Shady Car Salesman Hard Sale Atmosphere and A Lot of Unknowns.
My experience with Dr Parvin Shafa left me feeling extremely uneasy.
Unfortunately, Yelp ran out of room for a full in depth depiction of what took place During and Post visit at the office.
The short of it is that I felt very rushed throughout the visit and had to ask the Dr for clarification about a lot of things, which were still even glazed over.
When I asked about my red bump skin irritation issues, she just told me to shave differently and find another process. OK.... like What/How? That is why I came to a Skin Dr, for help, not to have to find my own answers. Her answer: she prescribed me a topical solution.
Oily Skin? They make or sell a wonder cream in office called "Retin-A" (not sure spelling as I've only heard of Retinol before, but she said that is not it) and referred to it as "010" How much is it? $100 today but when I told them I would think about it, if I buy later, it would be $130 (I can't remember the exact up charge, but it was fairly significant $130 - $150). "It will take care of everything" from oily skin to make your pores smaller.
Dark Spots, which she says all will grow in circumference and even raise up. How to treat? A cosmetic thing she called "Plasma Laser". I couldn't get a clear explanation of it. She told me the girls will get me the price for it when I asked how much. $495 for up to 15 localized spots. I originally was going to do it but ended up cancelling it as I have never heard of it, and I consulted with my clients who are ASPS, Derm (farther away), and also Medspas, who have not heard of Plasma Laser and politely dissuaded me from trying this and all I could find online were Plasma Pens that you can buy from Ebay or other possibly questionable sites with average costs ranging from $15 - $70. When I called back for more information like if just one session, and if not, how many and how much for each additional session, they didn't know (wasn't in my chart) and had to call me back. "$495 for first session, which she is giving me a HUGE discount because it's usually $1495, then 1/2 off each additional session at $248". hmm, It all originally sounded like one session was all that was needed.
They charged me a Co-Pay when I don't have a Co-Pay. And after I cancelled everything, I got a bill for my deductible portion (which I understand, but what is the breakdown of what was charged?). They billed for $240 and I tried to find out what that was for (due to hard sale feeling of visit), office couldn't tell me (not clear from chart) and told me to call biller (not in the Dr's Office). Doesn't biller get the info from the Dr? What's in the chart? Talked to my insurance and they said it is listed as "45 min new patient". I had to spend the first 10-15 min telling assistant in the consult room the same answers that I had already answered on the iPad that broke while I was waiting the ~45 min beyond my appointment time. Unfortunately, main biller was out, they'll have to check the chart. When I asked what that 45 min bill means and if they bill per 15 min increment, they didn't know. I brought up having to spend first 15 min or so retelling question answers since iPad broke, and at $240, that makes sense that they're billing about $80 per 15 min, Office gal replied that I have to consider the time they take to enter notes and or put in prescriptions to pharmacy. Wow... you bill at $80 per 15 min for that? I had to call every few days because they never called me back as promised and finally just paid the full amount.
Everything just felt a bit shady. $100 if buy wonder cream today, upcharge if later. Dr not clarifying about treatments or what to do. Unclear and not up front pricing / info about Plasma Laser, and consistent "don't know, you/I need to talk to the other person" answers. read more