Dana Point Dermatology — Local services in Dana Point

I cannot in good faith recommend this practice for the following reasons:

(1) They force you to keep a credit card on file and I have caught them fraudulently billing a 2nd $35 co-pay over a month later as if I had another visit and I didn't.

(2) The $35 co-pay I did pay was for a routine skin cancer screening. While the doctor was very nice and I have no criticisms as to his bedside manner/personality, his screening was woefully inadequate. He only had me take off my shirt, that's it. My pants stayed on. My shoes stayed on. I am a surfer and the bottoms of my feet and in-between my toes should definitely be checked; when you're laying on a board, they face up. Surfer or not, who doesn't wear sandals in Dana Point? I personally know someone who actually died from skin cancer originating between the toes. I have never had a screening in my life where only the top half of my body was checked. Do we only get skin cancer on the top half of our bodies?

(3) I was charged $407 for a procedure my Manhattan Beach dermatologist charged roughly $150 for. This was for a simple electrolysis burning of a spot on my face. I did not ask the price upfront and they did not tell me. Perhaps that's on me for not scrutinizing their pricing, but when the very top derm in Manhattan Beach charges $150, I had no reason to believe their price would be 2.7x the price.

I've attached the screenshot of my card transactions so you can see the double-billing of a $35 co-pay. Notice how they waited over a month to charge me again. I am also notifying my health insurance this is wrong, as there was no appointment or visit other than the one on 10/7. Even though I was very unsatisfied regarding the skin cancer screening and insane pricing, I was not going to leave a bad review (or any review) because I generally don't do that, even if I'm unhappy. But after discovering the fraudulent billing this morning and having to spend my day off from work communicating with credit card company and health insurance, I felt I shouldn't keep this experience private, as that was the last straw.

The irony of the wrongful billing is that given my background in owning a credit card company for 6 years, when checking in, I specifically had a conversation with receptionist that I do not want my credit card saved and I am happy to pre-pay for the services upfront so they don't need to save it. They refused and said the policy is they must have credit card on file for all patients prior to being seen. So here I am at my appointment and they refuse to see me unless I agree to allow them to save it, which I reluctantly did albeit because I was basically bullied to do so. Also I should notate at this point I was only being seen for insurance-billed services (skin cancer screening) so it’s not like I had cosmetic dermatology services booked. I actually dug into this some more and this is not legal in California. You can't require a patient to have a credit card on file for insurance-rendered health services. In fact, it's not even legal to require someone to pay their co-pays with a credit card if they would prefer cash.

If I didn't move from Manhattan Beach, I would obviously have never changed doctors. Guess it's back to hunting for a...

I visited the office on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the treatments performed on my face in 2022. They promised to provide me via email with an estimate of costs by Wednesday morning but it’s Friday and I’m still waiting.

They sent me a link for a Google review so allow me to share my experience.

Jessica performed a light CO2 laser treatment on me nearly 2 years ago to help erase sunspots. I remember how much it hurt! I’m very sensitive to pain. After the treatment healed a significant sunspot remained on my right cheek. At my follow up appointment, Jessica applied additional laser work on the spot. Within an hour or so my cheek began to swell and discolor. I was burned! It was right before the holidays. I had to explain the spot to family and friends for weeks and months afterward. I shared photographs with Jessica and she called in a costly prescription to help fade the spot. It didn’t help.

I remember now how upset I was. I should not have gone back. But because they knew my situation it made sense to call them to possibly rectify my prior experience.

I called Siera last week to find out what a new treatment would cost as I paid $599 a year and half ago. She said that a CO2 laser would cost nearly $3,000. How could the cost be so inflated? Siera said it’s best to meet with Jessica in person to go over my past situation, costs, etc. which I agreed to.

After meeting with Jessica to look over past photos, my burn mark and various treatments Siera told me that she would email me a cost sheet for Botox, chemical peel and a light CO2. We discussed pain relief options and a cream they sell that will help to prepare my skin for treatment.

Before I left, Siera requested a $150 consultation fee! We never discussed that. I’m an existing client. The cream cost another $120. Siera told me that the consult fee can be applied to treatment. Surprised and not interested in arguing, I paid the money. When I got home I took the cream bottle out of my purse and it has no box, label or ingredients on it. It is unsealed. How do I know this Creme has not been used before? What’s in it??

I am out $278.10 now with no plan of action. I included some photographs here on the spot treatment performed in 2022. Here is a photo of the bottle they gave me. Siera took it out of the refrigerator but told me that it does not need to be cooled.

Should I go back? Should I ask for a refund? I’m very disappointed and...

Dana Point Dermatology is the absolute best! There is nobody else I trust with my skin. A gorgeous office on trend with the latest in everything beauty, while keeping a focus on health and wellness. Dr. Goerig is brilliant, energetic, his attention to detail is second to none. With my history of skin cancer I know I can trust him (and Jessica) to carefully watch my skin for anything unusual. And as for the fun things: Jessica is literally the best person to place in charge of your aesthetics!! She’d better outlive me because I need her forever, she is an absolute gem! Her technique is extraordinary - it is an art and she has the eye for symmetry- every treatment I’ve had has been enjoyable with enhanced but natural looking results. She’s friendly and explains clearly each procedure, and every time she has recommended something new I’m soooo happy I did it! I have a few things on my ‘to do’ list (Laser resurfacing for one!) but I’ll tell you I’m loving my injectables and skin glowing peels, and the product to keep up between visits. Do yourself a favor and book a consult with them, you’ll be so...