Complaint Review: Doctor Peppercorn And/or Advanced Dermatology & Laser Center Of Northern California - Yuba City California

Years ago, I made an appointment with Dr Peppercorn asking for some antibiotic injections into each side of my nose, where I had been told I had an infection by another doctor.

Instead of seeing the doctor as I had requested, his PA (I believe Linda Nelson) walked into the room, took one look and told me I definitely had cancer in those two areas and they needed to be excised immediately. She promised that the incisions would be invisible and that no one would know the difference once healed. After making the excisions, she then stated that if it were cancer, it would not malignant and could have waited - a total reversal of her prior urgency. They turned out to be exactly just what I had thought they were - an infection in the sweat glands, not cancer.

When the bandages came off, I found myself with two angular scars slanted outward from my nose on each side an obvious deep holes where she had used the wrong type of stitches plus, pulled them too tight. Upset, I called asking to see Dr Peppercorn himself.

While waiting for him, I overheard one of his other employees mocking my complaints based upon the sort of job I had. Stating that since I had a job such as that, what difference did it make what my face looked like, which I found very embarrassing and outrageous really. I had an interim job after resettling from out of state and not a job I intended to stay in for long. In fact, since having the incisions made, I had already found another job working in big ticket sales and with the public.

Brushing that aside, I then faced Dr Peppercorn who questioned why I would allow his PA to cut on my face as though it were my fault for allowing her to do so and then, stated that the large holes from the stitches were really just enlarged pores - obviously untrue. Then, upon my stating that the outward angular incisions had changed the outward appearance of my nose, he agreed, telling me he would do what ever necessary to make me happy. He offered me dermabrasion, laser and/or surgery. Suggesting I start out with dermabrasion and work up to surgery if I were still unhappy and whenever convenient for me.

Though uncomfortable with the entire place due to how I had been treated, I attended just a few sessions however working out of town, it was very inconvenient for me and bc the scars were not that bad, I eventually let it go, figuring if that were as bad as it got, I could live with it.

However, as the years went by and my face began to age, I started noticing the scars deepening, the 'pores' widening until now, I actually have people asking me why I have them. I had 2 different surgical nurses tell me in the last 6 months that the stitches used were obviously of the wrong sort.

Though it used to not be such an issue with me, with the passage of time and the way the scars have been affected by aging, it has become something I cannot look into the mirror without seeing.

Because Dr Peppercorn bills himself as being exceptionally ethical and top of the line, I never worried that when I was ready, his offer to use laser or, surgery to correct his PA's mistakes would still be valid. It was just a matter of when and if the mental impact of the scars became unbearable for me, I had thought.

However, having called his office today and informing the receptionist of my problem and who I was/what had happened to cause the scars, I was first told she would have to call me back and then, upon calling back, that Dr Peppercorn's word had expired with the passage of time and he was no longer willing to correct the scars created by his overzealous PA.

I am very disappointed bc throughout the years, trusting that he would make good on his word when I was ready, I've never made one derogatory remark concerning this situation to anyone, feeling it would be corrected when and if I decided the advantages of ridding myself of the scars outweighed the disadvantages of taking time off for laser treatments or, while wearing bandages on each side of my face for a period of time again.

I, now, want to warn others seeking facial treatments of not only the ineptness of the PAs Dr Peppercorn employs, but also the fact that he isn't good for his word and any type of issue arising should be handled through the normal legal avenues, as he cannot be trusted.

Scenic point

Yuba City, California

U.S.A.