WARNING !!! Dr. Nicholas Mast, MD, of his SF Hips and Foundation, has created a dead space in my left hip replacement area, where he performed his minutes in surgery; he does one right after the other. This factory-style machine he has built can cause a disastrous outcome. I kept telling him I was in pain- he said NO, you're not. I wanted to believe that my surgeon knew best and I would heal, and the horrible pain would go away - finally, after my PCP did an MRI over a year later, with me living in chronic pain, walking assisted with canes. Thank God for my PCP and NP, at Sutter Health, they found out my hip has fluid around the hardware. Then the great doctors and PAs at California Pacific Orthopedic, along with many understanding surgeons and doctors who know, I have been wronged by Dr. Nicholas Mast. My hip still has to be drained even now! His lawyer, Virgil Pryor, got involved when I was trying to handle it politely, based on what my insurance company said he would owe me back. They had the nerve to send an NDA for only the co-pays. In return, they offered it as a "gratuitous act. " To make it where I am unable to sue for malpractice and take away my First Amendment Rights?!?! I am disabled, cannot work as I did prior, nor dance as I did daily. I have spent a massive amount of money on physical therapy, new doctors, medications, and hired support -this list is long of a huge amount of money, time, energy, pain, and suffering- now I have major debt -even with the best health care insurance level possible. Dr. Mast, aka MASK. missed the mark and I am still not healed from the surgery that generally takes a few months. Because of Dr. Mast's negligence and oversight, I was not cleaned up correctly at the end of his surgery. He and his lawyer have deliberately drawn things out. His lawyer was always too busy; in trial, or he's out of town. The excuses were all lies to draw out time. Now I can only sue in small claims and go to the Medical Board. Dr. Masks has narcissistic traits; the ego of this surgeon has a God Complex, it's very sad. There was a time when I thought he was the best; I felt safe and trusted him completely. His office ladies are so kind and go-along gals. He doesn't have one male on his crew; his ego is too inflated. I'm a gay man and didn't notice the red flags. I didn't notice that he is homophobic, and the care he gives wealthy older married women and men is far greater, lavishing them with gifts. I saw him give a signed, framed jersey to a very old, very wealthy client. As they told me about their extreme wealth, they are his cash-pay, super-care-level clients. I didn't know he had such until after my surgery in his office that day. What a shame that my surgeon, whom I thought was a great man, ended up a MASKED man, only fueled by greed. He abandoned me and stopped taking my insurance and charged me cash up front for the initial super painful fluid drainage, which He caused. Dr. Mast will take zero responsibility. I was 54 years old, and cortisone and gel shots should have been his first choice of medical care, not a total hip replacement. He is greedy, fake, and, in the end, very cruel. There are so many better options for care; check out other surgeons. read more

Excellent doctor!!! I wish I had him do my original hip replacement surgery. I've been in pain since the surgery in 2019. I've complained to my original surgeon about the ongoing issues. She says I have tronchanter bursitis.But, I've had what I call a crevice from my hip in the middle of the outer upper thigh. Well, apparently when the surgeon made the posterior cut the parts that were cut did not reattach. So, I'm left with this painful exterior of my hip and I also have gluteal tears and tendonopathy. I'm worse off than before I had the surgery. Dr. Mast just injected my hip with lidocaine and cortisone. It's better now but it will never be 100. Do your research on your surgeon. read more

Nicholas H. Mast, MD - That's how I left the hospital and was sent to rehab. That orange color is not antiseptic it is body fluid. - Orthopedists Near Me - San Francisco, California

Dr Mast was very rude , uncaring , dismissive and didn't want to be bothered with me! I felt completely deflated when I left , cried all the way home .... I have to say the front desk was very nice tho read more

I would have written a review earlier but I did not realize Dr. Mast was on Yelp. I had seen another surgeon and not feeling comfortable with the analysis I sought a second review. I almost feel like it was divine the way I found him; as it was a tip from my neighbor ( a Pilates instructor in Sonoma) in Los Cabos MX. I can't even express how wonderfully the procedure and my quality of life has changed. It had been bone on bone and I had struggled with it for years. Post surgery I walked with a walker for a few days....then started for real walking. The physical therapist had never seen anything like it (Burger Physical Therapy-Folsom, CA). She called my name and I literally jumped to my feet- her jaw dropped. She had me do some movements; and inspected the scar and said she had never seen such a pristine job. Dr. Mast carefully inserts the replacement not ok I will say it hacking through any muscles etc. There is nothing to heal except for the bone to accept it and grow around (into) it. I returned to jogging; stretch and yoga flexing excercises 100%. No pain- no issues- I have had quite a few surgeries and Dr. Mast is top notch- the best. I am I think on my third year I think and have total strength back. I never had realized how much your hip controls lifting strength and leg strength all the way down to your toe flexing. If your hip is bad have him fix it. It is a life changing event. Oh and I have no scar. He replaced the entire hip and (being a beach bikini gal even though I am 70) you can't see the scar......amazing. read more

Nicholas H. Mast, MD - Orthopedists Near Me - San Francisco, California

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5 Star surgeon and office staff. Dr. Mast replaced my right hip in 2017 and left in May, 2021 weeks ago. I'm the happiest 73 year old bionic woman in Marin County- 7 weeks after surgery I'm back to walking, hiking and biking PAIN FREE! A miracle thanks to the Mast staff's expertise, technology and culture of caring. Doesn't get any better. Thank you! read more

Nicholas H. Mast, MD - Back to riding my Ebike with bionic hip! So happy. - Orthopedists Near Me - San Francisco, California

I wanted to update this review as I recently had the hardware removed from my hip and Dr. Mast and staff were still as impeccable and kind as ever. I had to cancel the initially scheduled hardware removal surgery because I found out I was pregnant about a week beforehand! I had a very active, healthy pregnancy, with no hip pain, thanks to Dr. Mast and my PAO. I've attached a picture of Dr. Mast and his "PAO Baby." It was bittersweet at my last appointment as I likely don't have a need return, and Dr. Mast truly does feel like family to my husband and me. But it was wonderful to bring my daughter and have everyone get to meet her. If you have hip pain, I highly recommend seeing Dr. Mast for a consultation. I saw many doctors, physical therapists and surgeons before Dr. Mast, and none of them knew what was going on with my hip or believed my pain. Dr. Mast not only gave me back my life, he gave my daughter hers. read more

Nicholas H. Mast, MD - Orthopedists Near Me - San Francisco, California

I'm eight weeks into recovery for my total hip replacement with Dr. Nicholas Mast, I chose him out of four surgeons that I saw previously because of his excellent results based on numerous high rated reviews and his extensive experience with the anterior hip replacement method. Dr. Mast did an excellent job and I am pain free at this point, I can walk easily, go up and down stairs, and even dance! In addition to his excellent work, Dr. Mast, his office team and the surgery center in Novato are all patient, kind and helpful individuals. read more

So fortunate to have met Dr. Mast. He and his office staff are wonderful as is my new hip.

I took my mother to him because she's been suffering from hip arthritis for many years. Mast has very poor bedside manner. He literally came into our room without introducing himself, quickly got flustered by the questions I asked (OK I asked a lot, but I am worried for my mother), rushed the encounter, used a lot of hyperbolic statements to worry us, and did not show a hint of empathy and compassion. Maybe he's a good hip replacement surgeon, but I didn't feel comfortable trusting him with my mother's life. read more

Dr. Mast replaced my right hip in December, 2021 and my left hip yesterday! I had an incredible experience with my right hip throughout the entire process, from my initial exploratory session through post-surgical evaluations. Dr. Mast has extraordinary empathy, a quality that I honestly didn't consider until I started researching surgeons for my procedure. This empathatic approach extends through Dr. Mast's entire practice, including his exceptional team and his process. Even my post-surgery PT remarked on the thoroughness of Dr. Mast's prescribed therapeutic approach to physical therapy. Not only is Dr. Mast a legit, hip replacement rockstar, he is a second-generation hip replacement rockstar. HIs father was truly an iconic surgeon in this field, recognized for his breakthrough innovations. That is NOT to say that Mast's approach are experimental or radical. His anterior approach is thoroughly modern, but one that he's practiced for well over 10 years (perhaps 20) and he has 1000s of successful surgeries. You owe it to yourself to consider Dr. Mast as your surgeon. Even if you live far away (FWIW, I traveled 4 hours by car), your understanding of Dr. Mast's approach will set a high bar when you are looking at surgeons in your area. read more

I first saw Dr. Mast last fall when l began to experience intense pain in my right hip. He took some X-rays and did a brief physical exam the result being a diagnosis of tronchanteric bursitis. I was prescribed PT and sent on my way. Despite PT, the pain continued to get worse until it became debilitating, disrupting every aspect of my daily activities and my sleep! I can barely walk and need a cane to get by. l went back to Mast a few weeks ago and he was dismissive. Indeed, he kept looking at his watch which was so insulting. Worse, however, was how incredibly patronizing he was about my pain. He literally told me that if l did a few specific exercises that the pain would be gone in two days. Seriously? He ended by giving me a handout of 'cookie cutter' exercises for tendinopathy. I did try his 'miracle exercises' only to end up in far worse pain! My PCP decided we should get an MRI. In order to get authorization, my insurance company required the radiology report from the X-rays taken by Mast last fall. The radiologist report clearly stated that there might be a fracture and that an MRI was recommended for further diagnosis. My PCP and l were just stunned! Why didn't Mast look at the radiologist report? According to his office manager, he never looks at those reports because he doesn't need to. Stunned again! l had my MRI today and it turns out the radiologist, whose report Mast ingnored, was indeed correct. I have a stress fracture of the right femoral neck! This could, and should, have been treated months ago. The absolute arrogance of Mast (and his office manager) have caused months of unnecessary pain and increased the damage to the hip. Shame on you Dr. Mast! read more

At age 58, I returned to Dr. Mast three weeks ago to have my second hip done (you can see my first review dated 5/6/2016). I had osteoarthritis on both sides, and the right side had progressed to the point that I just wanted it fixed. Dr. Mast and team did not disappoint. This time, I had out-patient surgery (yes, during Covid--no problem), and was home for dinner. Dr. Mast had moved to different facilities since my first surgery, but his team, including P.A., Dr. Kari Vanocker, were still in tact 4+ years later--good sign. As it was for my left hip, the recovery for my right hip has been remarkably fast. I used pain meds during the day for only the first several days after surgery, and then increasingly-smaller amounts at night to help sleep. That said, I pushed myself too hard in the first 10 days (home office too close, due to Covid), and realized the value of more rest. While Dr. Mast's approach is as minimally invasive as it gets, it is still major surgery. As background, I did my research the first time around and found that Dr. Mast was an early adopter of the Hana operating table (Google it), which allows full hip replacement to be done by anterior approach, but through a minimally invasive incision, with little or no damage to muscles or tendons. The table also allows good adjustment during surgery to get leg length as perfect as possible. Not surprisingly, many more surgeons have adopted this technique with the Hana table since 2016, but few will have done as many surgeries on it as Dr. Mast and team. I walked out of the hospital, 6+ hours after surgery, with only a cane (which I used for a day). From right after surgery, my new hip has felt GREAT. I've walked every day since, and done lots of stairs right from the start (one stair at a time off and on over the first week). I've been walking increasing amounts daily, and can go easily a mile now, just 3 weeks from surgery date. My wife says my gait is looking good! Life is returning to normal (for a pandemic, that is!). The ultimate is when you forget for a moment that you even had hip surgery. I've had glimmers of that, but probably still a week or so to go on forgetting about it regularly. I'm not complaining. Thankfully, I'm fresh out of hips to replace, but I'm thankful for the good work of Dr. Mast and his team. read more

Six weeks after my anterior hip replacement, I am able to do things I have not been able to do for the seven months leading up to the surgery. I met a number of very good doctors as I looked for a surgeon, but the choice of Doctor Mast was a no-brainer. He, his staff, and Saint Mary's Hospital made the procedure into a walk in the park (well, almost). I've been amazed at how little pain I had and how quickly I regained nearly full function. Examples: 1) After only six weeks, I only carry the cane for a sense of security; I don't really need it to walk. 2) My physical therapist has me doing squats and practicing getting up from a chair quickly 10 or 20 times in a row, without using arms. Getting up once used to take 5 minutes and required leaning on a table. Abigail and Kari, Dr. Mast's physician's assistants, are exceptionally responsive, informative, and caring. read more

Dr. Mast and his assistant Dr. Evar Saelee , I couldn't be more pleased. Every good review for them I triple. Last week I could hardly walk with such pain from bone on bone osteoarthritis etc. with their expertise I was walking with NO pain the day after surgery. And have been even better every day! One night in hospital and home with minimum restrictions. I'll be forever grateful to them. And I'm a 91 year old lady! So many thanks. read more

I walked into surgery with Dr. Mast four years ago a healthy happy person with a hip that one day would need surgery and some occasional pain in that hip. I walked out of the hospital a cripple. From the moment I woke up from the surgery, I have not had one pain free moment. I know now this will not change, and I will be experiencing this pain for the rest of my life. I will never be able to bike ride again, or do any of the myriad physical activities I used to enjoy. My podiatrist told me that the operated leg is an inch longer than my other leg, and this has now begun to create difficulties for the other side of my body. The last pain free walk I took was two days before the surgery. It was two miles long. I now have trouble walking to my car. Most of the time, I walk wIth a cane. I have done countless hours of physical therapy which have resulted in only marginal of relief. My primary care doctor, as she was writing out a prescription for a permanent handicap placard, asked me if I had received any compensation for past and future pain and suffering. She was quite shocked to hear I had not. The only benefit of the surgery was getting the placard, and while it is nice to be able to get a parking space close to my destination, I would so much rather have a life free of pain and be able to do the things I love. With my last Yelp review, Dr. Mast wrote to me privately accusing me of trying to ruin his business. Should I conversely accuse him of trying to ruin my life, because that has been the result.. I would ask him never ever to contact me again. The mere thought of him provokes a PTSD response and makes me shudder. read more

I had my 2nd hip replacement surgery with Dr. Mast 2 weeks ago and I'm doing terrific. My pain level is maybe a 2 and I'm using a cane to get around. He replaced my other hip 6 months ago and I'm thrilled to say my legs feel perfectly even! I'm also pleased to see that the 5" incision across my groin line is healing beautifully and will match the other side. I give Dr. Mast and his entire team a A plus rating. My experience has exceeded my expectation. If anyone wants to chat my email is Linda.r.ryan@gmail.com and you can send me your phone number. read more

TL:DR If you need hip surgery - Dr Mast is your guy When I figured out the only fix for my problematic hip was surgery - I was completely terrified. My way of dealing with the fear is to be as well informed as possible, so I set about doing a LOT of research. First I figured out that I wanted my replacement done via the anterior approach - it was a no-brainer for me selecting an option that does not cut some of the strongest muscles in my body. Then I went about finding my surgeon. I compiled my shortlist and met with them- and Dr Mast stood out from all of them. First of all he clearly has extensive experience and a real passion for getting people back to doing what they want to do - and he didn't bat an eye when I explained that I hoped to go back to my circus classes. So from a surgical perspective I knew he'd do a good job - but what was equally important for me was the fact that he took the time to answer all my questions about all aspects of the procedure and addressed all my concerns. He has also assembled a really fantastic team of people around him who also patiently helped me find the information I wanted in the run up to my surgery. This meant that I went into the procedure extremely well prepared - and there were no surprises - except perhaps how easy my recovery was. I was fantastically looked after in the surgical center, home the afternoon of surgery, only the occasional Tylenol from day 3 and walking unassisted in under a week. It is now a couple of months later and my lifelong wonky walk is gone and I just have a tiny scar to show that I had a replacement. I am enormously grateful not only for the skillful surgery, but the patience and kindness I experienced that meant that I actually showed up for an elective procedure that terrified me. read more

Injured both hips. Significant and constant pain involving joints, gluteal muscles, tendons, and trochanters on both legs. I saw 3 doctors. One wanted to know if I was suing. "In which case there is a lot of things we would recommend you do." Then a friend told me about "Dr. Hips" aka Dr. Nicholas Mast. Began research. In addition to all his medical training Dr. Mast completed an 8 month fellowship with the prestigious Schulthess Clinic, Zurich Switzerland. Most impressive, https://www.schulthess-klinik.ch/en/ Next, his C.V. His office was kind and forwarded me a copy. He has written numerous clinical journal articles. I read the ones relevant to me or so I thought. First visit, Dr. Mast was compassionate, calm and reassuring. I had a lot of questions. He was gracious as he listened to me. Afterwards he asked "It appears to me you have not had a diagnosis, have you?" No. Three doctors and not one had given me a diagnosis. Patiently he explained in detail the results of the X-rays I had that morning. Excellent images, high clarity, made it easy to see and follow his explanation. He answered more questions. My joints had minor deterioration and a few tears (he had a copy of my MRIs). He explained, point by point, what was causing the pain. Unfortunately both hips were damaged, almost mirror images of each other, likely due to torsion in the fall. Dr. Mast recommended physical therapy, facia massage and hot/cold compresses. He explained that increased blood flow would help healing. My tendons were partially detached. That area does not have a lot of blood flow, harder to heal. My future option would be stapling them. Approximately 3 months later, after following his recommendations, I returned. Carrie, PA for Dr. Mast did a thorough review of my symptoms. Watched me walk. Answered many questions in detail, patiently. I have NO PAIN. My ability to function is almost normal. I can walk 4 miles several times a week, at a pretty good clip, and do almost everything I did before. Occasionally, if sitting in one position for a long time I feel a light pain. It leaves when I move around. Dr. Mast attributes this progress to PT and I concur. It's works. http://www.folsomphysicaltherapy.net Thank you Folsom PT! Thank you Dr. Mast, Carrie, the X-Ray technician whose name escapes me, and Christi for superb care, and follow up. Appreciated the computer monitoring system that shows where you were in terms of pain/function when you arrived and charts your progress. Great tool. Thank you Dr. Mast and team, you have done a masterful job of helping and healing me. Respectfully, Merrilee P. read more

Dr. Mast did my total right hip replacement two and a half years ago at age 47. Before my hip arthritis began I was very active, a runner, yoga always on the go but over a short time I became wheelchair bound. The surgery was so much of a smaller deal than I expected: more like a dental procedure than major surgery. It was done under local anesthetic, took 45 minutes and I awoke in less pain than when I went under. I spent one night in the hospital and did have a couple days of pain but was dancing 4 days after the replacement and have gone back to life as active as ever! I can rock climb, do hours of yoga a week, do Jiu Jitsu and 10s of miles of hiking. The experience was better than I ever could have imagined!!! If you are young and ready to get back to your intensely active life I highly recommend Dr. Mast for your total hip replacement. At age 50 I have a new lease on life and look forward to a very active next 50 years! read more

I had previously written a bad review for Dr. Mast's office because of the extreme difficulties getting hold of and dealing with the billing department. Dr. Mast's office manager called me after reading my review and rectified the situation. She was kind and considerate, and explained that their contract with the billing service has been terminated because of several complaints. I appreciate that they care about patients and are listening and rectifying errors. Dr. Mast himself was extremely attentive and thorough, and has a great bedside manner. His staff were also very friendly and professional. Other than the billing department, I would say that Dr. Mast and his staff are extremely competent. read more

If you're a person who goes straight to the conclusion, here's mine: Nick Mast is the finest hip and pelvis surgeon on the West Coast -- or further. Full disclosure, I am a physician (internal medicine/palliative care) and I've had 2 spinal surgeries -- besides my first hip replacement about 5 years ago, done by a different surgeon with an excellent reputation. He did his best, using sophisticated hardware to deal with my complicated history. But my hip pain returned within 3 months, then worsened. After many frustrating evaluations and imaging procedures, I went to a leading hip subspecialist at UCSF. He was puzzled by my presentation and my xrays. He told me he could do another surgery, but (having worked with many orthopedists for my own patients) I could tell he wasn't enthusiastic about taking on my case, and I didn't approve of his plan -- I wanted the anterior approach. He referred me on to Dr. Mast, who made the correct diagnosis at first glance. He told me revision surgery (removing previous hardware and placing a new stem and cup, as both were bad) would be tricky, and he gave me no guarantees. But having done my homework, I knew he had literally gone around the world to learn from the foremost specialists in this area, so I went with him. He had to work on both my hip and my pelvis, as my first cup was extra large. Long story short, I just had my 12 week followup after revision surgery. The result is as good as it could possibly be. Nothing in medicine is perfect, but this job comes as close as you can get. For the first time in 5 years I can walk without a hint of pain, and I'm even starting to jog -- which would have been a nightmare before. I'm not sure I'll ever go back to skiing -- but I could. If you're looking for the best hip and pelvis surgeon in the Bay Area and beyond, Nick Mast is it. read more

I can't say enough good things about Dr Mast and his knowledge and expertise performing anterior hip replacements and his compassion with his patients! He is truly a rare surgeon that goes above and beyond to ensure each patient has a successful result. He prepared my 85 year old mom for her surgery with pre-hab exercises so she would be strong before surgery making her post-op recovery easier, quicker, and more successful. 100% success! She is now 90 and still driving, swimming, and gardening with her new hip. She brags about him to everyone! And on top of being an expert surgeon, she told him he's very handsome too, haha! I hope he mentors many more orthopedic surgeons through his nonprofit foundation (hipsterfoundation.org) to use the techniques he has practiced so if I ever need a hip replacement and Dr Mast has retired, I'll still be in good hands. read more

Dr. Mast is a very personable guy and an excellent doctor. I am 68. He replaced my left hip in June of 2022. It could not have gone better. He explains everything, he has a great staff who go out of thier way to help. I was very pleasantly surprised by how positive my experience was at Novato Community Hospital. Everything ran on time, nurses were incredible, parking easy, the whole experience was as good as it can be from start to finish. After six weeks I am pretty much pain free and walking fine. read more

Both hips are still amazing! I jog, play volleyball, lift weights, stand up paddle board, bike, hike and travel when not on lockdown from COVID. Any questions regarding the absolutely incredible and FABULOUS Dr. Mast......please email! Rochellecarr@me.com read more

Dr. Mast has given me back my happy life, my confidence, my love for life. For over a year, I had ever increasing pains in my right hip. I could not walk even short distances, and I became quite immobilized. When I first learned that I needed hip replacement surgery, I was very concerned. Unfortunately, I did not feel comfortable having the procedure at the hospital where I was at the time. I was recommended Dr. Mast, and after reading the many, many wonderful and very helpful reviews, and watching his lectures, I felt like a great weight was lifted from my shoulders. I instantly felt great confidence that I needed to have this operation as soon as possible, and that I needed to come to Dr. Mast. I learned that Dr. Mast is one of a few surgeons who performs anterior hip replacement surgery. Doctors who perform this kind of surgery must be very skilled. In addition, the recovery period is much faster and easier than post-anterior surgery. Upon meeting with and coming under the care of Dr. Mast and his staff, I felt already at ease. The entire office was so welcoming. Nydia, one of Dr. Mast's staff members, called to check on me several times before the operation, which was very comforting. She was so caring and warm. On the day of the operation, my family and I were welcomed to such a caring team. All of the physicians assistants, anesthesiologist, nurses, and of course Dr. Mast, were so knowledgable, helpful, and warm. We are deeply and truly touched by the great emotional support that they showed us. Before the operation, Dr. Mast's assistant Kari, made sure that we all felt comforted. It was very special to have such great empathy and warm support from her. My operation and recovery period went very well! I actually had no pain at all after the operation. On the second day after the operation, I was already able to go out of the house and with time, could do more and more things, from walking around the house, to walking on stairs, to doing everything that I used to do before I had my hip problem. The first day when we went out of the house, many people who had seen me before could not believe that I just had my operation just the day before. In fact, other specialists and people who have gone through or observed the recovery of the operation in other people, could not believe this either. It is very important to do physical therapy. It is very important to safely stretch out the muscles and the joint and to be mobile. After a few sessions with my physical therapist, he told me that I no longer needed any more sessions. I would also like to mention one of the nurses at St. Mary's, Maria, who is Russian speaking. She took such great care of me after the operation. Not only does she have great skill, but she a wonderful and beautiful soul. It is quite possible, that in some time, I will need to have a second hip-replacement surgery, and for me, it is no doubt that I will only go to Dr. Mast. I am truly so grateful for Dr. Mast and his work. G-d has truly blessed him with a great gift, and the ability to help so many people, as can be seen from the great many other testimonials. May he have many great years ahead to help people so much! Thank you so much once again Dr. Mast! To you, and to your entire staff! With great warmth, Marina Schmidt. read more

Dr Mast is the best of the best. He is incredibly knowledgeable and professional, as are his assistants, Kari and Abigail. He made a potentially horrible procedure (hip replacement) a super positive and relatively pain free experience for me. I have two friends who recently had their hips replaced (with different surgeons) and did not have the positive experience that I did, nor were they as mobile as quickly as I. Dr. Mast had come highly recommended to me, and after my experience, I see why. He is s master in the field. read more

I feel so blessed to have gotten connected with Dr. Mast for hip surgery!!,! He was able to see me a week sooner than another doctor I tried and I was in so much pain, I went with him, and I am SO glad I did!! When he looked at my x-rays, and saw how bad my hip was, he very kindly fit me in as fast as he could. His entire team was so friendly, well organized and efficient, and they guided me through all the pre-op steps. Dr. Mast did an excellent "bikini cut" incision, and it healed very quickly. He and his team took great care of me before and after the surgery, following up with me until I was fully recovered, walking, and even dancing, freely and without pain. I highly recommend Dr. Mast and his well oiled team of professionals! read more

What an incredible experience all around!!! I deliberated far too long to get a hip replacement and am so thrilled I chose Dr Mast to perform. I even went out of network for him... Worth every penny. I'm 3 months post op and feel amazing, better than I have in years and beyond what I thought possible. DR Masts' staff is a clear indication of the caliber of his ethics and work. Ms Kris,his office manager, was so detailed, kind,compassionate and answered all my questions, and there were plenty! What an awesome team,I couldn't be happier! The Northbay Surgical Center was top notch as well, seasoned ,I knew I was in the best hands. I am truly blessed to have been in Dr Masts' care. read more

Dr. Mast replaced my hip nearly 4 years ago. I think about how life changing the process was and how grateful I am to his superb skill set. I'm on my way home from a Mountain Biking and hiking adventure throughout Moab Utah. My daughter and I are celebrating her graduation from her Civil Engineering Masters program. I do rehab exercises daily, and they pay off big time. I can do everything a 46 year old should be doing. I met a lady my age who had the same equipment installed in Canada. Her results were not as good as mine. I attribute my great success to Dr. Mast. I will be forever thankful. read more

Dr. Mast and his team are just the best. After a routine check up, I found out I had severe arthritis in my left hip. I was referred to Dr. Mast who said I needed a full hip replacement! I was stunned, I researched other options (there were none!) So three weeks later I had an anterior hip replacement with Dr. Mast at the helm. I am 9 weeks post op and I am pain free! I couldnt happier, if it wasnt done to me I wouldnt have believed how easy this has been. With the care and guidance of Dr. Mast and his amazing team, I am better than ever! read more

Consulted Dr Mast a few times at his San Francisco (St Francis) and Redwood City (SOAR) locations, although he has since departed the latter practice. Free validated parking available in the basement of the St Francis building. Affable and attentive. The wait times to consult with him were a bit long, but his care more than redeemed things. After my initial x-rays were taken askew, he asked the tech to re-take it, patiently waiting to re-consult with me 30 minutes later, without any sense of rush. Note the offices are on the third floor, while x-ray's are taken on the second floor, so patients are reminded to arrive 20 minutes early. For those proactive patients researching their care: -For hip joint preserving procedures such as treating FAI/labral tears, Dr Mast prefers open dislocation to arthroscopy, as this was in which he trained -Due to concerns about metal ions, rarely performs Birmingham hip resurfacing, reserving it for younger male patients -Much prefers the anterior approach for total hip replacements Note his office clinic days are Mondays and Thursday mornings as of writing. read more

Everything about my experience with Dr.Mast and his staff exceeded my expectations. They were great about taking time to answer my questions, providing clear information before surgery, and follow up afterwards. I was back home the same day as surgery and my recovery since then has been amazingly quick! read more

I came to Dr N Mast (after an other surgeon who specializes in hip surgery recommended him) for my left hip. We discussed options, procedure(s), anterior approach, recoup time and therapy. He spent time with me answering all my questions of which there were many, after a very thorough physical exam by him and his AWESOME P.A. KARI, thenwe proceeded to do what needed to get in place for a new left hip. Day of the procedure (St Mary's in SF for me,((Awesome from the minute i walked in to when i left 36 hours later). A very professional team in every aspect of my procedure, surgery on time and much less pain than expected, in fact was off the pain meds in less than 2 days and just on Ibuprofen. I was off the walker in 3 days, off the cane in 10 days and driving (automatic) in less than 10 days. Will recommend Dr N Mast without any hesitation and trust him and his team implicitly. Stop keeping being in pain with limited mobility and get it all done and taken care of by this maestro of the operating room. read more

I am updating my original review. I am 10 months post bilateral hip replacement and just got back from a 10 day trip to Costa Rica. It was the first trip in years in which I didn't suffer hip, back, or knee pain. I was able to zip around airports with a pack on my back and hike around rainforests, zipline, and whitewater raft without once thinking about any limitations. I owe it all to Dr. Mast. p.s. Oh, and I have downhill skied over a dozen times for the season. Thanks again! read more

I am very impressed with the expertise of Dr.Mast and his staff. He was highly recommended to me for being excellent with the Anterior Hip Replacement procedure. My recovery lasted a minimum of five weeks and I'm practically back to normal, resuming all of my routine activities including teaching, hiking, working out at the gym, tennis, etc. Dr.Mast, his P.A. Nurses -Kathleen and Kari, anaestegiologist, OT, PT, and other hospital nurses provided fabulous assistance. If anyone is in need of a hip replacement they should definitely consider Dr.Mast for 100% satisfaction. Prior to the surgery it was very beneficial to review their thorough pamphlet on the Anterior Hip Replacement Approach and a video on the procedure performed by Dr. Mast. It was quite apparent that he had received excellent training from other outstanding doctors including his dad. To be honest, I can't say enough on behalf of Dr.Mast! Doro Laurila, Novato,California read more

Yet again, Dr. Mast and team prove to be the best in the business. i had a right anterior hip replacement about 2 yrs prior and recovery was fantastic. Too much weight lifting and various life activities required me to replace the left hip this past May 6th. Superb care at St. Francis (private room) and nursing could not be better. I was in medicine (EMS) and we make the WORSE patients but all the nursing staff from post-op to med/surg floor was great. Dr. Mast will listen to you and give his honest opinion and he even measured the opposite scar to make sure it matched the new scar! HIGHLY recommended Dr. Mast and ALL his staff! AND i traveled from British Columbia, Canada to SF to the capable hands of Dr. Mast ™ read more

I am 6 weeks out of Bilateral THR. I couldn't be more thrilled with the results! After 8 years of pain (bone on bone severe degenerative osteoarthritis) I am now walking miles with no pain. I cannot believe the difference so quickly. I am 53 years old and I feel like I have gotten my life back. Dr. Mast is kind and obviously excellent at what he does. The anterior approach is a gift, in that the risks of dislocation are minimal, and I can get back to a full and active life. The staff made scheduling easy, and his PA is terrific. I came from Boulder, CO to have this surgery, as my mother lives in SF and could take care of me. If you need hips done, you can't do any better than Dr. Mast. read more

Dr. Mast is a winner! I have heard nothing but good things about him and it is all true. Wonderful doctor!

I was referred to Dr. Nicholas Mast by Dr. Thomas Sampson. After researching, I concurred he was the best surgeon to consult with. After reviewing my MRI and X-ray, he agreed with Dr. Sampson on the need for a hip replacement. He explained the anterior approach method, identified the best implant for my measurements. His office also consulted with my prosthodontist as we needed to make sure my dental procedure was completed prior to my hip surgery. Abigail and Kari were the PAs who guided me thru the process, Kris took care of the scheduling and insurance, and Nydia will be taking care of my disability paperwork. So glad they recommended the Breg ice therapy machine as it is well worth the investment. A major​ caveat: be your own advocate for your pain management as you cannot depend upon the nurses in the hospital. The nurse missed my vein for the IV and thankfully the anesthesiologist​, Dr. Choy, took over. He injected some lidocaine (30 gauge needle, drop by drop) and I barely felt that, and when he said I'd feel some pressure of the IV, I felt nothing. His expertise alleviated my concern about having a spinal (whatever they put in the IV beforehand probably helped as well). And before I knew it, I woke up in bed, and then was escorted as I walked down the hall with a walker with Dr.Mast cheering me on. Next time I would make sure to have morphine before going to sleep the 1st night in the hospital, and then minimize the painkillers​ by cutting back dosage and frequency after the 2nd day. Dosist Relief vape pen (medical cannabis) was key in making sure I did not need a refill with pain meds (didn't finish the bottle). Also, PT is very important. I did not need a cane or walker at home. And very good friends came by to help and support me. I now have quality of life back with my mobility and do not fear stairs or hills. Looking forward to a more active lifestyle :-) Thank you Dr. Mast and team! read more

My mother-in-law was experiencing hip pain. At times it was so intense she couldn't sleep. Dr. Mast was extremely helpful and kind in diagnosing the problem, explaining it and treating it. read more