West Dermatology Carlsbad's Online Review Report Card

The office staff is horrible. Not personable at all and shouldn't be dealing with the public. Also, you can't get in touch with the front office. I've been trying for a week to make a surgical appointment and no one has called me back. I've had a great experience with Dr. Riley but getting an appointment and dealing with anyone at the front desk is the worst.

The survey went well.

I was billed too much and it was such a hustle to get my money back. It finally worked out but it was painful and took a long time and many phone calls. The hotline is annoying and hard to deal with, they promised to call me back several times and never did. The doctor was friendly but seemed like she was in a rush and made me come back to another appointment several times which felt unnecessary to me and resulted in higher costs.

Getting an appointment is close to impossible! They NEVER answer their phones! They say " someone will be right with you" over and over again but after 20 minutes they say" Please leave a message" and you do ( I left three!) and they never call you back. Go on Yelp and see that this place gets 1 star from 100's of reviewers due to this issue! Inexcusable! Do better!!! Also, there is no signage outside or inside of the building! No bench or chair outside of door to office ( when you finally find it!). I sat on the floor because the door was locked! The front desk staff is not very friendly. They don't make you feel very welcome there. The medical staff rushes you through as well. I felt like an annoying inconvenience. The doctor saw me for less than a minute for my consult. I have to go back for a procedure and I am dreading it..... so disappointing.....Pros- takes my insurance, office is clean and attractive, staff seems knowledgeable.....

Only downfall is front desk when trying to call in, it's rare anyone answers the phone (but easy to book online). Other than that, TOP QUALITY everything! Dr. Riley at Carlsbad location is an outstanding doctor, kind, caring and competent. I came in for botox and coincidentally had a laceration that needed attention and she worked me into her schedule, taking care of closing the wound. Shout out to Missy and Julia for their help with the procedure. Everyone was awesome! They all deserve a raise!

I saw Dr. Brittany Polizzi on April 9th for what I thought was seborrheic dermatitis and also wanted Botox. I was told I'd need to schedule two separate appointments, which I did. At the first visit, Dr. Polizzi examined my face, diagnosed me with rosacea and perioral dermatitis, and prescribed metronidazole. I appreciated getting a diagnosis, but I left with minimal guidance on what to do next apart from the ointment. It felt like there was very little effort to explain my condition or treatment plan--just a suggestion to come back in six weeks. A week later, I returned for the Botox appointment. During that visit, she gave me the injections and told me that laser might help with rosacea. I was later billed an additional $120 office visit fee on top of the Botox cost. When I called your office, I was told it was because rosacea was discussed again--but if that was the case, why wasn't it covered by my insurance like the first visit? I was not informed that there would be a separate medical fee associated with the Botox appointment, and I wouldn't have moved forward if I had known. If the second office visit fee was indeed for discussing rosacea, then why wasn't it submitted accordingly to my insurance so it can get covered? The whole experience left me feeling like the practice is more focused on billing for brief consultations than on providing clarity and care. I will never step foot near this place again.

I saw Dr. Brittany Polizzi on April 9th for what I thought was seborrheic dermatitis and also wanted Botox. I was told I’d need to schedule two separate appointments, which I did. At the first visit, Dr. Polizzi examined my face, diagnosed me with rosacea and perioral dermatitis, and prescribed metronidazole. I appreciated getting a diagnosis, but I left with minimal guidance on what to do next apart from the ointment. It felt like there was very little effort to explain my condition or treatment plan—just a suggestion to come back in six weeks. [Later edit: I also got a $900 lab bill because they used an out of network provider without my consent to examine the skin swab.] A week later, I returned for the Botox appointment. During that visit, she gave me the injections and told me that laser might help with rosacea. I was later billed an additional $120 office visit fee on top of the Botox cost. When I called your office, I was told it was because rosacea was discussed again—but if that was the case, why wasn’t it covered by my insurance like the first visit? I was not informed that there would be a separate medical fee associated with the Botox appointment, and I wouldn’t have moved forward if I had known. The whole experience left me feeling like the practice is more focused on billing for brief consultations than on providing clarity and care. If the second office visit fee was indeed for discussing rosacea, then why wasn't it submitted accordingly to my insurance so it can get covered?

New patient with a great experience. My regular skin screening appointment. With a history of skin cancer, they were very effective. Will definitely be continuing to see this office in Carlsbad!

This office runs very efficiently. I have never experienced a wait, am promptly taken to an exam room, and the doctor arrives soon after nurse completes assessment. Well done!

Horrible experience. As many others have said the staff is trash. Unfriendly, awful customer service. Wasted my time and horribly rude front desk. I booked an appointment for hyperhidrosis and it should’ve been a straight forward appointment but the front desk decided to let me know when I got there that they would only take cash. Botox is an FDA approved treatment for this medical condition that this office refuses to assist patients with. I will gladly find a provider who recognizes this condition and cares enough for their patients to want to assist them in making it an affordable option.