Picture from 2009
Calvin Lee, MD
Telephone: (209) 551-1888
Location: Surgical Artistry, 4754 Dale Road, Modesto, CA 95356
(we moved March 2019 - across the street from Kaiser Hospital).
Instagram: @calvin_lee_md and @surgical_artistry
Picture from 2009
Calvin Lee, MD is a board certified General Surgeon who has a separate practice dedicated to acupuncture. He has been trained in acupuncture with courses affiliated with Stanford University and relatives and friends trained in acupuncture from China, Taiwan, and Los Angeles.
As a surgeon, Dr. Calvin Lee brings to acupuncture a deeper understanding of acupuncture anatomy - having operated in many of the areas which involve acupuncture needles. Acupressure is also a modality used instead of or in conjunction with acupuncture needles depending on the situation. Dr. Lee also brings surgical dexterity to acupuncture maneuvers. Countless hours in the operating room performing trauma to breast surgeries such as sentinel lymph node biopsies and modified radical mastectomies allow for anatomical experience and surgical dexterity. There are many reasons for a surgeon to practice acupuncture besides anatomy and dexterity. Acupuncture allows Dr. Lee to take care of post operative discomfort (such as nausea) and problems (such as slowed gastrointestinal tract) with Surgical Artistry surgical patients. In many respects, acupuncture can be considered a surgical specialty, but the treatment isn't so much an anatomical treament, but one that affects the energy flow through your body.
Dr. Calvin Lee, MD was born in New York City. He gradually made his way to Brown University (was accepted to Harvard, Stanford, and others but loved Brown U. more) where he received an undergraduate degree in Neurosciences. He also performed brain related research during his years in medical school which was also at Brown University. He met his wife, Dr. Tammy Wu at Brown University. His neuroscience background brings a scientific background to acupuncture. After medical school he pursued General Surgery training at Case Western Reserve and Southern Illinois University. While at Southern Illinois University, he received a teaching award for teaching medical students and surgical residents. Formal medical acupuncture training was obtained subsequently at Stanford University with Joseph Helms, MD leading the courses. He is currently an assistant professor at UC Davis for teaching surgery to family practice residents, physician assistants, and medical residents. He was given a teaching award in 2006 for teaching UC Davis students. Besides acupuncture, Dr. Lee has an active general surgery practice which includes a comprehensive treatment of veins. He is fully board certified in General Surgery by the American Board of Surgery. He came to Modesto in 2003 and worked with the McHenry Medical Group and served as a Trauma Surgeon for Doctor's Medical Center (DMC) Modesto. He started his own practice in Modesto in 2006. Surgical Artistry, Inc, is the name of his practice with Dr. Tammy Wu.
Dr. Calvin Lee, Modesto 2003. Surgeon and
Acupuncturist. (I have much less hair now - and different glasses)
Office telephone number 209-551-1888 (Surgical Artistry, with Dr. Tammy Wu, plastic surgeon). Call for an acupuncture appointment and more information.
We are now located at 4754 Dale Road, Modesto, CA 95356 -
across from Kaiser hospital. We used to be located next to the Hudson Station post office on Sylvan Ave. in
Modesto, CA (2336, Sylvan Ave, Modesto, CA 95355 - we moved to Dale Road in
March 2019).
Acupuncture, a form of alternative medicine / complementary medicine, is part of our wellness center treatments.
Medical Acupuncture is available at Surgical Artistry.
Most acupuncture points are located on the extremities: below the elbows and below the knees. Because of this you will most likely need to wear loose fitting pants that will roll up to your knees and shirts that will roll up to your elbows. Alternatively, you can wear shorts. For back pain that is located in the hips, acupuncture points will be used at the hip level - in such cases there will be towels and throws available. If you're coming straight from work and have uniforms on which are tight, we have patient gowns available - keep in mind we are a plastic surgery and general surgery clinic as well.
The goals are different for each problem and each patient. For most problems, I usually recommend about 4-12 acupuncture treatment sessions over the period of about two months, then going on some kind of maintenance program that could be around one visit a month to one visit every six months. Then again, one doesn't need to be sick to get acupuncture. Therefore, a lot of this is up to you.
I can tell you that 8/10 patients tell me that the needle insertions are completely painless, and find the experience relaxing. 2/10 patients will tell me that it hurts just like a little mosquito bite. They must have been bitten by big mosquitos! And then of course just about zero patients tell me it hurts like crazy; these patients I either don't see or ran away so fast - I guess. I've done acupuncture on myself and thought it hurt a bit, but that was during my training where I didn't realize that the "sample" needles we got for free to use during our acupuncture training were actually considered thick needles reserved for unique situations. I use much thinner needles in my practice and they are about 36 gauge in size. In other words, several of these acupuncture needles can fit into the hole of a regular needle used to draw blood or give shots. I only use the highest quality disposable needles available in the world. My needles happen to be from Japan. Sign up for an acupuncture session and you can hear all about needles! (fun...).
Side note: If you are scared of acupuncture needles - you have good company: I am scared of needles as well - especially the ones used for blood drawing. I'm not afraid to poke people with needles though! But be rest-assured, I will understand if you are anxious.
I will first sit down with you and discuss what you want to achieve from acupuncture. We'll discuss any problems you have, and I'll explain what acupuncture can do for you and answer any questions. I'll most likely take your pulse and look at your tongue which is part of the Chinese medicine diagnosis. Then come up with some wild verbiage such as you have "rising liver fire!" (much more poetic than Western Medicine). We'll look at some acupuncture points on anatomy charts, so you'll have an idea of where these points are so that you are prepared. Then I'll perform acupuncture on you. During the acupuncture session, we'll keep an open dialogue about how you feel, and usually patients start telling me crazy stories which I enjoy tremendously. Our acupuncture treatment rooms are private and we have a CD player you can bring your own CD's if you like. I would really enjoy listening to your CD's - especially if you leave them behind. For those who don't know what CD's are, you could bring your own streaming music on your phone.
Call to find out the details: (209) 551-1888. Most problems require about 4-12 sessions to gain a lasting or reasonable result.
|
I've had the best experience with Dr. Lee and his staff. I've had
several sessions of acupuncture and it's been the best thing to relieve
back pain & hot flashes. He is professional and makes you very
comfortable. I absolutely love his staff and the facility is gorgeous
and very clean! Can't wait to go back. C.M. (Ceres, CA) via yelp |
| First acupuncture treatment for
allergies today and I'm already feeling an AMAZING difference. Can't
wait until the next time I get needles stuck all over my body!
Without meds, I typically am gasping for air, my head pounds,
chest hurts,etc... like having a really nasty cold 24-7. After the
acupuncture, no headaches, no burning sinus sensation, stuffiness and
swelling is nearly gone... it's like I took a very, very effective
antihistamine (but without the side effects). K.B. (Modesto, CA) Jan 5, 2010 |
| Great atmosphere. Dr. Lee is easy to communicate with and very
skilled. I am pregnant again with the help of Dr. Lee. Linzj (Modesto, CA) June, 26, 2009 (click link to see actual review online on Yahoo Local) |
| "I have DDD (disk problems). I was visiting my son and his
wife. My back and neck were frozen with pain. I looked for an acupuncturist on the web and found Dr. Lee. Wonderful doctor and wonderful staff and it was a wonderful experience. It gave me great relief from my condition and I was able to enjoy the
rest of my visit. I am so grateful." J.L. (Southern CA) via email, written October 27, 2008 |
| "The first treatment was amazing! I just wanted to thank you because
it was great to feel an inner sense of peace for several hours-- the
last time I felt that way was when I was para-sailing in Europe. My
allergies have calmed a lot thanks to you, and I took the gold pin out
on the second day. I tell all my friends to go see you and look forward
to seeing you again sometime next month..." A.L. (Waterford, CA) via email, written May 8, 2007 |
| "I wanted to let you know my hip pain is nearly gone. I didn't even
know when it was going to rain, so whatever you did last week really
worked. I haven't lost any weight yet, but have been exercising daily
with all this renewed energy--thank you. I am starting to feel young
again and loving every minute of it! See you at my next appointment. I
will try to have a crazy story, and will definitely want to talk about
your choice of needles--you're a riot!"
K.L. (La Grange, CA) via email, written April 16, 2007 |
Surgical Artistry, Inc. is led by a husband-wife team of dedicated, friendly, Ivy League trained surgeons who provide services in Plastic Surgery, General Surgery, Acupuncture, and Vein Procedures. Dr. Calvin Lee is a board certified General Surgeon who specializes in veins, gallbladders, hernias, breast cancer, and acupuncture. Dr. Tammy Wu is a board certified Plastic Surgeon who specializes in breast and body contouring such as tummy tucks and liposuction. They have been practicing surgery in Modesto since 2003. Under the same roof, botox, lasers, microdermabrasion, facials, Sigvaris support stockings and skin care products are also available.
In addition to superb surgical skills, our focus is communication. Many of our consultations take about an hour to ensure that we become partners in your surgery and that we share the same goals. In addition, our surgical patients have access to our cell phones to call with any questions, and email is also a possible means of communication.
We are very comfortable with advanced technology. Our technology advantage also helps us in your surgical / medical care. We only use the highest grade technology and the best materials in our practice. Our high quality standard and accepting nothing but the best is our philosophy for our family, for our lives, and for our patients.
There are many other advantages of having a plastic surgeon and general surgeon working together. The practice gets a fusion of ideas and techniques that benefit our patients. For example, for breast cancer, Dr. Calvin Lee and Dr. Tammy Wu frequently work together to remove the cancer and then reconstruct the breast with plastic surgical techniques. The doctors are always discussing ways to combine their talents.
Even more special is the addition of Dr. Calvin Lee's acupuncture knowledge which adds a holistic and more natural approach to healing from your surgery. Our synergy of acupuncture, general surgery and plastic surgery is very unique and found very rarely in this world. Come experience it in Modesto, California.
If you are committed to self improvement and excellent health; Surgical Artistry is committed to helping you achieve your goals.
telephone: 209-551-1888
address: 4754 Dale Road, Modesto, CA 95356