Robert O Ruder, MD

Please spare yourself from an exchange with this exceedingly pompous and rude cosmetic surgeon. My HMO gave me a referral to see him to have a look at a cyst next to my salivary gland. Upon entering the room he was abrasive and cold. He asked me what he could help me with. I told him why I was there and he responded «I’ll make that diagnosis». Had he glanced at my file he would have seen that the diagnosis was already made. I was just there to see what could be done about it. He seized my face and began roughly examining it. He then went on to warn me about risks of deformities and facial paralysis if he removed it. It was very dramatic and he offered me no hope. He acted like my question’s were absurd. The previous doctor I saw was calm and friendly and said he would be happy to remove it with a 45 minute operation. Unfortunately, my PPO expired so I had to see someone else. Perhaps his warnings are valid but his bedside manner is nothing short of insulting. Stay clear!

I highly recommend Dr, Robert Ruder… Very caring and he will go above and beyond to make sure all patient questions are answered. The staff is also very nice… I only waited a few minutes before seeing Dr Ruder. Location and parking are also great! If your looking for a GREAT doctor… Dr. Ruder is the one to go see.

I highly recommend Dr. Ruder.
In November 2014 I was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer by my Primary Physician. I had to find my own Surgeon due to limitations with my health care coverage and so many doctors dropping out. It was extremely stressful.
Dr. Ruder accepted my insurance and I am so grateful that he did. He was thorough in his pre-​operative testing requirements, explanations and care. The surgery was a bit complicated because one of the nodules had attached itself to my vocal chord. The removal was a success and the second surgery to repair the vocal chord trauma was also successful.
Melody was kind and caring and followed up to make sure all was well every step of the way. Dr. Ruder was always available to me by cell when I had any questions or concerns.
He is a highly skilled surgeon, a doctor who CARES and takes his time to explain what is going on and what he needs to do. He loves analogies and uses them liberally in his explanations of your issues and his treatment options so it’s easy to understand otherwise complicated medical issues.

Dr. Ruder is one of the most thorough physician’s I have ever sought treatment from. He embodies a high level of skill and dedication to his specialty, along with an exceptional ability to provide patient centered care– two primary characteristics I believe all patients should require when looking for a doctor.
My Condition:
I came to Dr. Ruder for the first time in November 2014. At the time, I was suffering from a second peritonsillar abscess. Prior to seeing Dr. Ruder, I suffered from a similar abscess 2 years ago and recurrent tonsillitis for 4 years. I had hopped around from various ENTs, urgent care centers, hospital ERs, and GPs for treatment.
How did I find Dr. Ruder? How he gained my trust?-
Another bat of tonsillitis had matured into an abscess, which must be drained/​lanced by an ENT in an office setting. Unfortunately, I discovered the abscess on a Saturday morning when most doctor’s offices are closed. Nevertheless, I proceeded to call 10 local ENT Emergency-​On-​Call numbers with the hope of reaching an ENT for pain relief. In each voicemail, I explained that I was in excruciating pain, I suffered from a tonsillar abscess which the ER will not treat, and I would be a new patient, but i have insurance. Of the 10 doctors, DR. RUDER WAS THE ONLY ONE TO RETURN MY CALL over the weekend. Even though he had never treated me before and there was no guarantee that I would return to his office the following business day, he went out of his way to call my pharmacy and ensure I had the proper medication to treat the infection over the weekend. He truly went above and beyond his duties, and for that, he gained my trust and patient-​loyalty.
Office Treatment/​Initial Care–
Dr. Ruder’s office staff are patient, professional, and accommodating. Upon my first visit, Erica took her time to listen to all of my concerns and thoroughly answer all of my questions related to billing, work-​leave paperwork, treatment, and possible medications I’d receive. Her patience helped calm my nerves about the tonsil drainage/​lancing, which I knew would be painful.
Dr. Ruder took time examining me and listening to all of my symptom report– never did i feel rushed, misunderstood, or as if he was dismissing or ignoring any of my comments. He calmly discussed immediate treatment options and unlike many of the other ENT’s I’ve seen over the past 4 years, he was adamant to propose a long-​term solution to my problem and pressed his staff to schedule my tonsillectomy immediately. (None of the other doctors I’d seen had ever wanted to do my tonsillectomy, stating that «Tonsillectomy is no longer a commonly performed procedure.»)
Nevertheless, I saw Dr. Ruder 3 additional times after my initial appointment. A few days after each visit, either Melody or Erica would call me directly for a health status update. They answered what they could and would write my questions about unusual side effects or increased pain down for Dr. Ruder and get back to me within the hour if they did not know the answer or were unsure. The followup care Dr. Ruder’s office provides to patients is incomparable.
Unfortunately, my body stopped responding to the appropriate antibiotics for my condition, so Dr. Ruder had to continuously monitor my condition until I was well enough for surgery. By my third time in his office, I was sure he’d be tired of me– coming to him repeatedly for variations of the same concern. However, he and his office staff welcomed each visit, empathized with me, and continued to be patient with me throughout my treatment.
*NOTE: I have never had a problem scheduling an appointment to see Dr. Ruder. I am constantly annoyed when I have to wait 2+ weeks to see many of my regular doctors (ex. my GP or GYN). The office was even open the day after thanksgiving when my condition worsened.
Surgery/​Recover:
Melody works with you to discuss cost of care, insurance/​financing options, surgery locations, and pre/​post-​surgery instructions. My largest concern was financial feasibility of the surgery– to answer this, Melody made herself available on several occasions to explain costs and answer my questions about insurance coverage and out of pocket expenses. I opted to have my tonsillectomy at the Burton Way Surgery Center to save costs. The surgery itself went well. I am now 2 weeks into my recovery (~80%). Dr. Ruder provided me with his personal cell phone number should my family or I need to contact him for any reason during my recovery. I believe I’ve called him ~5 times after surgery with questions. He answered on the first call each time and has called me himself (even on Christmas Eve) for a health-​status update.
I could not recommend a more thorough, professional, highly-​skilled, patient-​focused, and prepared physician than Dr. Ruder and his excellent staff.

I remember seeing Dr. Ruder a year ago, and honestly, I just don’t understand some of the bad reviews he’s received. I think hes a phenomenal Physician, very honest and straight forward, and sometimes we may not like the diagnosis we receive, I’d rather here it from a Dr. Who happens to sincerely care for his patients, rather than one just wanting to put money in his bank account. I really don’t trust a lot of the reviews on Unilocal,some people can be vindictive, malicious, and hard hearted, it is why I have my own mind, and will judge one according to their character and expertise. He’s very professional, not very warm in spirit, but outstanding! Definitely worth 5*‘s.

15 years ago Dr Ruder saved my dad’s life. No surgeon in LA wanted to operate on him and everyone said that my dad’s face will be paralyzed forever. After 2 surgeries my dad was cancer free and had no paralysis of any kind.
Dr. ruder helped me many times, he saw my wife, my son and tons of my friends. I am sitting in his office right now…
Doctors are not restaurants! Do not rely on Unilocal.Talk to people who’s life was saved, talk to people who live better because the doctors. Not people who got upset because of the late appointment.

I was a bit concerned after reading all the other reviews about this ENT. However, Dr Ruder was very pleasant and professional, did not try to sell me any sort of plastic surgery, and I was in and out of my appointment within an hour. He concluded that my concerns required an allergist and that there was nothing anatomically wrong so there was no need for surgery of any kind. There office will be referring me to an allergist as well, and he prescribed some medication to help alleviate my symptoms until I could see another doctor. This was a far better experience than another ENT I had seen several years prior for the same issue. That doctor just told me to take some allergy meds, even though I told him already I have tried several and they don’t work, and said that even though I didn’t really need it, he could do surgery if I wanted to, «just to see». Dr Ruder is knowledgeable and was firm in his opinion that surgery was not needed. Overall I found him to be an excellent physician with great bedside manner.

Dr. Ruder is the best! He is an artful plastic surgeon and a genius ENT, plus so much more. I went to Dr. Ruder as a teenager, where he created the perfect nose job. I have other friends who went to him for that as well. Each of ours was unique and fit our faces perfectly. Through the years I have used him for nose and throat issues and he even stitched my young son up when you got into an accident with no scaring afterward.
I have recommended him to many. One friend had an allergy problem and went to five doctors before seeing Dr. Ruder. He quickly figured out her problem and prescribed something that took care of it.
Another friend, recently went to him for a face-​lift. He really did such an amazing job. She looks fresh and beautiful, but it is so natural that you question what she has done. She just looks rested and healthy, with none of that stiffness you often see.
Lastly, another friend suffered from horrible headaches for over 20 years. Dr. Ruder performed the Botox in his head procedure. It is the first relief my friend has had in years. In fact, my friend recently moved to New York and tried another doctor. The NY doctor’s procedure didn’t work at all. My friend now flies to California just to have Dr. Ruder take care of him. He is phenomenal!

I have the highest confidence in Dr. Ruder. He is thorough, compassionate and skilled. Dr. Ruder was able to diagnose and treat a sinus disorder that other doctors I went to could not. Some reviewers have complained about long wait times, but I’d rather wait a bit to be seen this excellent specialist than be seen immediately by a physician of lesser caliber.

A disclaimer — my experiences with him and his office were 10 – 7 years ago, strictly as an ENT, not a plastic surgeon. He may have gotten better over the years, but I couldn’t tell you.
First, his staff. On my second visit to his office, I discovered his staff had lost all records of me that they ever kept. This led to me having to dispute the «new patient fee» that every doctor charges. On subsequent visits, they would apologize for the long wait times, even when I didn’t have a long wait time, as if this were a common occurrence and they were trained to say it automatically. Then, there was the double-​billing. I had to write several letters to the office with copies of my bank statements showing that I paid.
Then, there’s the doc himself. He seems kind of knowledgeable as an ENT, but you’ll only discover this after he performs numerous tests and procedures on you without your permission (yay, more $$$ for him!). I went in for my tinnitus and walked out with ten needle pricks on my arm for allergy tests, along with him telling me that I’m not allergic to dairy (which my digestive system will tell you otherwise).
Most of all, he just came across as really phony, like acting overly dramatic when giving a diagnosis. I mean, really, this is LA, where a lot of ua work in the entertainment industry and have to sit through bad acting performances as a part of our professions. We don’t want to see this when we go to the doctor.
Needless to say, when anyone asks for a good ENT, I tell them to avoid this place.

I am giving 2 stars because of his staff! As for the rest of my visit– I should have read Unilocal before I showed up. I found Dr Ruder through my insurance to get a second opinion on a nose surgery to correct the INSIDE of my nose nothing more nothing less… One hour wait to just be seen was just the start– again his staff was amazing.
When he walked in to the room to meet with me without even discussing my reasons for being there (ENT related NOT cosmetic) he told me I was a pretty girl, but my nose elongated my face and he could help people to notice my true beauty– my blue eyes. Throughout the next 1+ hours I was there he mentioned plastic surgery a dozen or more times referring to my crooked nose to which I kept replying «I actually like my face and that is NOT why I am here». After allergy testing, cauterization of my nose he ruled out corrective surgery (so now I’m back to the start with that whole thing) he ended the appt– ready for this… By handing me a mirror and using a pen to roll up my eyelid saying that he could fix those too– (bc of all of the years of swollen eyes from allergies) — if I wanted… So again people would notice my blue eyes!
If I wasn’t someone who actually liked their features and wanted to be reworked and look different then I do — I would say this might be the doctor for me, but as someone who is proud and happy with how she looks I will STAY AWAY– get a third opinion and read Unilocal before booking my next new patient appointment on the quest to be able to breathe freely again!
Thank god I have a sense of humor and a strong backbone bc a guy like this could really take someone’s money!

Dr. Ruder has been my ENT and plastic surgeon since 1974. He is a gifted doctor and surgeon and he has a very comforting bedside manner. When I was bitten by my friend’s dog in 1996 he was able to perform a very tricky and complicated upper lip repair. Ruder had just been written up in the LA Times for his work on ear restoration. As I lay in the Santa Monica Emergency room I remembered the article and immediately check myself out of there and into Ruder’s office. I had lost 20% of the right side of my upper lip, but his work was so good that you can hardly see a scar!
Ruder has also been an enormous help to me with my chronic sinusitis. Through medication and creative diagnosis I am now 90% cured of this lifelong problem. Most of all, I appreciate Ruder’s attentive manner. He really hears when I describe my condition and he knows what to do to bring me immediate comfort. I have been to other doctors for the same condition and they are lightweights compared to Ruder. I particularly appreciate that he is able to give me the medicine right there at the office. When I go to see him I am generally very ill and this feature saves me the hassle of waiting in line at a pharmacy. The results are pretty dramatic and I almost always feel better within 24 hours.
I love this guy. He is a gifted doctor and a true healer.

Dr. Ruder has been my ENT for over twenty five years. He has diagnosed, treated and cared for my Allergies and Post Nasal drip continually, ear infections and bronchitis.
Cosmetically he is the only person I would ever let do any injections, fillers or surgery, as he is a Plastic Surgeon with a trained eye for anything aesthetic, to do with the face.
He recently diagnosed a tumor on my tongue that no other doctor would have found.
He is treating it with concern, caution, compassion and patience.
If you had to wait, it’s because there was anemergency and he gives every patient individual attention and time.
I have sent him many many patients and they would all agree, Dr. Ruder is a rare and special Doctor. You are lucky you found him.

I am so thankful to Dr. Ruder! I had an incredibly painful ear infection and I had seen another Doctor before seeing Dr. Ruder. The other Doctor said that my condition required a minor surgical procedure and before agreeing to the procedure, I sought a second opinion. A friend of mine who had a successful reconstruction surgery procedure done last year by Dr. Ruder told me that he is also a Head and Neck surgeon, so I’d be able to see him for my painful ear condition. I called his medical office and my appointment was miraculously made for the next day as I had hoped. His staff was very attentive and professional. My ears were first gently flushed with warm water and cleaned out. Then, Dr. Ruder took a look at what was going on in my ears and told me that I definitely did not need that surgical procedure that the other Doctor said I needed. He prescribed antibiotic ear drops and gave me a regimen with natural ingredients to do every day for a week. He also took the time to educate me on what was wrong with my ears and even used an ear model to point out the specific area of infection. He showed me as well how I was going to use the ear drops exactly and how I’ll flush out my ears. With his care and patient instructions, I was infection-​free about a week later! Again, I’m so grateful for Dr. Ruder’s professionalism and amazing bedside manners. He really shows that he cares for his patients and his credentials found at (
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Dr. Ruder is completely unprofessional and without any decent bedside manner. The entire visit was an absolute nightmare from beginning to end.
I was referred to Dr. Ruder from my medical group for tightness in my throat that I’d been experiencing on and off for the past 2 years. I arrived 15 minutes early, but didn’t see the doctor until after an hour of waiting. I was put in a room for over a half an hour, meanwhile overhearing everything going on with Dr. Ruder and another patient in the next room through the paper thin walls.
Dr. Ruder finally entered my room and began gruffly asking me questions, but was then interrupted by a phone call on his cell, which he answered and after a few moments of listening, proceeded to bitch out the caller on the other end and then hang up. After a few more questions he must have decided I needed a nasal endoscopy because he then, without any preparation or warning, proceeded to perform one on me. All of a sudden, I had drops going down my nose, followed by a long piece of cotton, kleenex haphazardly crumpled into my hands, and then a scope shoved down my nose and into my throat. I sort of froze, partially because I was so floored and confused about what was going on, but also because this man is a doctor right? I wrongly assumed that he wouldn’t do anything that uncomfortable or painful without some sort of discussion beforehand. He concluded that I had pretty severe acid reflux, which I will note I’m glad to be informed of, but I wish the whole process wasn’t so brutal. I tried to ask him some more questions but between his body language and harsh responses, I could tell he wasn’t appreciating my expecting him to be a decent doctor.
I should also mention that while he was questioning me in the beginning, he also asked me what happened to my nose, ‘was it injured? I can see there’s a bump’, he said. When I responded with, ‘No, it’s just big.’ He bluntly went on to say, ‘I can fix that for you if you want’, and then just went on like nothing. I know we’re in Beverly Hills here, but really? Come on. I came to you for throat tightness, not plastic surgery.
As soon as he left the room, I calmly tried to explain to the assistant that I didn’t appreciate his rude bedside manner, but instead I started crying. I thanked her and got out of there as fast as I could. I’ve already shared my experience with several co workers and I will make sure that no one I know has to suffer through a visit with Dr. Ruder.

I recently had lip and mouth surgery for cancer. Dr. Ruder and his staff were so excellent. The Dr. totally explained all aspects of the surgery and all about the reconstruction that he would do. Here is is 8 days later and my cancer is gone
and the stitches are dissolving I can hardly tell that I had any surgery. The doctor did such a fine job. I would recommend Dr. Ruder as a ENT and a Picasso of reconstruction.

I am a 48 year old who had a rhinoplasty (nose job) done when I was 27 years old, by a Dr. back east. It fell and caused a collapsed nostril that has given me trouble breathing for more than 20 years. I was skeptical about going in for another surgery until a friend referred me to Dr. Ruder. Her nose looked amazing and she highly recommended him, saying that «he is an artist». Dr. Ruder not only made my nose look better than it ever has, but I can now breathe out of my right nostril perfectly… finally! Dr. Ruder operates right out of his boutique-​like surgery center in Beverly Hills which makes it a much less scary and confusing procedure process. His highly trained staff makes the experience painless and made me feel confident I was in the best hands all the way around. I cannot say enough good things about my experience with Dr. Ruder and his staff.

I feel that this doctor and his staff endangered my health. I saw this doctor approximately 2 weeks ago for an unresolved ear infection. Doctor was an hour late seeing me, didn’t apologize and was curt during the exam. He stated that I needed a medication that his office sold at the front desk and that was that. When I checked out, I told the receptionist that I preferred all of my prescriptions to go through my pharmacy. She wasn’t happy, but finally relented. 1 week later, still no prescription call in. I followed up and was told by another front desk staff that I should have just bought the pills from them, after more push back I got her to agree to call in the prescription. 6 days later, still no prescription — two weeks with painful symptoms! I called again and was informed that the pharmacy wouldn’t fill the prescription because it was dangerous to take with a medication I listed on my intake sheet two weeks prior. No apology or acknowledgement that this could have been very serious if I had purchased the medication from them AND no prescription switch. Staff said they were waiting to make sure I was still taking the medication I listed. Yes, after two weeks, on a Friday, rather than just prescribing something else after all of their mistakes, they let me sit in pain over another long weekend — note the doctor also doesn’t work on Mondays — rather than just provide me with a different prescription. Be careful, in my experience these people are incompetent, apathetic and dangerous.

My personal experience with Dr. Ruder was very negative. The only reason I have him one star is because a friend of mine saw him and had a great experience, however the way he treated me was unacceptable.
I saw Dr. Ruder twice for lifelong sinus issues after being referred by my primary care doctor. On my first visit he told me I had allergies and that I needed an expensive ($ 600 +) air purifier. At the time I was 22 and definitely could not afford a fancy air purifier, plus I explained to him that I had recently tested negative to allergies, so I was a little confused as to what I was allergic to exactly. His response — he told me to have my parents buy the air purifier, which seemed quite presumptive and rude to say on my first visit.
The second time came in it was because my doctor thought she saw a polyp in my nose. Dr. Ruder checked, said they was no Polyp (whew!) and then accused me of just wanting a quick fix surgery instead of taking care of my allergy problem. Um what? First of all, how did he know I didn’t address my supposed allergy problem (which I still tested negative for …), second — I didn’t ask for surgery or make up the polyp thing, my doctor referred me there! I was glad it was nothing! When I tried to explain all this to him he gave me a pamphlet on stress and said that my sinus issues were probably just psychosomatic. That was about all I could take so I just stopped trying to explain myself and focused on not crying (I’m an anger crier), but Dr. Ruder wasn’t done … he could tell I was on the cusp of getting up set but instead of letting it go and allowing me to gather myself, he continued on about how allergy sufferers like me who refused to and I quote «Clean up their houses» (wait I thought it was psychosomatic — so confused!) were never going to get better. That was it, I started to cry. His response, «I know it’s hard to hear that you have to change.» What change? I need to buy a 600 dollar air purifier? Apparently my house if filthy with allergens that you have yet to identify? Or I’m crazy and just want surgery for a quick fix?
I left, filed a complaint with my insurance company and never went back.