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In-Office Procedures
Most of it can be done here, in the room you already know.
A referral to a hospital or a surgical centre adds weeks, a new building, and a physician you have not met. Diagnostic and minor gynecologic procedures are performed at Yunella by Dr. Kim, usually at short notice, usually in under half an hour.
Your physician
Performed by your own physician, not a stranger.
The procedures on this page are not technically difficult. What matters is who is doing them, whether they know your history, and whether anyone explains what is happening while it happens. Those are the parts patients remember.
- ExperienceNearly 30 years in obstetrics & gynecology
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center15 years · OB/GYN residency faculty
- American Board of Obstetrics & GynecologyOral board examiner
- Los Angeles Magazine Top Doctor2020–2024 · 2026
What is performed here
Diagnosis and treatment without leaving the office.
Each of these is done at Yunella by Dr. Kim. Which ones apply depends on why you are here, and every one of them is explained in full before it is scheduled — including what it will feel like.
Looking inside the uterus
- Office hysteroscopy — a thin camera passed through the cervix to see the uterine cavity directly. It finds polyps, fibroids inside the cavity, scarring and other causes of bleeding that a scan can miss.
- Endometrial biopsy — a small sample of the uterine lining, used to evaluate abnormal or postmenopausal bleeding.
- Both take a few minutes. Both cause cramping, which we tell you about beforehand and manage rather than leaving you to discover it.
- Related: fibroids and abnormal bleeding.
After an abnormal Pap
- Colposcopy — magnified examination of the cervix following an abnormal Pap or a positive HPV result.
- Cervical biopsy, taken during the same appointment when an area needs sampling.
- LEEP — removal of abnormal cervical tissue using a fine wire loop, performed here under local anaesthetic when treatment is warranted.
- An abnormal Pap is common and usually not cancer. What your particular result means is explained before anything is scheduled.
Contraception
- IUD placement and removal, hormonal and non-hormonal, with the discomfort discussed honestly rather than minimised.
- Nexplanon placement and removal — the contraceptive implant, placed in the upper arm under local anaesthetic.
- Which option suits you depends on your cycles, your plans, and what you have tried before. That conversation comes first.
- Placement can often be arranged at short notice rather than several weeks out.
Vulvar, vaginal and other procedures
- Vulvar and vaginal biopsy for skin changes, persistent irritation or lesions that have not resolved.
- Bartholin cyst treatment, including drainage and catheter placement where indicated.
- Persistent vulvar symptoms deserve a look rather than another course of cream. Biopsy is quick and is done under local anaesthetic.
- Anything that needs an operating room is performed by Dr. Kim at Cedars-Sinai — see gynecologic surgery.
Waiting on a referral for something small?
Tell us what you have been referred for. If it is on this page, it can usually be done here, and usually sooner.
What to expect
Before, during and after.
- BeforeYou are told what the procedure involves, how long it takes, what it will feel like, and what the alternatives are. Specific preparation depends on the procedure and is given to you in advance.
- ComfortLocal anaesthetic is used where it helps. Cramping is common with uterine procedures, and we would rather warn you than have you discover it.
- DuringMost of these take between five and twenty minutes. Dr. Kim talks you through it as it happens rather than working in silence.
- AfterMost patients drive themselves home and return to normal activity the same day or the next. Specific aftercare is given in writing.
- ResultsAnything sent to pathology is followed up and discussed with you directly, not left in a portal for you to interpret.
This page is general information and is not medical advice. Which procedure is appropriate, and whether it can be done in the office, depends on your individual situation.
Explained
Each procedure, and what it involves.
What is done, why it is done, how long it takes and what it feels like. Every one of these is performed at Yunella by Dr. Kim.
Office hysteroscopy
A thin camera is passed through the cervix to view the inside of the uterus directly. It identifies polyps, fibroids within the cavity, scarring and other causes of abnormal bleeding that ultrasound can miss.
The procedure takes a few minutes and causes cramping similar to a strong period cramp. Local anaesthetic is used where it helps, and most patients drive themselves home afterwards.
Endometrial biopsy
A small sample of the uterine lining is taken with a narrow catheter and sent to pathology. It is the standard evaluation for abnormal uterine bleeding, for bleeding after menopause, and for a lining that appears thickened on ultrasound.
It takes under a minute and causes brief, intense cramping. We tell patients that in advance rather than letting them discover it.
Colposcopy
Magnified examination of the cervix, performed after an abnormal Pap result or a positive HPV test. A solution is applied that highlights areas of abnormal cells so they can be examined and, if needed, sampled.
It is similar to a Pap in position and takes about ten to fifteen minutes. An abnormal Pap is common and usually not cancer; colposcopy is how the significance of a particular result is established.
Cervical biopsy
A small sample of cervical tissue taken during colposcopy when an area needs pathological assessment. It causes a brief pinching sensation and some spotting afterwards.
Results are explained to you directly rather than left in a portal, along with what the next step is, if any.
LEEP
Loop electrosurgical excision procedure removes abnormal cervical tissue using a fine wire loop carrying an electrical current. It is both a treatment and a way of obtaining a larger tissue sample.
LEEP is performed in the office under local anaesthetic and takes around fifteen minutes. Because it removes a portion of the cervix, its implications for future pregnancy are discussed beforehand, particularly for patients who have not completed childbearing.
IUD placement and removal
Both hormonal and non-hormonal intrauterine devices are placed and removed in the office. Placement takes a few minutes and causes cramping, which varies considerably between patients.
We discuss what to expect and what can be done to make it more comfortable before the appointment rather than during it. Which device suits you depends on your cycles, your bleeding pattern and how long you want coverage.
Nexplanon placement and removal
The contraceptive implant is a small flexible rod placed under the skin of the upper arm under local anaesthetic. It provides several years of contraception and is removed in the office when you want it out.
Placement takes a few minutes and most patients feel pressure rather than pain. Irregular bleeding in the first months is the most common reason patients ask about removal, and it is worth discussing before placement.
Vulvar and vaginal biopsy
A small tissue sample taken from the vulva or vagina to evaluate persistent irritation, colour or texture changes, or a lesion that has not resolved with treatment.
It is performed under local anaesthetic and takes a few minutes. Several vulvar skin conditions look alike and are treated very differently, so biopsy is often the fastest route to the right treatment.
Bartholin cyst treatment
A Bartholin cyst forms when a gland at the vaginal opening becomes blocked. Small ones may need nothing; larger or infected ones cause significant pain and are treated by drainage.
Drainage with placement of a small catheter to keep the gland open is performed in the office under local anaesthetic, and relief is usually immediate.
Questions
What patients ask first.
Does an IUD insertion hurt?
Most patients feel cramping, and for some it is brief and mild while for others it is genuinely painful. We discuss what to expect and what can be done to make it more comfortable before the appointment rather than during it.
What is the difference between a colposcopy and a LEEP?
A colposcopy is a look — magnified examination of the cervix, sometimes with a small biopsy. A LEEP is a treatment — removal of abnormal tissue with a fine wire loop. Colposcopy usually comes first and determines whether a LEEP is needed.
Will I need anaesthesia or someone to drive me home?
For most in-office procedures, no. Local anaesthetic is used where it helps, and most patients drive themselves home. If a particular procedure calls for more, you will be told well in advance.
Why do these in the office rather than at a hospital?
Because for these procedures it is faster, less expensive, and less disruptive, and because it means your own physician performs it. Anything that genuinely needs an operating room is done at Cedars-Sinai instead.
How soon can a procedure be scheduled?
Often within days. Some procedures need to happen at a particular point in your cycle, which we will explain when we schedule.
How long does an office procedure take?
Most take between five and twenty minutes, plus time before and after for explanation and recovery. You are told the expected length when you schedule.
Can I go back to work afterwards?
For most of these, yes, though many patients prefer to take the rest of the day after uterine procedures because of cramping. Specific aftercare is given to you in writing.
Does a LEEP affect future pregnancy?
It removes a portion of the cervix, which in some cases is associated with a higher risk of preterm birth. It is a real consideration, and it is discussed before the procedure rather than afterwards, particularly if you have not completed childbearing.
More on coverage and cost: Insurance & Payment. General questions: FAQs.
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Same physician, same room, usually the same week.
Tell us what you need done. If it can happen here, we will tell you when.
Or call (424) 404-8832 · 6330 San Vicente Blvd, Suite 418, Los Angeles, CA 90048