For patients and families
How a new case works
Understand the problem, send the file, talk before you travel, come to New York if an operation is planned, and arrange follow-up close to home when that is safe.
01 / Understand
Is this the right kind of problem?
Dr. Zhao is a reconstructive urologic surgeon. His practice is focused on surgical reconstruction of the urinary tract, especially complex ureteral, urethral, bladder, fistula, and urinary diversion problems. He does not provide general urology care and generally does not treat conditions that do not require surgery or complex reconstruction. Many non-surgical issues are best managed by your local urologist, primary care doctor, or, for infection-related questions, an infectious disease specialist.
From the patient FAQ: Does Dr. Zhao provide general urology care?
Start with the condition pages if you already know the name of the problem, or with the patient FAQ if you do not.
02 / Records
Send the file before you book a flight
The most useful items are:
- Imaging: CT urogram, MRI, retrograde/antegrade studies, or ultrasounds. The actual images matter, not just the reports; for many patients, asking the imaging center for CDs is still the simplest way to get a complete copy.
- Operative notes from any prior urinary-tract surgeries.
- Procedure and cystoscopy reports, including stent or tube changes.
- A brief timeline of your symptoms and treatments, plus recent kidney-function labs.
Having these ready before your first call makes the review more useful. Contact the office and speak with the scheduling team about the best way to submit records for your case.
From the patient FAQ: What records should I gather before reaching out?
03 / Review
Most new patients do not start in clinic
The reconstructive practice generally does not start new-patient evaluations with an in-person office visit. Most out-of-state patients begin with record review and a telephone call, or with a video visit when that is appropriate and available.
The first step is deciding whether the problem appears to be something that may be treatable with reconstructive surgery. If so, the team discusses the next step. It is not unusual for patients traveling to New York for surgery to meet Dr. Zhao in person for the first time in the preoperative area, after the records, imaging, plan, and logistics have already been reviewed.
A video visit is often a practical way to review imaging before traveling. Because of state medical-licensing rules, the type of visit that can be offered may depend on where you are physically located. The scheduling team will tell you what is possible when you reach out.
From the patient FAQ: Do new patients need an in-person visit before planning surgery?
From the patient FAQ: Can I have a virtual (video) consultation first?
All appointments and surgery are scheduled through NYU Langone Health. Sending your records first helps the team review your case before you visit.
04 / Travel
Stay length and lodging
Stay length varies by procedure and by how far you have traveled. For many major reconstructions, a practical starting point is to plan to stay in New York for about two weeks after hospital discharge, in addition to any pre-operative visit and the hospital stay itself. Some patients need more or less time depending on the operation, tubes or catheters, and recovery. The team will give you a specific plan.
Coming to New York has the clinic address, hospital, insurance questions, and lodging notes.
05 / After
Follow-up after reconstruction
Most traveling patients need planned follow-up after reconstruction, often including some follow-up imaging. After the immediate post-operative period, many patients do not need to return to New York in person unless the team specifically recommends it. General urology issues, ongoing urinary symptoms, recurrent infections, or non-surgical concerns are usually followed close to home.
From the patient FAQ: Will I need to keep coming back to New York after surgery?
This is a personal educational website by Lee C. Zhao, MD, MS. Content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Viewing this content does not create a physician-patient relationship. Not affiliated with NYU Langone Health.