Laser Skin Care Center — Attraction in Long Beach

Ok. Let me preface this review with the understanding that I have never written a negative google review. If I run into problems, I usually will try to work it out privately, and I don’t really like to put negative energy out in the world if I can help it. This said, I am approaching this review as somewhat of a public service announcement. I also must note that I am writing this review as the daughter of one of Dr Skupsky’s (now former) patients and these thoughts are my own (although the events and history are factual). I also must note that my mom was a patient of Dr Kane for MANY years and she trusted her completely with her skin health. Given the fact that melanoma runs in our family (my grandfather had 2 of them), my mom, along with all of her family members (my sister and I included) have made peace with the fact that our health maintenance requires that we consistently go to our skin checks and diligently look for new/changing spots and make appointments accordingly. My mom especially does this, as she, like her dad, has also had 2 melanomas. A suspicious spot popped up on her melanoma scar a few months ago—and you can’t even imagine the hoops she had to jump through just to be seen by SOMEONE there. Thinking that was just a glitch, she went to her next scheduled appointment and asked Dr Skupsky what she should say if/when a suspicious spot pops up again to ensure she can get in to see her in a somewhat timely manner. My mom took notes and was confident that she would be able to get in if need be. Fast forward a few months and another suspicious spot popped up. She watched it for a while and then decided that, GIVEN HER HISTORY OF MELANOMA, it needed to be looked at. She called the office and told them exactly what Dr Skupsky told her to say, and you can imagine my horror when she told me that her assistant told her that they couldn’t see her for a month (a MONTH!!!) because her schedule was full. My mom declined the appointment that was a month out and kindly told them that she didn’t feel like she was a priority and she hung up with the intention of finding another dermatologist and never returning to this practice again. Listen—I myself have been going to a dermatologist for decades, and I know with certainty that a melanoma is by far the deadliest thing a dermatologist encounters from a skin standpoint. I’m also sure there are many uncomfortable and serious skin issues that many patients deal with, but when a long-standing HIGH RISK patient, WHO HAS ALREADY HAD 2 MELANOMAS, calls after careful observation and asks (nicely!) to be seen for a suspicious spot, you would think, without a shadow of a doubt, that they, as a dermatologist or even more so, as HER dermatologist, would find 10 minutes (because I know that is how long it would take to look at it and at most do a shave biopsy) to fit her in somewhere (ANYWHERE!) within a few days. My mom did exactly what she should have done (and what every dermatologist on the planet would tell their patient to do when a suspicious spot popped up, ESPECIALLY if they have had a melanoma before). I have lived all over the country, and every dermatologist I have ever seen has squeezed me in to look at a suspicious spot if I called, and I haven’t even had a melanoma! If you are a dermatologist, and someone so much as MUTTERS the word melanoma, one would think that would warrant an appointment in a reasonable amount of time. I am writing this review because melanomas are incredibly dangerous and the dermatologist that my mom trusted to take care of her unequivocally DID NOT…and I would hate for the same thing to happen to someone that you love. To say that what happened to my mom is UNACCEPTABLE is an enormous understatement and I am beyond disappointed in this outcome from a practice that she has been a patient at for decades. At this point, I can only hope that they decide to do better in the future…but they rightfully won’t be getting the opportunity to do so for my sweet mother. Sincerely, a...

I saw Dr Hong Nguyen as a new patient. This was a highly anticipated appointment for me after dealing with a sudden hair loss due to alopecia areata. My PCP office and my medical group had much delayed my referral and it had been almost 4 months since the onset of the hair loss. Needless to say, I needed to see a derm asap and was craving answers and also some empathy.

The doctor was very matter of fact and cut and dry. Which is fine, however, she did not acknowledge the new growth on my scalp, nor did she do any pull tests. She only looked at it briefly. I had progress pictures of me losing almost 60-70% of my hair - and also how it’s begun to grow back. She was not interesting in seeing those nor did she asked questions about how it’s progressed.

She just told me to start on topical steroids and minoxidil. I also asked about my wart and another skin condition that kept recurring. She said I could get my wart removed along with another appointment when I come back for steroid shots in 3 weeks. She also said that after the steroid shots, she would have me on a JAK inhibitor. She didn’t care to educate me on side effects. Just told me that it could make me have worse respiratory infections and any other infections can manifest more severely than usual. She told me that my case is severe. I also informed her that my ANA test was negative (which is an indicator that my inflammation is higher and i may have an autoimmune condition - and needless to say AA is an autoimmune condition, this is also another marker)- but didn’t seem to think that would hinder me from getting the approval for JAK inhibitor. She also told me her and her office would not want to waste time, if I don’t want to pursue.

I didn’t like that she was so discouraging. Since the visit, I have only put on the topical steroids (she also failed to say anything about the possible side effects of minoxidil) and watched what I was eating. My hair is growing very well without the pursuit of harsh medications. It seemed so hasty of the doctor to just recommend the usual regimen and not even acknowledge how it was growing back or how I was doing. She was completely uninterested and was pretty convicted that I would need meds.

AA is a very stressful condition. Sudden hair loss for a woman is not a light matter. She didn’t ask any questions in regards to my wellbeing, nor did she ask any questions about my diet and other stressors. Just complete lack of empathy.

I also didn’t want to wait 3 weeks to get my wart removed. My next appt has been canceled and I would seek a...

This office texted me stating it was time for a follow up appt. I made an appt., filled everything out online, then arrived for my appointment. The front desk checked me in and noted that I filled everything out online, including my insurance information. After I saw the doctor (she was great, however, the wait time was over and hour with an appt.), she noticed that the front office placed me as a cash pay pt. I went to the front office to check out and let them know i am not a cash pt. The front office asked if I had an authorization to be seen, I stated, "no, how would I know I needed one? You guys reached out to me, scheduled me, checked me in, etc., I assumed all that would have been taken care of." I was told that I will be billed as a cash pay pt if my pcp does not submit an auth that same day... The check out person even asked that manager and that's the answer I got... I called my pcp and they confirmed since I am an established pt already with Laser Skin Center and they reached out, Laser Skin Center would be the one who SHOULD have submitted the auth. This is a really messed up situation from a few people at Laser Skin Center not doing their jobs. I will not pay this bill if I receive a cash pay bill. If my credit gets messed up from.it, I will be calling a lawyer. Lastly, I was informed by the check out person that I'd receive a call yesterday to follow up if they receive an auth, of course no one called me. I'm in the nursing field management team and this is unacceptable service. I know LSC has the ability to write this off due to their error, but...