Southwest Skin Specialists Phoenix Biltmore — Attraction in Phoenix

I chose Southwest Skin Specialists after seeing numerous glowing reviews of their patient care online. However, I think it is important that I speak of my experience and give women (or other patients with a uterus, for that matter) a notice of the treatment they can come to expect, specifically from Dr. Melody Maarouf.

I want to start by saying that my initial experience with Dr. Maarouf was great. I went in early this year for a skin check and she was very validating about my concerns. I ended up leaving my appointment with an Rx for a topical to treat my acne. I saw her last week for a follow up appointment and stated that the topical was not fully addressing my acne. Spironolactone was brought up but she stated she does not prescribe it without birth control because of “possible birth defects”. However, at no point had we discussed how that is relevant to me. I was never asked about my sexuality, sexual history, family planning, or anything of the sort. I kindly declined the option, as I know birth control is not something that is necessary for me at this time or in the foreseeable future. I wish I had spoken up then, but as a patient it can sometimes be difficult to advocate for oneself — especially when you feel outnumbered in a room (there was someone else there from her team taking notes).

No two people are the same, therefore all patients should receive individualized care from their medical providers, and blanket assumptions should not be made about an entire sex/group of people. For a medical provider to make the assumption that all female patients should be on birth control as a prerequisite to take spironolactone seems ignorant, in my opinion. Making a heteronormative or other assumption when female patients may be lesbian, asexual, celibate, sterile, or anything else seems unprofessional and even harmful. I happen to fall under that umbrella, but she wouldn’t know because she never asked.

It’s been a few days since that appointment and the anger and frustration is just now coming to the surface. I cancelled my next appointment and will be seeking care elsewhere.

Medical providers need to do better to educate themselves on patient care and reducing bias. It does no good for patient-facing medical providers to be knowledgeable in medicine if they lack the people aspect of skills and knowledge to provide...

I had never visited a dermatologist before so decided it was time for a preventative screening exam. I scheduled the preventative screening appointment with Dr. Watchmaker. I have no complaints against Dr. Watchmaker as she was knowledgeable and professional. The issue is with the deceptive office billing practices. I was asked by Dr. Watchmaker if I would allow her to treat some damaged (non-cancerous) skin by freezing with liquid nitrogen. I was not informed that this would change the billing code of the visit from preventative screening to an outpatient surgery visit code and that each area of treatment would be billed additionally. I was not asked to sign anything prior to this so I assumed it is all part of my screening visit. After the procedure, the nurse that was in the room asked me to sign that I authorized the treatment, again without showing me the documentation or informing me that there would be outpatient (cryosurgery) charges for this and that this would change the nature of the visit from a preventative screening to outpatient surgery. Numerous calls to the “Patient Care Coordinator”, Jessica, have been unanswered and billing refers the patient back to the Patient Care Coordinator. I just want to make others aware that this questionable office practice is used during a routine screening exam and it will result in a change of the preventative screening visit to an outpatient surgical visit, and will also add several additional billing codes for any procedure that the doctor decides to perform, all without informing the patient of this...

Our entire family has been treated by the practice. I have been going to Dr. Shannon Heck for dermatology for the last eight years. I am continually impressed by Dr Heck for ability to listen to my needs, and desires without judgement, address cosmetic issues artfully, and manage medical issues with great knowledge and expertise. Her ability to integrate both the art, and science of dermatology is truly exceptional. Our entire family has been treated by the practice. My adult daughter for extreme allergic skin reactions, and cosmetic enhancements, my husband with his rosacea, acne scars, other skin imperfections. True medical expertise were applied by Dr. Heck over years with a success for moles that were removed and biopsied, lipoma was addressed with a plan treatment, surgical, and burn scars were treated, skin injuries treated and addressed. We all had fraxel, clear and brilliant, micro-needling applied, esthetic injections, botox…Always, she is compassionate, straight up, and comes up with a game plan and a timeline, and doesn't stop until whatever the issue is perfectly resolved. We have all been impressed by responsiveness, depth of knowledge, attention to detail and overall quality of care of doctor, and staff, scheduling is easy, very punctual on time of treatments. I have referred many to this practice and have heard nothing but...