Portrait of Nicholas Colyvas
ucsf logo

Nicholas Colyvas, MD

Orthopedic Surgery • Orthopedic Sports Medicine
Sports Medicine Mission Bay
415-353-2808
Portrait of Nicholas Colyvas
Portrait of Nicholas Colyvas
ucsf logo

Nicholas Colyvas, MD

Orthopedic Surgery • Orthopedic Sports Medicine
Sports Medicine Mission Bay
415-353-2808

On this page

About me

Dr. Nicholas Colyvas is an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery of the knee and shoulder, with particular interests in meniscus repair, rotator cuff surgery and biceps tendon surgery. He has extensive experience in treating athletes of all types, both professional and amateur. He has also served as team physician for numerous sports, including rugby and football teams.

Colyvas' main research is in the field of meniscus preservation. He investigates cutting edge techniques in meniscus repairs, with the goal of preventing knee arthritis in the long term. He is also active in improving techniques for treating rotator cuff tears and biceps tendon problems.

Colyvas earned his medical degree at University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. He then completed a fellowship as well as a residency in orthopedic surgery at UCSF.

Colyvas is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, where he serves on the practice management committee. He also serves on the board at the California Orthopaedic Association and is a frequent speaker and moderator at their conferences. Colyvas enjoys teaching orthopedic residents at UCSF as well as assisting in challenging, complex knee and shoulder surgeries. In his free time, he enjoys racing vintage race cars both locally and internationally.

Education & training

Board certification

  • Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Orthopaedic Surgery, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

Fellowship

  • Cardiology, UCSF Medical Center - OMAG

Residency

  • Orthopaedic Surgery, UCSF Medical Center - OMAG

Internship

  • General Surgery, UCSF Medical Center - OMAG

Degree

  • MD, University of Witwatersrand

Locations

    Reviews

    Average rating

    4.9
    4.9 out of 5 Stars
    170 ratings
    About provider reviews

    Showing 1-6 of 34 reviews

    Sort by
    • 5 out of 5 Stars
      December 12, 2025

      Dr. Colyvas patiently answered all questions. Greatly appreciate his input.

    • 4 out of 5 Stars
      November 21, 2025

      Doctor seemed rushed a little. I had questions that once I got home I realized we never had a chance to go over.

    • 5 out of 5 Stars
      November 15, 2025

      Exceptional interaction and confidence in providers recommendations. Overall, 5 stars in every way

    • 5 out of 5 Stars
      November 11, 2025

      Dr. Colyvas is fantastic, really cares about me, my health and my activities.

    • 5 out of 5 Stars
      August 8, 2025

      I'm very pleased with the care I received from Dr. Colyvas. A surgeon outside of UCSF told me that my meniscus tear could not be repaired, but Dr. Colyvas repaired it successfully, and my knee is functioning well following the surgery and recovery. Before the surgery and during my recovery, Dr. Colyvas listened patiently to my questions and have my clear answers and explanations.

    • 5 out of 5 Stars
      July 26, 2025

      This experience has been by far my best with any healthcare system here in California. All of my providers were incredible and gave me full confidence in the knowledge on my condition and actionable solutions. UCSF is amazing.

    Please check with your health insurance plan regarding coverage for this type of care. Not all providers at UCSF Health are covered by every insurance plan.

    For informational purposes only, a link to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments web page is provided here. The federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act requires that detailed information about payment and other payments of value worth over ten dollars ($10) from manufacturers of drugs, medical devices, and biologics to physicians and teaching hospitals be made available to the public.