I saw Dr. Alessi on October 1, 2015, for a consult for constant sinus infections & breathing issues as well as rhinoplasty. My surgery was scheduled for October 16th. At my post-op(s) on October 19 everything was fine. On October 22nd the bandages came off and I found a large bump right in between my eyebrows. On October 28th I emailed the office to schedule another post-op where Dr. Alessi said the bump was a bone spicule. I went in November, December, and January for him to check the spicule and per his chart notes the piece of bone was shrinking. On March 28th, 2016 I went in for removal of the spicule. Dr. Alessi used instruments to go through the nostril and shave down the spicule as well as the left side of my nose.

There is no chart note for that appointment and no note refers to the spicule removal. After that appointment, I developed, what Dr. Alessi would go on to call a "pseudocyst." From 5/24/16 to 1/28/19 I was injected 16 times with chemotherapy, 5-FU, and 2 times with Sclerodex. In between injections, he went in through my nostrils 2 more times to revise the shape of the rhinoplasty and to remove the cyst, totaling 1 major surgery and 3 revisions.

After each revision (through the nostril) the cyst would come back 2-3 days later. I begged for Dr. Alessi to cut the bump out of my nose. I told him very plainly that I did not care about a scar. Each time he would say "okay, next time," his chart notes reflect that as well. I would schedule the excision, but when I arrived he would see me and say he wants to try one more injection. On January 28th, 2019 I went in for the scheduled excision, where Dr. Alessi was going to cut out the cyst. When he finally came in Dr. Alessi felt around my nose and said I'm not going to cut it out today. He said "you're too pretty for a scar." I left his office furious and emailed to request my records. In my records I found:
1. Missing chart note from the firs revision which resulted in the "cyst." There is also no note about my sedation or even them calling in the 2 prescription(s). I was also allowed to drive home after.
2. My diagnosis at my consultation was Sinusitis. The last 8 months of treatment my diagnosis was: Chronic Sinusitis, Chronic Rhinitis, Deviated Septum, Benign Neoplasm of Connective Soft Tissue, Cutaneous Abscess of Face, Chronic Pansinusitis, Unspecified Malignant Neoplasm.
3. When I emailed the office asking about cancer in my nose his office manager, Cynthia, said it was an error and I do not have cancer. They were going to amend the records, although I never received any corrected documents.
4. I paid $9,500 on October 5th using 3 credit cards. The payment was required before scheduling the surgery. Upon receipt of why account history, the payment(s) were never posted and my account was written off as a "hardship." Cynthia said if I needed the receipts I should contact my credit card companies. I kept asking for the copies and the CFO of the company responded saying someone would have to go find them in storage. However, no one ever did. I have the original receipts.
5. An insurance payment was sent to Dr. Alessi, which was supposed to come to me as I paid in full. Although it was very small, about $127, they wrote off the credit.
6. There are multiple Medi-Cal, and insurance adjustments, even though they were out of network with my insurance.
7. The office billed my insurance for 3 sinus debridements, however, Dr. Alessis chart notes only show that I had one debridement. They bill $1700 per debridement.
8. There is a document with my name and date of birth, but it is for another patient of his. A 37-year-old woman who had surgery for her respiratory system, Lumbosacral Spondylosis, CAD Affecting her ADL. Dr. Alessi signed the paperwork but stated it was from another office he works with. I had only been in for my consultation at that point.

In May of 2019, I saw another doctor for a consult to remove the "cyst." I went back 5 days later and the doctor cut open my nose only to discover there was no cyst, it was excess cartilage. He gave me a mirror and showed me exactly what it was and where. He removed it in 20 min. and my nose is now nearly bump-free with a tiny scar.

I have filed claims with the Medical Board of California, Blue Shield of CA, and the IRS. I also filed a small claims but lost due to not being able to pay between $2500-$5,000 for a medical expert witness. The court stated: "Plaintiff is required to support a claim for professional negligence with an opinion from a qualified medical expert from the same discipline that the treatment provided to her by the defendant fell below the standard of care and was a substantial factor in causing her damages. Six months previously plaintiff was informed that she would require such support but has been unable to obtain such an opinion. On that basis, her claim for medical malpractice must fail."

Submitted Sept. 13, 2020

Dr Alessi is the best at Botox. I don't look my age and I have no wrinkles without looking plastic!!

Submitted May 2, 2018

Excellent physician and wonderful office. He really cares. His staff can't do enough for you and he explains everything in detail.

Submitted Nov. 3, 2015

Finally I can breath easily and I have Dr. David Alessi to thank for this. While I was having elective surgery to my nose, he was able to repair the deviated septum which was causing me so much trouble with breathing.
I am astounded at the previous review to mine that makes such egregious comments about the good doctor. I find it hard to believe that any of it is true. He had a packed waiting room with patients waiting to see him. Sure I had to wait a bit, but sometimes waiting for the BEST is well worth it.

Submitted Aug. 13, 2014

I was particularly interested in Dr. Alessi at the Alessi Institute and his method. I did my research of doctors in the area of Beverly Hills and found him to one of the best for my neck enhancement. Kudos to Dr. Alessi for addressing the problem.

Submitted Aug. 22, 2012

Excellent Doctor--spends time answering your concerns. Md.s I know love him!

Submitted April 13, 2011

Dr. Alessi is one of the worst doctors I have even been to, and thats alot to say because I come from a family of doctors (my dad is an MD) and know that making mistakes is inevitable. I had a simple tonsilectomy procedure. I was 25 years old and expected it to be difficult. AFter 1 year, I still feel rough scars in the back of my throat, and constant pain. I wish I never performed the surgery with him. Sometimes i just sit and cry because I cant tolerate the pain anymore. I went back to him a few times in the past year,not only did he brush off the situation as nothing, but kept charging my insurance and sending home the bills. It is ridiculous to pay for something where your doctor was at fault. His own associate in the office said he there's a piece of tonsil still left in my mouth.I heard he had a few cases per month where the surgeries go wrong.They say its because he performs the surgeries so fast.As well, his office staff was very rude and not understanding, Tnx for listening

Submitted Aug. 2, 2007

Very knowledgable. He gets to the root cause of the problem, and is current on the medications and surgeries to treat patients.

Submitted March 22, 2007

Dr. Alessi was fantastic. My General Doctor was on vacation and I got an ear infection (swimmer's ear). He saw me right away and was kind, knowledgable, and fixed me right up. I can't write enough good things about him or his staff.

Submitted Oct. 20, 2006

I traveled across the country to have Dr. Alessi perform elective plastic surgery on my face.He is the best! It is wonderful to have people think that I am in my late 30's....I am actually in my 50's. My face looks natural. What an artist!

Submitted Nov. 22, 2005