POSTED UNDER Breast Augmentation Reviews
Consultation Started Well but Ended with Conflicting Information
ORIGINAL POST
Consultation Started Well but Ended with Conflicting Information
I was seen for a consultation for breast augmentation after discovering this practice through Dr. Barrett’s online content and after meeting with several top-rated surgeons in Southern California. During the consultation, Dr. Barrett was kind and patient, and we initially felt comfortable moving forward and booking OR time. This was not my first consultation or my first procedure, and my husband is a physician, so we felt experienced enough to evaluate the practice and were comfortable proceeding.
However, when we received the invoice, we noticed additional costs without corresponding line items, bringing the total to approximately $22K for a breast augmentation with an internal lift. This raised concern because I had initially been quoted $17,500.
When I reached out for clarification, I spoke with three different team members and received conflicting explanations. Around the same time, I came across multiple online reviews (Yelp, Google, RealSelf, Instagram) raising similar concerns about inconsistent pricing and lack of patient continuity, which made us increasingly uneasy.
Eventually, Dr. Barrett’s wife, Rosalyn (the lead patient coordinator), called me to address the concerns. Unfortunately, the conversation felt less like an attempt to clarify and more like being lectured and spoken down to. At one point she suggested that my husband and I were working each other up about the pricing, rather than providing a clear explanation for the inconsistency in the quote. She also asked whether we were saving up for the procedure or planning to rely on financing, implying that our hesitation was related to cost. That was not the case — we had planned to pay in full with a credit card. This is a surgical relationship where complications or revisions can occur, so clear communication and trust are important.
The situation became even more confusing when Rosalyn told me that the procedure recommended by her husband, the lead surgeon, would not actually produce good aesthetic results and that I should instead consider a breast lift. Hearing this after already being advised to move forward with augmentation with an internal lift raised further concerns about consistency within the practice.
When I said I needed more time to think about it, I was told that if I did not proceed they would keep the deposit because the payment had been made over a recorded phone line. This felt unnecessarily confrontational, especially since I was simply trying to clarify legitimate questions.
At that point, given the conflicting information on both the financial and clinical sides, we decided it was best to walk away. To their credit, the team offered to refund the OR deposit.
Unfortunately, the call addressing these concerns also ended abruptly when Rosalyn intentionally hung up on me, which further reinforced my concerns about communication and professionalism.
For a practice that charges above industry average and presents itself as highly patient-centered, there are recurring themes in negative reviews regarding pricing transparency, follow-up, and communication with patients experiencing concerns or complications.
It’s unfortunate, because I likely would have moved forward with the procedure if I had simply received an apology for the confusion and a clear explanation for the price difference. Instead, the confrontational approach to resolving concerns — combined with conflicting clinical guidance — made it clear this was not the right practice for me.
I would encourage anyone considering surgery to read reviews across multiple platforms and make their own decision. There are many excellent surgeons in Southern California.
However, when we received the invoice, we noticed additional costs without corresponding line items, bringing the total to approximately $22K for a breast augmentation with an internal lift. This raised concern because I had initially been quoted $17,500.
When I reached out for clarification, I spoke with three different team members and received conflicting explanations. Around the same time, I came across multiple online reviews (Yelp, Google, RealSelf, Instagram) raising similar concerns about inconsistent pricing and lack of patient continuity, which made us increasingly uneasy.
Eventually, Dr. Barrett’s wife, Rosalyn (the lead patient coordinator), called me to address the concerns. Unfortunately, the conversation felt less like an attempt to clarify and more like being lectured and spoken down to. At one point she suggested that my husband and I were working each other up about the pricing, rather than providing a clear explanation for the inconsistency in the quote. She also asked whether we were saving up for the procedure or planning to rely on financing, implying that our hesitation was related to cost. That was not the case — we had planned to pay in full with a credit card. This is a surgical relationship where complications or revisions can occur, so clear communication and trust are important.
The situation became even more confusing when Rosalyn told me that the procedure recommended by her husband, the lead surgeon, would not actually produce good aesthetic results and that I should instead consider a breast lift. Hearing this after already being advised to move forward with augmentation with an internal lift raised further concerns about consistency within the practice.
When I said I needed more time to think about it, I was told that if I did not proceed they would keep the deposit because the payment had been made over a recorded phone line. This felt unnecessarily confrontational, especially since I was simply trying to clarify legitimate questions.
At that point, given the conflicting information on both the financial and clinical sides, we decided it was best to walk away. To their credit, the team offered to refund the OR deposit.
Unfortunately, the call addressing these concerns also ended abruptly when Rosalyn intentionally hung up on me, which further reinforced my concerns about communication and professionalism.
For a practice that charges above industry average and presents itself as highly patient-centered, there are recurring themes in negative reviews regarding pricing transparency, follow-up, and communication with patients experiencing concerns or complications.
It’s unfortunate, because I likely would have moved forward with the procedure if I had simply received an apology for the confusion and a clear explanation for the price difference. Instead, the confrontational approach to resolving concerns — combined with conflicting clinical guidance — made it clear this was not the right practice for me.
I would encourage anyone considering surgery to read reviews across multiple platforms and make their own decision. There are many excellent surgeons in Southern California.
Jubilant928056's provider
Replies (0)