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Artificial Disc Replacement

Your spinal discs play a central role in your mobility and comfort. If one of them is damaged, it can slow down your life and leave you with chronic pain. Rojeh Melikian, M.D., has addressed spinal disc issues for many years of spinal care and surgery. Our highly specialized spine team is here to help you regain mobility and improve your quality of life.

What Is Artificial Disc Replacement?

Artificial disc replacement involves diagnosing the cervical or lumbar spinal disc causing you challenges and replacing it with a prosthetic disc. The goal of this procedure is to relieve pressure on the surrounding nerves, relieve pain and restore your ability to move unimpeded.

Dr. Melikian and his team specialize in minimally invasive artificial disc replacement. We choose a minimally invasive approach whenever we can so you can receive the care you need despite your busy schedule and benefit from reduced healing time. We serve clients across Los Angeles, Newport Beach and Marina del Rey. Our team is dedicated to our work and patients, and is proud that our efforts have been recognized across the country.

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The Difference Between Artificial Disc Replacement and Spinal Fusion

In most cases, artificial disc replacement is preferable to a spinal fusion procedure. Both treatment options include removing the affected disc for pain relief. Lumbar disc replacement involves replacing a damaged disc with an advanced artificial disc. Spinal fusion involves fusing two or more vertebrae, often resulting in a long recovery and reduced mobility. Dr. Melikian will carefully assess your condition during your consultation and determine which procedure will best serve you.

Preparing for Your Artificial Disc Replacement

Dr. Rojeh Melikian prioritizes efficient outpatient artificial disc replacement procedures, allowing patients to return home swiftly. The procedure, whether cervical or lumbar, typically lasts one to two hours under general anesthesia, during which Dr. Melikian replaces the affected disc through a small incision. Most patients are discharged on the same day.

Dr. Melikian performs the artificial disc replacement under general anesthesia, making a small incision and replacing the disc with a prosthetic.

Most patients are discharged from the clinic on the same day as their treatment.

Patients may experience mild discomfort as their body adjusts. Medication and physical therapy may be prescribed to aid recovery and help resume normal activities. Dr. Melikian’s team will provide support and specific instructions to ensure a smooth recovery.

Why Choose Dr. Melikian for Your Spinal Care?

When you experience back, neck or spinal pain, it is in your best interests to visit a proven specialist for long-term relief. Dr. Melikian is a board-certified spinal surgeon who has trained at some of the nation’s most trusted medical bodies, including Harvard and Emory University.

He believes that the key to comprehensive patient wellness is individualized care that reflects each person’s unique needs. His practice is dedicated to providing every client with personalized, minimally invasive care that addresses their concerns fully and helps them return to their lives as soon as possible.

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I have suffered with low pack pain for several years. I’ve tried chiropractic, physical therapy, massage therapy, epidural injections, and rest. My pain finally reached the point where I couldn’t play softball or be active and live my life. I am so thankful that I met Dr. Melikian. He is so knowledgeable and a very skilled spine surgeon. He took the time to listen to me and explain my issues. My L4/L5 disc was bad and needed to be removed and replaced with an artificial disc. He answered all my questions and explained everything extremely well. I was confident in him and the plan for surgery. My artificial disc surgery was very successful. I feel like I got my life back. I am so thankful to Dr. Melikian, he is amazing! He also has a wonderful staff and state of the art facilities! I wish I met him sooner!

— Morgan L.

After a couple of years of living with daily pain, numbness, and tingling, I finally found relief thanks to Dr.Rojeh Melikian and the artificial disc surgery he performed. It’s now been 70 days since the procedure, and I can confidently say this has been a life-changing experience. The numbness and tingling that used to be part of my everyday life are completely gone, pain in glutes are mostly gone and my lower back pain has decreased by about 50% and I am expecting to feel more relief moving forward.

Dr.Melikian was patient, compassionate, and thorough from the very beginning. He always took the time to listen to my concerns and made sure all my questions were answered. He never promised 100% relief and warned me about all the possible risks. I especially appreciated that he understood my pain, prescribed me pain medications and explored every non-surgical option before recommending surgery it showed his integrity and genuine care for his patients.

His bedside manner and professionalism made a difficult process much easier to go through. I’m extremely grateful for the care I received and highly recommend Dr.Melikian to anyone dealing with spine issues.

— Mars R.

I was so nervous going into the surgery center. But, the nurses, staff, and Dr. Melikian were all so amazing and professional. The surgery went smoothly and way better than I would have ever expected. I highly recommend Dr. Melikian and Disc Surgery Center.

— Jennifer W.

I cannot recommend Dr. Melikian enough. I live in Alaska and I was trying to connect with a surgeon to do a two level artificial disc replacement. I was impressed by Dr. Melikians education and training, but also very surprised by the wonderful reviews I read from his previous patients. From our first virtual visit I could see why his patients are so satisfied with him- he was calm, he presented options, he always provided enough time to answer my questions, and I never felt pressured to move forward with surgical intervention. Once I decided to move forward with surgery, his assistant Cecilia was a pleasure to work with and always answered my questions and emails promptly. She truly made the scheduling and preparation seamless. Then when it came to surgery, the DISC surgery center was clean and comfortable, and the staff was absolutely wonderful. I stayed one night with them and I received the highest level of care and preparation for discharging the next day. I’m one week out from surgery and I’m so happy I decided to go to Dr. Melikian. I absolutely would recommend him to friends and family

— Ashley E.

Had disc replacement surgery with Dr. Rojeh Melikian in July 2025 and it couldn’t have gone better. He was supportive, clear, and confident from the start, and the results speak for themselves — pain gone, mobility back. Recovery’s been a very smooth process for me and he’s been on point every step of the way. Couldn’t recommend him and this procedure more. Truly life changing after 10+ years of chronic pain !!

— JJ B.

I had 2 artificial discs replacements […] and it was the best experience with surgery I have ever had. The staff was super professional and Dr. Melikian did a fantastic job. The procedure went really smooth and I was back at the hotel that evening. One week [post-op] I’m pain free and walking around with no neck brace. Before you ever consider a fusion, make an appointment with Disc Sport and Spine and get a consultation. You will be so happy you did.

— David H.

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If your spinal issues are limiting your quality of life, trust Dr. Melikian and his associates to help. Our award-winning work and attention to detail have helped us maintain a 0% MRSA infection rate and countless five-star reviews. Schedule a consultation or call our team at 949-806-6946 to learn more.

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