater Los Angeles
 

10. Eli M. Baron, MD — Cedars-Sinai

Overview
Dr. Eli M. Baron is a Cedars-Sinai neurosurgeon with experience in general neurosurgery, spine disorders, and spine care. Cedars-Sinai identifies him as Associate Professor of Neurosurgery and Co-Medical Director of Spine Trauma Surgery.
Services Offered
* General neurosurgery
* Spine surgery
* Spine disorder treatment
* Spine trauma surgery
* Surgical evaluation of neurological conditions
Why Choose Them
Patients with complex spinal conditions may benefit from a specialist working within a comprehensive spine center. Cedars-Sinai's multidisciplinary resources can support diagnosis, surgical planning, rehabilitation, and follow-up care.
Location
Cedars-Sinai Spine Center
444 S San Vicente Blvd.
Mark Goodson Building, Suites 800 and 901
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Website
Cedars-Sinai
Contact Details
* Phone: 310-423-9779
Serving Areas
* Los Angeles
* Beverly Hills
* West Hollywood
* Santa Monica
* Culver City
* Greater Los Angeles

 

What Does a Neurosurgeon Treat?

A neurosurgeon specializes in the surgical and procedural management of conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and related structures.
Depending on their subspecialty, Los Angeles neurosurgeons may treat conditions such as:
* Brain tumors
* Spine tumors
* Herniated discs
* Spinal stenosis
* Scoliosis
* Kyphosis
* Spinal cord compression
* Brain aneurysms
* Cerebrovascular disorders
* Epilepsy
* Skull-base tumors
* Pituitary tumors
* Traumatic brain injuries
* Degenerative spinal disorders
* Certain nerve disorders
Not every neurosurgeon treats every condition. Choosing someone whose subspecialty matches your diagnosis is therefore one of the most important parts of the process.
 

Benefits of Choosing a Specialized Neurosurgeon in Los Angeles
Access to Subspecialty Expertise
Large Los Angeles medical centers often have neurosurgeons specializing in particular areas such as brain tumors, spine surgery, cerebrovascular conditions, skull-base surgery, or functional neurosurgery.
Multidisciplinary Treatment
Complex neurological conditions can involve multiple specialties. UCLA, USC, City of Hope, and Cedars-Sinai all provide multidisciplinary environments where neurosurgery can be coordinated with other areas of medicine.
Advanced Surgical Techniques
Depending on the condition, specialists may use minimally invasive, endoscopic, image-guided, stereotactic, or other advanced approaches. The appropriate technique depends on the patient's diagnosis and anatomy.
Second-Opinion Opportunities
A second opinion can be especially useful when surgery has been recommended, the diagnosis is complex, or multiple treatment options are available.
 

How to Choose the Best Neurosurgeon in Los Angeles
Finding the right neurosurgeon is about more than searching for the doctor with the highest online rating.
1. Match the Doctor to Your Condition
Start by identifying whether you need a brain tumor specialist, spine surgeon, vascular neurosurgeon, skull-base specialist, or another type of neurosurgical expert.
2. Review Training and Board Certification
Look at the physician's education, residency, fellowship training, board certification, hospital affiliation, and current clinical focus.
3. Ask About Surgical Experience
For a procedure such as brain tumor resection or complex spinal reconstruction, ask how frequently the surgeon performs that particular operation.
4. Understand Your Treatment Options
Surgery isn't automatically the best treatment. Ask whether medication, physical therapy, injections, observation, radiation, or another nonsurgical approach could be appropriate.
5. Consider the Hospital
For complicated surgery, the hospital's intensive care resources, imaging technology, rehabilitation services, nursing support, and multidisciplinary teams can all matter.
6. Check Insurance and Availability
Before scheduling, confirm whether the surgeon participates in your insurance network and whether the hospital is covered under your plan.
7. Bring Your Medical Records
Take MRI or CT images, radiology reports, previous medical records, medication lists, and information about previous treatments to your appointment.
8. Consider a Second Opinion
If surgery is recommended, getting another qualified opinion can help you understand your choices and feel more confident about the treatment plan.
 

Brain Surgery vs. Spine Surgery: Which Specialist Do You Need?
Although both are part of neurosurgery, brain and spine surgery are highly specialized areas.
A brain neurosurgeon in Los Angeles may focus on tumors, aneurysms, epilepsy, skull-base conditions, pituitary tumors, or traumatic brain conditions.
A spine neurosurgeon in Los Angeles may focus on spinal stenosis, herniated discs, spinal cord compression, spinal tumors, scoliosis, kyphosis, or complex spinal reconstruction.
Some physicians treat both brain and spine conditions, while others concentrate heavily on one subspecialty. This is why matching your diagnosis to the surgeon's expertise is essential.

Frequently Asked Questions About Neurosurgeons in Los Angeles

1. How much does a neurosurgeon cost in Los Angeles?
The cost varies significantly depending on the consultation, diagnosis, insurance coverage, hospital, procedure, surgeon, and complexity of treatment. Contact the doctor's office and your insurance provider for an individualized estimate.
2. When should I see a neurosurgeon?
You may be referred to a neurosurgeon when imaging or clinical evaluation identifies a condition that may require specialized surgical or procedural treatment. A neurologist, primary care physician, orthopedic specialist, or emergency physician may make the referral.
3. Do neurosurgeons only perform brain surgery?
No. Neurosurgeons may specialize in brain surgery, spine surgery, peripheral nerve surgery, cerebrovascular procedures, pediatric neurosurgery, functional neurosurgery, or other areas.
4. How do I find a spine neurosurgeon in Los Angeles?
Look for a board-certified neurosurgeon whose practice specifically lists spine surgery and whose experience matches your condition. UCLA, USC, Cedars-Sinai, and other major Los Angeles-area institutions have dedicated spine specialists.
5. Should I get a second opinion before brain surgery?
For major or complex surgery, a second opinion can be useful. It may help you understand the diagnosis, expected benefits, risks, alternatives, and whether another treatment approach should be considered.
6. What should I bring to my neurosurgery appointment?
Bring your imaging studies, radiology reports, medical records, medication list, previous surgery information, insurance details, and a written list of questions.
7. Can a neurosurgeon treat a herniated disc?
Yes. Neurosurgeons who specialize in spine surgery may treat certain herniated discs, particularly when symptoms are severe, persistent, or associated with neurological problems. However, many disc problems can initially be treated without surgery.
8. What is minimally invasive neurosurgery?
Minimally invasive neurosurgery uses specialized techniques and smaller access points when clinically appropriate. Whether it is suitable depends on the patient's condition, anatomy, and procedure.
9. Are all neurosurgeons brain specialists?
No. Neurosurgery is a broad field. Some surgeons focus primarily on brain tumors, some on spine surgery, some on vascular conditions, and others on functional, pediatric, or peripheral nerve disorders.
10. Which is the best neurosurgeon in Los Angeles?
There is no single best neurosurgeon for every patient. The right choice depends on your diagnosis and the surgeon's specific expertise, experience, hospital resources, communication style, insurance compatibility, and treatment plan.
 

Conclusion
Los Angeles offers patients access to an extensive range of neurosurgical expertise, from complex brain tumor and skull-base surgery to minimally invasive spine procedures and spinal tumor treatment.
The physicians highlighted in this guide represent specialists associated with major institutions including UCLA Health, Keck Medicine of USC, City of Hope, and Cedars-Sinai. Their areas of expertise vary, which is why patients should focus less on finding a universally "best" neurosurgeon and more on finding a specialist whose experience closely matches their specific condition.
Before making a decision, compare the surgeon's subspecialty, credentials, relevant surgical experience, hospital affiliation, treatment options, insurance coverage, and communication approach. For complex brain or spine surgery, asking informed questions and considering a second opinion can be valuable steps.
If you are searching for a neurosurgeon in Los Angeles for brain or spine surgery, use this list as a starting point for further research and speak directly with qualified medical professionals about your individual circumstances.

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