This practice has deplorable patient service. The Nurse Practitioner recommended a chemical peel on my second visit, despite the fact that I informed her I had been experiencing some dryness and irritation from the acne medications she put me on, and despite the fact that she had my chart that showed I had a peel two weeks previous. I even told her that I was treating the dryness etc by using more moisturizer which helped. I trusted her because she is the medical professional. Sure enough, I was burned, and bad. I informed the person who did the peel as soon as it started burning and she took it off immediately, but it still burned my face. Within an hour of leaving, my face was beet red and felt like it was on fire. It was absolutely horrible, the pain was awful. I didn't even know that it was possible for my face to have a reaction like that. The first time I had a peel at my first appt there, they came in and had me sign a paper and the Nurse Practitioner told me it was just a formality, that I wasn't having a "surgical" procedure and that at most there would be minor redness and it was "no big deal". My second visit in which they burned my face, no risks were told to me then and, of course, from my previous visit being told only minor side effects and that it was "no big deal," I had no idea it was even possible to burn my face like they did. I had to go back that same day they burned me and they gave me a steroid cream and used cold compresses to help take the heat out. The Nurse Practitioner told me to stop by in a week to see how I was healing. My face felt as though it was on fire for several days and it looked horrible. Super red, then it turned brownish and peeled. It was an awful ordeal. Not only was it painful but I looked like a monster. I came in a week later and checked in. The front desk person told me I needed to pay my copay for the visit. I informed her that it was a follow up, I was just told to come in so they could look at my face real quick and that my real appointment was in another week or so, and that I did not believe a copay would be due. The woman said ok and that she would check on it. Some time went by, and they called me back. I asked the woman walking me back if everything was good and she said yes. Naturally since no copay was collected, the woman told me everything was good who brought me back, and the fact that they even brought me back without having paid, I thought everything was fine. I thought I would not be charged for this quick run in. This, to me, seemed like a reasonable deal since THEY are the ones who burned my face. The Nurse Practitioner came in, didn't even have my file/chart, didn't even turn on the brighter light, didn't ask me to move the hair out of my face, looked at me for a few seconds, said I was healing well and could stop the steroid cream. I told her I already had and I was sent on my way. Sure enough, I received a bill in the mail for that "follow up". Had anyone told me I would be charged for a follow up for THEM burning my face, I would have left, I would not have let the Nurse Practitioner spend the minute it took to glance at me. I would have waited the week or so until my regular appointment because that minute or so is definitely not worth the over $100 they charged my insurance and the $50 copay out of my pocket! No one informed me upon leaving I needed to pay for anything either. I called to get this straightened out after receiving the bill, and was told since I received "treatment" they have to bill my insurance therefore my copay would be due and that the provider said I needed to be billed. I did not receive any kind of treatment that visit and that cursory glance at my face is surely not worth the amount they charged my insurance or myself especially after THEY burned my face! After the burn I did research and found out that you should never have a chemical peel in such close succession nor should you ever get a chemical peel if you are experiencing any dryness or irritation at all. Not only this but one of the medications they put me on also helps remove the top layer of skin, so a chemical peel on top of using an acne medication like that, is not recommended. I trusted my face to these people and I got burned. Instead of making it right they decided to be shady and charge me for a visit I shouldn't be charged for. I did mail off the payment and cancelled all appointments and let them know I would never be back and would make sure to let others know about their horrible service and practices. From looking at their reviews on various internet platforms it appears I am not the only one who was charged for a follow up that should not have been. I will definitely take my dermatological needs elsewhere.

Submitted May 16, 2015