Christine R★☆☆☆☆Google
July 25, 2023
I asked the main information at PAMF for someone who could remove a lipoma, and they did me a disservice when they sent me to plastic surgeon Dr. Chang.
While I was seated on the exam table in a paper gown, there were three stools in front of me where we could have talked at eye level. Instead he chose to sit on the counter further away where I would have to twist my neck and look up to him as if her were some kind of god on Olympus.
My lipoma was about 2 x 3 inches and at most 4 oz, on the outside of my upper arm. He informed me that he could not remove it under local anesthesia and that I would need to go under general anesthesia. I pointed out that multiple dermatologists on TV (Dr. Pimple Popper, Dr Mercy, Save My Skin) take off much larger (12-20 pound) lipomas using local anesthesia. His pissy response was that I should go to see them instead. I guess dermatologists have better skills than plastic surgeons in that they can deal with a conscious patient, an not need to render a patient unable to move or communicate.
General anesthesia requires a patient to get someone to drive them home after. But I guess it is a good way to pump up the amount of money charged to insurance.
I found another dermatologist outside PAMF who was able to easily remove it under local anesthesia.
