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Treated Like a Number / Unprofessional
I am a previous client of Dr. Karam's from 10 years ago. I was pleased with my past experiences, so I would have no reason to leave this review unless my current experience was markedly negative. They've not only lost my business, but my fiancé's as well. A big shame.
Follow your gut, when you are treated like an afterthought by everyone on staff. The arrogant millennials running this office have a lot to learn. The condescending, dismissive attitudes need a big adjustment. *Reminder kids* (Karam's staff), it's the clients that pay your wages and keep Dr. Karam's office in business. The rest of the experience is as follows:
IMPERSONAL PROCESS:
Once you complete an online form and send your photos requesting consult, you will receive a boiler plate response from office staff, stating that your photos have been reviewed and here is "what Dr. Karam recommends." Both my fiancé and I received a recommendation that far-exceeded what we had expressed interest in and they were IDENTICAL SURGICAL RECOMMENDATIONS. Really? Identical recommendations for two different people? Very impersonal. I question whether Dr. Karam reviewed the photos himself, or has a staff member review and send out the boiler plate menu of procedures to clients over a certain age. An ASSEMBLY LINE approach to surgical recommendations raises big red flags.
SALES PITCH:
Next is a high-pressured sales pitch to put 20% down in order to hold the quoted price, before the "prices increase" and to hold a date on the calendar for 2023. They're very responsive when they want to get your deposit.
VIRTUAL CONSULT:
Consultation is $1,000 for an alleged hour of FaceTime. There are no in-person consults. The only opportunity you are given for a face to face is the DAY BEFORE SURGERY. I reluctantly booked a consult which was 7 minutes long. Dr. Karam didn't seem to remember me or the procedures he had performed before. It would be helpful to pull up a previous client's record so you know who I am. It felt half-hearted, rushed and very lackadaisical considering we're discussing facial surgery. I am pretty well-versed about what Vertical Restore entails, but other questions came up after my consult. Which leads to the next error they made in the process.
NO RESPONSE TO REPEATED REQUESTS:
I emailed and called his Patient Coordinator asking for some additional FaceTime, since I used 7 minutes of time during my consult. Four days later, NO RESPONSE, completely ignored. I had put 20% down, booked the surgery and this is how I'm treated? I DECIDED TO CANCEL SURGERY. I had lost all confidence and didn't feel good about moving forward.
My fiancé had nearly the identical experience, with 3 calls and 2 emails that went unanswered. He couldn't even get a consult on the schedule. He was interested in an eye procedure. I guess if you don't meet their minimum amount of surgical procedures, they don't bother to call you back? That was our guess at this point.
Neither of us is interested in pursuing something as important, delicate and costly with an office and doctor that treats you like an inconvenience. The lack of professionalism, arrogance and disinterest in providing basic customer service to your clients is unacceptable. A total failure.
We have since had two great consults with other surgeons. The difference was night and day. EVERYTHING matters during this process. The culture and attitude of the doctor trickles down to every level of staff. If you feel like you're being treated poorly, like another number in line, the way Karam's office treated us, then MOVE ON. There are plenty of other skilled surgeons out there with good people working for them. Hope this helps.
Follow your gut, when you are treated like an afterthought by everyone on staff. The arrogant millennials running this office have a lot to learn. The condescending, dismissive attitudes need a big adjustment. *Reminder kids* (Karam's staff), it's the clients that pay your wages and keep Dr. Karam's office in business. The rest of the experience is as follows:
IMPERSONAL PROCESS:
Once you complete an online form and send your photos requesting consult, you will receive a boiler plate response from office staff, stating that your photos have been reviewed and here is "what Dr. Karam recommends." Both my fiancé and I received a recommendation that far-exceeded what we had expressed interest in and they were IDENTICAL SURGICAL RECOMMENDATIONS. Really? Identical recommendations for two different people? Very impersonal. I question whether Dr. Karam reviewed the photos himself, or has a staff member review and send out the boiler plate menu of procedures to clients over a certain age. An ASSEMBLY LINE approach to surgical recommendations raises big red flags.
SALES PITCH:
Next is a high-pressured sales pitch to put 20% down in order to hold the quoted price, before the "prices increase" and to hold a date on the calendar for 2023. They're very responsive when they want to get your deposit.
VIRTUAL CONSULT:
Consultation is $1,000 for an alleged hour of FaceTime. There are no in-person consults. The only opportunity you are given for a face to face is the DAY BEFORE SURGERY. I reluctantly booked a consult which was 7 minutes long. Dr. Karam didn't seem to remember me or the procedures he had performed before. It would be helpful to pull up a previous client's record so you know who I am. It felt half-hearted, rushed and very lackadaisical considering we're discussing facial surgery. I am pretty well-versed about what Vertical Restore entails, but other questions came up after my consult. Which leads to the next error they made in the process.
NO RESPONSE TO REPEATED REQUESTS:
I emailed and called his Patient Coordinator asking for some additional FaceTime, since I used 7 minutes of time during my consult. Four days later, NO RESPONSE, completely ignored. I had put 20% down, booked the surgery and this is how I'm treated? I DECIDED TO CANCEL SURGERY. I had lost all confidence and didn't feel good about moving forward.
My fiancé had nearly the identical experience, with 3 calls and 2 emails that went unanswered. He couldn't even get a consult on the schedule. He was interested in an eye procedure. I guess if you don't meet their minimum amount of surgical procedures, they don't bother to call you back? That was our guess at this point.
Neither of us is interested in pursuing something as important, delicate and costly with an office and doctor that treats you like an inconvenience. The lack of professionalism, arrogance and disinterest in providing basic customer service to your clients is unacceptable. A total failure.
We have since had two great consults with other surgeons. The difference was night and day. EVERYTHING matters during this process. The culture and attitude of the doctor trickles down to every level of staff. If you feel like you're being treated poorly, like another number in line, the way Karam's office treated us, then MOVE ON. There are plenty of other skilled surgeons out there with good people working for them. Hope this helps.
Provider Review
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
11943 El Camino Real, San Diego, California