Dermatology & Laser Center of San Diego

M J 3 weeks ago

I saw Dr. Willoughby for a keloid removal on my ear. It’s only been a week since the procedure, but the results have been very good so far. Dr. Willoughby was thorough and gentle, and my incision is healing nicely. He and his entire staff were kind, friendly, and professional, making me feel comfortable throughout the process. I am very pleased with my experience and look forward to seeing the final results.

Michael Carroll a month ago

I had an extremely disappointing experience with this dermatology clinic’s front desk staff. I received a call confirming my appointment, so I arrived on time expecting to be seen. After arriving, I was informed that my appointment had been canceled without any prior notice or explanation. This level of disorganization and lack of communication is incredibly unprofessional, especially in a medical office where patients often arrange time off work, transportation, and schedules around appointments. The front desk staff showed little accountability for the inconvenience caused. A simple phone call or message informing patients of cancellations is basic courtesy and should be standard practice. Unfortunately, this experience reflected very poorly on the clinic’s professionalism and customer service.

Doug Poole 6 months ago

I've been a patient at this practice for approximately 7 years and have always been satisfied with the care I received, including a previous MOHS surgery. However, my recent experience has been deeply disappointing. In September, I underwent liquid nitrogen cryotherapy for a small area of seborrheic dermatitis on my scalp. I was not informed that this procedure could result in permanent hair loss due to damage to hair follicles. This is a significant potential side effect that should have been explained before treatment, especially for a procedure on a visible area of the body. When I noticed substantial hair loss in the treated area recently, I contacted the office simply asking if I could expect the hair to grow back. I was told I would need to schedule and pay for a full appointment. While I understand that medical practices need to charge for their services, I felt this situation warranted a different approach given that: The hair loss appears to be a complication from their procedure I was not properly informed of this risk beforehand I've been a loyal, paying patient for 7 years I was only requesting a brief assessment of whether regrowth is likely I expressed my concern about paying for a visit to address what I consider an informed consent issue from the original procedure. The staff was unwilling to accommodate any alternative solution and showed little concern for my situation as a long-term patient. I'm disappointed that after years of loyalty and always paying my bills promptly, the practice was unwilling to show any flexibility in addressing what appears to be a gap in informed consent. I'll be seeking care elsewhere.

Rami Mayuma 8 months ago

I had a procedure done back in June at this dermatology office to remove a small mole from my forearm. Fast forward to November, and I get blindsided by a collections notice claiming I owed a fee because my insurance didn't cover certain charges. I was under the impression everything was covered and above board, but it turns out they tacked on services I never needed or agreed to. They never disclosed any of this to me upfront, and the office basically hid behind the fine print of the paperwork I signed. The result? A massive unexpected bill that my insurance wouldn't cover, all because they chose not to communicate. I spoke with Liz, the office manager, who flat out told me they're not required to call patients about these charges and can basically bill whatever they deem necessary. It feels like a money grab. While Dr. Amy is a great doctor, the way this office operates is incredibly shady. I'd encourage anyone to steer clear of this place unless you want surprise bills and zero transparency.

Emmy Guerin 12 months ago

Cross-posting a review I posted on Yelp on 6/13/2023: I had a referral to see a dermatologist for a general skin check. I have a lot of moles/freckles and my grandfather had skin cancer, so I felt I should have a thorough skin check by a dermatologist at least once, which I have never done before. The entire appointment was conducted by a PA. She was very friendly and helpful, which is why I'm giving more than one star. But I had really been hoping to see the dermatologist, considering I had to get the referral to see a specialist authorized by my insurance and had to pay the specialist copay. Interesting to have to do that and barely interact with the specialist at all. At first, I thought the PA was just doing the initial screening and that the doctor would conduct a more thorough review afterward - since the PA said multiple times "Dr. Willoughby will come in shortly." However, when he came into the room at the end of my appointment, it was just that: the end of the appointment. He introduced himself and did ask if I had any questions or concerns, but his body language standing just by the door with the PA already having filled him in in the hallway gave the impression that my allotted time was over. I truly feel that he came in just to be able to legally say he "saw" me as a patient. It really felt like a waste of my time and money. If I had wanted to have my skin checked by someone who was NOT a certified doctor of dermatology, I would have just asked my primary care doctor to do it rather than waste my sick time from work to be seen by a PA.