It has been almost 2 years since i broke my fibula and became a patient here. I was a triathlete and equestrian and never slowed down after an injury happened and healed. But the lack of care i received here basically crippled me. I first saw Dr Yau (who didnt even look at my xray and just read the interpretation from Radiologist) then I saw Dr Thomas who left on maternity leave shortly after telling me to give it more time. Both dr's were NICE but didnt successfully treat my injury.I kept returning to tell them it still hurts and i am not healing/walking right and they kept telling me not to worry and let the broken bone naturally heal and keep walking on it in walking boot. Forget about running again. I am still in pain walking almost 2 yrs later. I went to another dr who said this injury needed surgery at the time. I am so depressed about how much this has affected my life and lifestyle. read more

Dr Yau was dismissive and compared me to other patients, " I see patients so much worse than you. You can walk." When I asked if he had seen my diagnostic tests from the ER he said he couldn't find them. I assured him the results were there and to please look again. He came back a minute later and said "I found them, they were under your full name!" I did not pursue any further treatment from this doctor, his words and inaction made it clear how it would go with him. read more

I saw Dr Yau after seeing two other physicians for my shoulder who recommended surgery . Dr Yau was the only one to recognize my problem as frozen shoulder and to recommend a course of action that was actually useful and nonsurgical. The PT he recommended was really good. I've had a lot of medical issues that have landed me at cedars/ucla etc but I truly felt our local dr yau was a true find. read more

Best manner and ortho expertise. He has fixed both of my knees, broken wrist and arthritis issues. His office is quiet and well staffed by helpful assistants. The NP is very helpful as well. Dr. Yau is super busy and still manages to get the job done with excellence every time! read more

Dr Yau is compassionate and loves assisting patients with their orthopedic needs!! He listens and works with you to get you back to a better quality active life!! read more

Arrogant...it's a long story... but he seemed to be clueless abt his expertise It appeared that he didn't review the X-ray that was taken... when we asked he skipped over the answer Love the office but this Dr is not warm or compassionate.... He made us feel as if we were wasting his time He basically told us what he "can't" do... giving us a feeling of despair instead of hope. Poor bedside manner. read more

dr Yau has been extremely helpful in deciding whether or not I should do elbow surgery. I have had 4 opinions by renowned orthopedic surgeons and I can honestly say that I felt the most care and consideration with Dr Yau. I will absolutely come back to Dr Yau if the other methods to help with the pain don't work. I wouldn't even consider another Dr. read more

I had the BEST experience with Dr. Yau and his wonderful staff. I suffer from calcific tendonitis in both of my shoulders. I can go quite awhile without either shoulder acting up. However, recently, my right shoulder was proving a challenge and becoming very painful limiting my ability to brush my teeth, blow dry my hair etc. Dr. Yau administered a cortisone shot in the office the day of my appointment. Within 24 hours I felt 70-75% better! YAY. Thank you so much Dr. Yau. I am feeling very grateful to have found you. Hopefully, I won't need to see you for a long time. I mean in the best possible way. :-) Most sincerely, BARB D read more

I saw Dr. Yau 8 years ago. I was 21 with chronic hip pain and saw many doctors in ventura that dismissed my issues and told me i must be exaggerating because im young. He believed me and had great bedside manners. He eventually came to the conclusion of surgery which we did and in a timely manner. Great Doctor. No Complaints. read more

DR. YAU is an amazing physician and takes one's health concerns seriously. His knowledge and expertise with a willingness to listen and discuss is a dynamite duo! read more

Dr. Yau is a wonderful doctor. He did surgery on my knee and later on, my husband's knee. Additionally, he graciously accommodated my special needs and authorized a machine for my recovery in addition to physical therapy. He has been most helpful in overseeing my ongoing knee health. read more

When I sustained a bad knee injury, Urgent Care told me it was broken but that I should see an orthopedist to determine whether it would need surgery. I got a recommendation from my PT to see Dr. Yau, and when I called for an initial appointment, they were able to squeeze me in immediately to check me out! After examining me and my x-rays, Dr. Yau determined that my knee wasn't broken after all, and recommended that I follow a PT regimen in order to speed recovery and minimize atrophy and loss of mobility/flexibility. Thanks to his diagnosis and advice, I got back to 100% and am now back to distance running and my regular workouts with no trace of pain or weakness. Dr. Yau was kind, knowledgeable, and you could tell he wants the best outcome for his patients. I always saw athletes in the waiting room, which is just another indicator that this is the place to go if you are active and want to have the best results. read more

His office ignores all emails, voicemails and calls. Literally does not respond AT ALL

Very nice, and thorough. My general doctor put my cortisone shot in wrong and it made my shoulder worse. I also had previously seen a physical therapist that made my shoulder worse, so this whole process was discouraging. Doctor Yau diagnosed me with frozen arm, which was new information to me. He used an ultrasound device to make sure the shot went into the right area. I felt immediate relief and more range of motion. He referred me to a different physical therapist that he highly recommended. Unfortunately, the physical therapist was booked for about two months. Dr. Yau went ahead and called the physical therapist personally and got him to make an appoint with me three days later. Definitely got the feeling he wants to help me get better and cares. read more

I have seen and been operated on by both Dr. Ryu, and Dr. Yau, and I wouldn't want to EVER see anyone else. Dr. Ryu for a torn rotator cuff and Dr. Yau for my quad tendon that ripped off from the knee. Both Ryu and Yau are the best at what they do. I have read other reviews that squawk about lack of bedside manners, but my experience was quite the opposite. Dr. Ryu will be very direct and to the point. If that is interpreted as a lack bedside manners, then so be it. I appreciated his direct candor. If your're looking for great results, then look no further. If you're looking for hand holding then book a room at the Biltmore Hotel where they might place a mint on your pillow before you retire for bed. My rotator cuff couldn't be better today thanks for Dr. Ryu, and my surgery was at least 7 years ago. My quad tendon surgery was one year ago and Dr. Yau made me a whole man again. I needed a cadaver tendon and my situation was not just routine. I don't believe there was anyone better to see than Dr. Yau. The office visits are handled like a well oiled machine. I have never seen a doctors office work so efficiently when dealing with a great deal of patience each day. I have never had to wait more than just a few minutes after my appointment time to be taken back to a room before seeing Dr. Yau or Dr. Ryu. My review is not a fake review. I am very sincere about what I wrote here. And I now reside in Tucson, Arizona. But if I needed to have any type of orthopedic surgery completed again, I would travel back to Santa Barbara and see either Dr. Ryu or Dr. Yau without a doubt. read more

Having torn my legiments and tendons off my left hip after a fall, other doctors told me I was going to have to head to UCLA because they didn't perform the procedure. I went to Dr. Yau and he said he could do it. I cant tell you what a wonderful experience I had with him, he is very professional, my hip is back almost to normal and doesn't hurt. His anesthesiologist for that operation was phenominal. She made me comfortable as I don't do well with Anesthesia. Dr. Yao I would recommend over and over again, he is top of the line. Wendy Reid read more

Dr. Yau, his PA and the Ryu Hurvitz office staff have all been great over the last year that I've been seeing him. Each visit he spends time to explain the progress and what the treatment options are so I can decide. Hopefully I'll never have to see him again, but if I do, I know I'll be in good hands. read more

Dr. Yau is incredibly skilled, generous and kind. My mother recently broke her wrist and was seen in the ED at Cottage Hospital. Dr. Yau was on call and came late in the evening to care for my distressed mother. This is the beginning of Dr. Yau going above and beyond to meet the needs of my mother. Dr. Yau and his associates have been generous in meeting the unique financial needs of my mother given her current unemployment. I could not imagine a more compassionate and yet professional doctor to work with. The care we have received from Dr. Yau has exceeded all expectations. We can never thank him enough for his care and generosity. He comes highly recommended. read more

Last March my 3 year old broke her arm in a jumpy house and we brought her to Santa Barbara Cottage Emergency. Needless to say mom and dad and sister were freaking out inside! Our 3 year old was rather calm mostly due to the caring staff at Cottage and Dr. Yau. I could go on and on about how great he is but 5 stars pretty much explains it. He is great with children and we feel so lucky that he was there for us. read more

My daughter's sport is swimming and she has been experiencing knee pain especially when she would do the breast stroke. I was lucky to get an appointment for her to see Dr. Yau right away. He was very nice and took the time examine her knees thoroughly and allow her and me to ask questions. He explained her diagnosis in a clear and concise manner. My son had a knee injury 6 months ago and we saw a different doctor from another practice. While the experience was okay and the doctor knew his stuff, I definitely prefer Dr. Yau's bedside manner, professionalism and knowledge. I must also mention the office staff was very courteous and professional. read more

Arguably the best knee and shoulder doc in SB. Great bedside manner and personality. Sees a lot of SB's athletes and is a good doc to get a 2d opinion from. read more

I have been seeing him over a year and a half and he has amazing bedside manners, smart, and knows what he's doing. I don't write reviews but I hope more people choose him as a doctor. I never have to wait long at all to be seen or called back and the staff are wonderful. I highly recommend him read more

I consulted with Dr. Yau last year for hardware removal from my leg. We ultimately scheduled surgery for September 2014. I really liked Dr. Yau. He is super easy going and was patient about answering my page full of questions. He did a fine job on my leg, and is quite a seamstress with the stitching. read more

If you're looking for superior Orthopedic/Chiroprsctic Dr.'s with excellent bedside manner, be sure to give Dr. Yay & Ryu a call. They are the best around. I've worked with them often the last few years taking them my elite level athletes. They are awesome and know what they are talking about. read more

Tripped over the family dog and Injured my left rotator cuff, etc. while evacuating from the Thomas Fire. Dr. Yau has a great bedside manner, is very compassionate and patiently worked with me during my long and extensive recovery. read more

I slipped and fell and broke my knee cap in 4 places, Dr.Yao did emergency surgery and did an excellent job of putting my knee back together. I am 4 months post surgery and have almost full range of movement. He has followed my progress, works closely with my physical therapist and is, in addition to being a fine surgeon, a caring and compassionate human. read more

Dr. Yau operated on my special needs daughter's knee. I was apprehensive about her care because of all the rehab involved. Dr. Yau took the time to discuss all the options and was honest about his concerns. Surgery went great and with Dr. Yau's leadership she has completed her rehab and healed beautifully. I really appreciate the kindness, concern and care he has shown my family. read more

I chose Dr Yau based on the Yelp reviews. I can only think they were phony reviews because I had a terrible time at his clinic. I have a fractured patella and my leg had been immobilized in the 'ER from a fall. This was my first visit to Dr Yau. I was on time for the appt, but the waiting room was full and I had to wait. I was told to "take a seat." Well with a leg in a cast one has to sit with the leg extended. There was NO facility for doing that here in this orthopedic office. So the receptionist told me to stand 'over there' to wait. Well as a senior with a an injured knee cap, standing a long time is not an option. So they put me in a treatment room but again, no way to keep my leg raised. So my husband went a got a trash can, put a pillow on it and raised my leg. X-rays were taken. Dr Yau came in and spent maybe 3-4 minutes with me. Didn't explain much. Obviously he was very rushed as the waiting room was full. He asked nothing about me, left no time for questions. Medicine at its worst, in my opinion. Completely impersonal. I asked the medical assistant if she could show me how to use the walker correctly as I only had it for one day so far. She said she knows nothing about that, but would try to find someone in the office who did. Remember, this is an orthopedic office where they are supposed to give competent care to people who can't walk! No one provided much help. They filled out the paper for a temporary disabled sticker for my car incorrectly. Had to send my husband back to have it redone! I asked for a disc with the X-rays and they were too busy to give me one while I was there so my husband had to go back...again! There are a lot of orthopedic doctors in Santa barbara. Obviously I made a poor choice. Just trying, with this review, to spare other people the terrible experience I had at this office. read more

I completely tore my hamstring muscles from where they are attached, and needed surgery to re-attach them. This kind of injury only happens to a handful of people in Santa Barbara every year, and most Doctors in Santa Barbara still refer patients who need this type of operation to L.A., since there really is no one but Dr. Yau who has the experience to perform this surgery. I was very glad my own Orthopedic Doctor referred me to Dr. Yau, instead of having to go to L.A. And after a lot of research, and talking to other people from different places who had the same operation, I decided to have the surgery performed by Dr. Yau. The operation was a total success, and my recovery was extremely fast, given that most people take 4 to 6 months to be able to walk comfortably without pain. Even though I was already 69 when this all happened, I am now walking, hiking and doing all exercises and activities I used to do, as if I never had an operation. Don't even ever think about it - and that is after I only had the operation 7 months ago!! I am extremely grateful for his expertise and knowledge!! Dr. Yau is very personable, listens to your concerns, and makes you feel comfortable! VERY glad we have such a great Doctor in this town! Would recommend anyone to see Dr. Yau read more

Dr Yau, Jervis is such an amazing doctor and surgeon. I have been seeing him since February 2016 and he has been nothing but helpful!! He always has a smile on his face which eases my mind when I am in there and he is extremely knowledgable even though my shoulder problem is really rare. Every time I am in the office I don't have to wait, they get me in right away and Dr Yau comes in and spends at least 10-15 min with me explaining what is going on and examining my shoulder. Unfortunately my shoulder has just had a lot of unexpected issues but Dr Yau has been studying my shoulder and knows it very well now so hopefully I am on the mend!! I've been through two surgeries with him and he gives me the best medical advice before doing anything and is very descriptive when explaining what he did after operating. The scars are extremely small on my shoulder because his stitch work was excellent. He is friendly, easy to talk to, he listens to everything I have to say, he always answers my questions in a way that I can understand and I can tell that he really wants to help me heal. I have even called Dr Yau at home when I thought something was wrong after surgery and he picked up and was really helpful and even had his assistant follow up with me after the weekend was over. I feel like I am part of his family when I see him. The office is clean and everyone is always friendly and professional. Dr Yau's medical assistant is really helpful as well...She always returns my phone calls on the same day and does her best to take care of any concerns I have that same day. I love this clinic and I would definitely recommend Dr Yau!!! read more