Uptown Dermatology & Skin Spa

Reviews 5

DU

Duncan York

If I could leave no stars I would. About a year I came in and had the doctor examine a few moles. He expressed no concerns over them and told me that because they did not look like they would cause any issues that the removal would be purely cosmetic and not something insurance would cover. I had him remove a mole that was on my ear where the stem of my glasses rested and caused irritation. The doctor told me the cost of the removal, a little over $100, and that was it. He mentioned as I was getting ready to leave that theyd send the mole out for biopsy. I didnt think anything of it. But then a little over a month later I get a bill for the biopsy. An additional $200. I was surprised by this as at no point during my visit did they mention a cost for this. I paid it and would have had no issue paying it had I been told about it up front. A week and a half ago I came into the clinic to have two more moles removed. I arrived to my appointment 15 minutes early. And waited for 45 minutes. Finally I was brought to an exam room and another doctor after another 15 minutes of waiting came in. We discussed the moles I wanted removed. She performed a cursory exam (just looked at where they were located). She then told me it would be approximately $100 per mole to be removed. But each mole would be an additional $200 to be biopsied. I asked for her to remove them but not to be sent to be biopsied. She said she did not feel comfortable with that and would not remove them without sending them out. I asked if there was a waiver to sign if that was what she was concerned about. She said no and reiterated she wasnt comfortable with performing a removal without biopsy. I asked if there were any doctors there who were. She said the director could make that determination and has on other occasions. I asked if I could speak with her and the doctor said no, Id need to reschedule an appointment. She then told me that due to the location of one of my moles as it causes irritation that they would be able to bill insurance for it. I repeated I wanted it to be removed with no biopsy. At this point a couple thoughts ran through my head: 1. The previous doctor didnt offer to submit the removal or biopsy to insurance for the mole on my ear that constantly got irritated when wearing glasses or sunglasses. So if that was an option, why not offered? Or if its a way to get someone to perform a procedure that may be considered cosmetic is it then insurance fraud? 2. If they had concern enough over a mole that they needed to have it biopsied, why wasnt the first mole procedure covered by insurance or even submitted? After finishing with this doctor who only looked at where the moles I wanted removed were I the room and made a new appointment to meet with the director. A few days ago I received an email that I was being billed for the "service" provided on my visit. The service that didnt happen. Im being billed for waiting an hour to have nothing done. Poor service and borderline, if not completely, fraudulent.

---

EM

Emily G

I have seen several of the providers here over the years. The doctor I saw was very thorough, but tried to sell me expensive cosmetic procedures at every single visit. She also loved to brag about the coffee brand that they served in the lobby, which seemed like a pretty pathetic attempt to make the clinic more appealing. My visit with the NP was the final straw that made me decide to write this review. She was very brief with a skin check, not taking the time to use dermoscopy for suspicious moles. Finally, I had an area biopsied and told her what I thought it was. She kept insisting that I was wrong and that it could never be that. She dismissed my concerns and did not listen to me. When the pathology report came back, she told the nurse to tell me it was "nothing to worry about." I called the clinic for a detailed path report and she had misdiagnosed me, and I was right. Instead of fessing up that she was wrong, she tried to cover up her misdiagnosis. The NP had very poor clinical judgment, and her bedside manner was atrocious (tried to remove my underwear not once, but TWICE during routine skin check). Will never go to this clinic again. I agree with previous reviewers that this place is a business trying to maximize profit at the expense of patient care. I should also add that during the biopsy she failed to give appropriate anesthetic. I complained but she refused to wait the appropriate time to allow the anesthetic to be absorbed. Finally, they apply a chemical cautery to every biopsy, resulting in increased risk of scarring.

---

A

A Private User

Horrible Experience!!! I went to Uptown Dermatology for approximately 5 months and they were never able to give me a diagnosis. With them, my skin condition only deteriorated. Every time I would go in and say "its getting worse" they would tell me that it should clear up on its own in no time and I shouldnt worry. Well, it didnt clear up on its own. Moreover, it has been quite painful. Its one thing if the doctor is genuinely attentive, concerned, doing all of the necessary testing, and still struggling to come up with a diagnosis. Its another to have a doctor who does not care, is making no effort whatsoever to help you, watching you suffer, and telling you to just "wait and see." The doctor was also extremely condescending. Without bothering to ask my profession or educational background, she simply told me I "couldnt possibly understand" when I asked to see my own lab results. Moreover, whenever I asked questions, she seemed irritated, impatient, and annoyed. She was always too busy rushing out the door to bother taking my patient history, reviewing my symptoms or acting as a diagnostician. The doctor also put me on a strong and unnecessary medication (to suppress rather than treat my symptoms) that my subsequent doctor called "medically irresponsible." So, if you have a skin condition and you actually want to get better, stay away!

---

DA

Danny Baldus-Strauss

Dont forget that this is a business, not just a doctors office. Its a bad business at that. First, these arent actual dermatologists that see you, theyre PAs with far less experience and medical knowledge. I Next, its about as hard to get a response or action from them as it is to get someone on the phone from Comcast. Ive put in 15-20 calls to these guys all in an effort to get prescriptions refilled and to hear back on test results. Most go unanswered. I cant count how many promised call backs that have gone ignored. Finally, theyll do just about anything they can to milk any extra money out of you. I was on a medication for 2 years that I researched does not require blood tests for (unlike Accutane). They were forcing me to come in for expensive and unnecessary blood tests in order to get more prescriptions from them. I called my primary care after this nightmare and they prescribed me for that same medication after a 5 minute talk. This isnt a doctors office, its a business. A bad one.

---

EL

Elena Hickey

I never go out of my way to write a review on a website, but my experience coming here beckoned me otherwise. I came here for medical help and what was provided was anything but help... The doctor who saw me requested a biopsy to confirm a diagnosis for hair loss and then never called back with my results. When I tried to reach either the doctor or nurse, I got no response or a voicemail from the nurse with no information. This did not only lengthen the process, but the biopsy wasnt even covered on my insurance...... which they also failed to inform. I as well have a chronic skin condition and I am a college student. I told the doctor I needed an affordable plan, so she prescribed me an anti-biotic for $500 and a cream that started at $200? If you have a health condition that needs attentive care and thoughtful consideration, do NOT give this business your money. Im warning others save your time and money - go to a clinic that cares about their patients health!!

---

---