I originally gave this doctor a 5-star review after my first visit because he directly asked me to…read more Now I understand why he pushes patients to leave positive reviews, especially after seeing how many negative experiences others have reported.
I first came to him because I noticed a patch of missing hair on the lower back of my head. I wasn't sure if it was related to a previous hair transplant or possibly alopecia, which was obviously concerning. On my first visit, he told me it was due to the transplant. On my second visit, he said it was alopecia, which is much more serious. Then on my third visit, he went back to saying it was from the transplant again.
By my fourth visit, I simply wanted a clear answer so I could understand whether I needed to seriously treat alopecia or not. When he walked into the room, he didn't even greet me. He immediately asked for my phone, took a picture of the back of my head, showed it to me, and asked me what I thought it was. I told him I didn't know, which is exactly why I came to see a specialist. He kept insisting that I tell him what it was instead of giving a professional opinion.
When I reminded him that he previously said it might be alopecia, he responded that he couldn't know unless I told him whether there used to be more hair there. I explained that I can't see the back of my own head and only noticed it after a family member pointed it out, which is why I sought professional help in the first place.
At that point his attitude became very arrogant and dismissive, speaking to me as if I didn't understand, when in reality I was just asking for clarity. He then called in his PA and even the receptionist, saying maybe they could "explain it better." I found this very unprofessional and confusing. I am not sure why the receptionist needed to be involved in a medical discussion, but ironically she was the most professional person in the room.
Halima, the receptionist, remained calm, respectful, and helped de-escalate the situation while reassuring me throughout the interaction. She showed more professionalism than the medical staff during that moment.
At the end of the visit, the doctor finally suggested taking a photo and comparing it again in three months to monitor any changes. This was a reasonable plan, but it could have been communicated calmly and clearly from the beginning instead of turning the visit into a frustrating experience.
For context, I had already been using a prescribed cream to treat possible alopecia based on his earlier assessment, which makes the inconsistent diagnoses even more concerning.
Overall, Dr. Patel came across as arrogant, unprofessional, and dismissive of my concerns. This was easily the worst experience I have ever had with a medical professional. I would not recommend this practice unless you have no other options. The only positive part of my experience was Halima at the front desk, who treated me with patience and professionalism.
