Sixty seconds for a $70 copay. Talk about doing the bare minimum. What a waste of time.

I saw Dr. Jay Zimmerman in September 2020 to check for lesions. They called it a "full body scan" but it was nothing of the sort. It was the fastest dermatology exam in my life -- 90 seconds TOPS! During this frenetic exam I tried to ask him about a few things that were bothering me but he quickly dismissed my questions. I am not a time-waster and I intended to pay cash for anything my insurance didn't cover. So what's the problem?? While I was trying to locate something hidden on my scalp for him to examine he was irritated because my fingers were in his way. (Sigh.) He then told me it would fall off by itself. But that was over 1.5 years ago and it has NOT fallen off. After my visit his office emailed a request for feedback. I responded with my dissatisfaction and I never heard anything further. Their "patient-centered care" is 100% pure baloney. Jay Zimmerman could not have cared less or moved faster if his Crocs were on fire. Good riddance. read more

First visit was excellent. Had a skin growth removed & biopsy done. Dr Zimmerman is very efficient & knowledgeable. I am impressed with his followup assistance as the biopsy was positive for skin cancer. I'm having surgery tomorrow. read more

I'm done with Dr Zimmerman. Background: I've worked in dermatology and a well respected colleague referred me to Dr Zimmerman. Through the years I have seen him and referred many people to this practice. I do believe he is skilled and knowledgeable- if he would only take time with his patients. I no longer trust his 90 second skin checks. Particularly with my husband who has a history of melanoma. Every time my husband goes in he has to remind Dr Zimmerman he had melanoma as a young adult. I took my kids there for skin checks due to changing moles and he looked at their skin for about 30 seconds each. He didn't even have them stand up or lie down to look at their backs or legs. To top it off, when I made the appointment asking if he treats keloids (my daughter has one that is bothering her) they said yes. Come to find out Dr Zimmerman said he could refer us to a surgeon to look at it. We paid a $40 copay for each kid to get about 2 minutes of his time. And that's not an exaggeration. I'm in the medical field myself and I'm appalled at his lack of attention and dismissive attitude. I would never treat my patients like this. read more

This would definitely be a zero star review. I give the one star to his staff for being friendly but that's where it ends. I personally did not have a good experience. Maybe he's better with other diagnosis but not with acne. He pushed accutane & i do not want to take that, so he gave me topical products & sent me on my way, no follow up, no nothing. It took me longer to drive to my appointment than the actual appointment... my drive is only 10 minutes I would not recommend him for acne since he's set on one product , but maybe he's better for other diagnosis'. (Also I felt very rushed, he didn't even touch my face, barely looked at it too.) not happy at all. read more

Honest, caring, super pro-active MD. The 1 doctor who helped me thru a painful infection. I praise and trust Dr. Jay Zimmerman. Wish more educated humans were of his caliber. read more

No history. No "once over". No education. No nothing. I went to see Dr. Zimmerman, based on the reviews I read here. Initially, I had to correct the spelling of my name on the forms they printed out. Then they printed it again wrong. Ok, whatever. I sat down but before I could fill in one bit pertinent info, a young lady brought me back to a room. Asked me why I was here. I told her "my feet itch. I have an itch and it won't go away." Plus, I want to have a check up as I'm a white man with pretty white skin and my dad just had his third bit of skin cancer removed". Ok she said. Then a minute or so later, Dr. Z walks in. Seems like a nice enough guy. He asked me what are you here for? I told him. His answers were, "is there a rash?" No. "ok then I can't help you." He explained why. Told me to use Icy Hot, which I guess I'll try, but really? Then I asked him about some bumps on my ankle. He quickly answered. "Blah blah blahbitty blah". He said, we don't know why people get that but it's harmless and genetic. "Ok, how about these little bumps on my hand"? He says "Same thing". Now hearing my family history, wouldn't a Doctor want to take a look at your back and neck and face, arms? Look for signs of skin cancer etc.? Well not here. Maybe if I was looking for some skin enhancements or lip fattening or needles with toxins for my frown, I might have considered. But for a doctor who chose Dermatology as a profession, it seems like the cosmetic side is really where they're focused. I need one who's interested in the medical side. read more

MY wife came out of his office crying. the absolute worst, Did not care about any of her concerns. It was like pulling teeth to get information out of him. Seemed like he didn't care. Will not recomend him to anyone. Perscribed antibiotics EVEN AFTER I SAID "NO PILLS" Generic Doctor. Generic mentality. He should get to the root of the problem before he perscribes antibiotocs. Just in it for the Money. does not care about people. read more

I am long overdue on this yelp review. I have terrible rosacea, and before seeing Dr. Zimmerman at the Berman Skin Institute, my face was the color of a strawberry. It was horrible! My confidence was low, and I had tried several different treatments for my rosacea with very little success. After seeing Dr. Zimmerman over 5 sessions, my skin is back to it's regular color. I can see a huge difference in photographs, and am feeling a lot more confident. Thank you, Dr. Zimmerman! A couple huge pluses for me were that parking was easy, Dr Zimmerman has a terrific bedside manner (unfortunately this is unusual for most doctors these days) and most importantly his treatments were effective. read more

Dr J. Z. Is a great doctor only one I will go to that is for sure! his staff is so professional and caring. I love Judy which is his patient care director, she was so amazing and so patient with me and all my crazy questions. I had a great experience with Dr Zimmerman, Also he does an awesome job removing tattoos. Last year I went to him to have some removed and it hurt like crazy! but Dr. Z was like Bob Marley " everything will be alright" he is super professional but really down to earth. i HAVE TONS OF PICS AND EVEN VIDEO OF MY PROCEDURE OF TATT Removal if anyone wants more info email kibbles023@aol.com read more

Despite the negative reviews I decided to see Dr. Zimmerman today about my skin condition and this is my review: 1. Front desk: Friendly 2. Wait time: I waited 10 mins after my appointment time which was not bad at all 3. Dr Zimmerman was very knowledgable. I've been googling my skin condition so coming in I had an idea of my condition. He diagnosed my skin condition right away! My primary Dr. said that I had bug bites. He has great bedside manners, made eye contact with me when he spoke to me (believe or not, thats very uncommon with drs now a days) 4. I asked about my sun spots and he recommended a few things and answered all my questions. I was then forwarded onto a product specialist, Karen. Karen was great, answered all my questions and was not pushy about getting me to buy products. I will definitely return! read more

Dr. Zimmerman is part of the Berman Skin Institute which primary location is in Palo Alto. I personally didn't have the best experience in that particular office but, they do offer the latest and most advance techniques for skin care so, I went back regularly for about 6 months with semi-satisfying results. When I heard they were opening an office in SF with two new Doctors, I thought I'd give it another try since I was looking for a new dermatologists and it was more convenient for me to visit a doctor is SF than it was in Palo Alto. I'm really glad a did. Dr. Zimmerman was a real delight, and I don't use that word often. He came in, listen to my concerns and offered up several solutions and recommendations. This was no in and out in 5 minutes, he answered all my questions, explained in detail all of the options and even showed me some before and after work to get a better idea of what to expect. He has a very pleasant disposition, which let's face it, can be hard to come by these days in the medical industry. He's office is pretty new so I'm sure once the word gets out he'll start booking up fast. If you're looking for a knowledgeable dermatologist who takes his time with you and your concerns...you're in luck, you just found him! read more

Dr Zimmerman is referred to as "Doctor Wonderful " in our household. He ranks at the top of "engages you in your own healthcare" scale. No lectures, just creative problem solving reviewing the range of treatment options. He's skilled, cheerful and runs on time. read more

Dr Zimmerman is technically a great dermatologist and has a wonderful "bedside manner". He is very fast and looks for the least invasive approach to treat my teenagers various skin afflictions (fungi, eczema, acne, etc). I really like that he doesn't want to "napalm" my sons' skin, and he sometimes has some rather practical solutions to skin problems (i.e. apply the ointment and then wrap the affected area in plastic wrap). The only reason why the OFFICE doesn't get five stars is that it's a hectic place and the office staff are somewhat abrupt and often forget important matters (i.e. calling me back). Overall, I can put up with all that because I really like Dr Z. read more

Actually always look forward to taking my mother to see Dr Zimmerman. We get answers quickly and he is always in a good mood with time for us. The staff if very helpful and friendly too. Our last visit we got a solution and medication so hopefully we won't need to go back for that particular problem. read more

Even though Dr. Zimmerman seemed pleasant, I have come to realize that he has always been too busy to ask us the right questions and to look attentively at the patient. We have seen him many times for 2 years, and in that time he was not able to figure out that my teen was suffering from folliculitis not acne. After another Dr. asked 4 on-point questions and diagnosed my teen in 5 (!) minutes, I realized that Dr. Zimmerman never actually listened or heard us although we always provided the information he needed to make the right diagnosis. As a result, he treated my teen with antibiotics and other strong medicine, gradually increasing the dose, which made her condition worse not better besides the side effects of taking antibiotics ... Dr. Zimmerman, please treat each patient carefully, don't assume, don't rush, ask the right questions, take your time. We are trusting you with young children's health ... read more

Update: Heard he moved to a new office in Walnut Creek. I'll need to make another appointment soon...www.edbeckermd.com Tough to find an excellent doctor with a great attitude, so I will follow him anywhere :) read more

Love Dr Zimmerman--he is a five star ***** doctor. He is a very skilled dermatologist and an excellent listener--which is very important to me. Bonus points for having a great warm personality--he will put you at ease with his excellent sense of humor. The practice is very busy so you need to have your questions ready when you go--he is not going to quiz you on topics that aren't part of your visit. He always looks at me in the eye and listens to everything I have to say and answers all my questions. Every procedure I have had--both medical and cosmetic--under Dr. Zimmerman has been excellent. I couldn't be happier or more confident in a doctor. And I had to go through many duds to find a good one. Unfortunately the office itself is sometimes unpleasant--the reason I gave only four stars. Most of the woman--90%--who work here are excellent, good at their jobs and very friendly and helpful. But there are a few bad eggs--including the office manager--who make the experience unpleasant by often being openly rude. Some of the young woman who check patients in take their cue from her and are equally rude and unpleasant. It is too bad because it really takes away from the experience. I would give the front desk a 1 or 2. It is also very uncomfortable to listen to the office manager being disrespectful to her co-workers. They need to take a few cues from Dr. Zimmerman. And Dr. Z and Dr. Becker need to realize these employees represent them and not in a good way. read more

This place is terrible. They're always too busy to be bothered to actually help you with anything. Prepare to wait forever for treatment..... and then be billed an insane amount of money! I needed one prescription for a steroid cream for recurring eczema. I waited 45 mins to see a doctor (with an appointment) and the cream he prescribed was not covered by insurance, and he prescribed such a large dose that the total was over $500. Terrible, terrible, terrible. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY!! read more

How would it feel if you are told: "We do not accept your insurance" when you arrive...although they took your insurance information 3 weeks in advance!!!!???? Sorry, we left you a message yesterday!!! read more

Unfortunately Yelp wasn't around when I went to Dr. Zimmerman a few years ago, so I didn't have much to go on. Dr. Zimmerman completely ruined my skin and has me scarred (literally) for life. I began laser treatments when I lived on the east coast, and when I moved home continued with Dr. Z. I went in for my initial appointment and was told by the nurse that laser would never remove my tattoo fully (my east coast doctor disagreed) and that the only way to completely get rid of it was to have it surgically removed. They had me very concerned and Dr. Z drew a pencil line of what the scar would look like- I remember it so vividly. It was supposed to be so thin and hardly noticeable. My results were devastating and an utter failure. I can't even wear strapless dresses or bikinis anymore I'm so embarrassed. He completely ruined my skin. You can even see the huge stitch marks on the scar!!! If you value your skin, go elsewhere for a second opinion. read more

Jay Zimmerman, MD - People often ask me who stabbed me.. I tell them Dr. Z the somehow licensed completely incompetent dermo. See matching review for full story - Dermatologists Near Me - Brentwood, California

Well, my fellow Yelpers, you have a choice here...you can roll the dice and be persuaded by the positive reviews or heed the recurring theme of the negative reviews. Dr. Zimmerman performed TWO unsuccessful surgeries on the same small spot of skin cancer which resulted in me needing to go to another Dermatologist to have it taken care of successfully the first time. Unfortunately, I consequently have an unnecessarily unsightly scar. To add insult to injury, I needed to pay for two unsuccessful surgeries and accompanying lab tests. When I got the bill, for the second positive lab test along with a referral for another Dermatologist, and then, ten days later a past-due notice, I opted to send a letter to Dr. Zimmerman expressing my concerns along with my final check. The office promptly cashed my check with no response to my concerns. Like the other reviewer, I received no medical history review or "once over," or education about skin protection, maintenance, etc. Shouldn't this be standard Dermatological procedure for a person with current skin cancer?? Every other Dermatologist I've ever seen performs a yearly top-to-bottom skin check...heck it only takes a minute! So there you have it...you can throw caution to the wind and see Dr. Z because perhaps his office is conveniently close to you, or remind yourself that most people have better things to do than take the time to write a negative review. read more

Made appt. on Friday 10/10/14 for my husband ...he goes this morning and they say oh your a cash customer...this after I'd given all insurance over phone on Friday which they said they accepted...ugh...competency is a good thing and staff is lacking it,..., very frustrating read more

The front receptionists are always busy and you can't even ask them any questions. They always redirect you to go back and sit until you are called. They are terrible with answering phones. When you call this office, they put you on hold for a long time. Not only that, they constantly advertise their services while you are on hold. Basically, they try to force you to listen to all their expensive services that are not covered by insurance. It is so annoying to listen to these reruns over and over. You can't even do anything else while you are on hold since they keep rerunning the advertisement and break your concentration. When you come for your appointment, you don't get to see the doctor mostly. You'll end up seeing a nurse practitioner. Even when you see the doctor, they often recommend expensive procedures or products that are not covered by anyone's insurance. They act more like a cosmetic department or an expensive spa. read more

Dr. Zimmerman is such a great doctor. He takes the time to actually listen to you. He is a really easy going guy and extremely knowledgeable. I felt totally comfortable with him. Great guy and a great doctor! I would recommend him anyway! read more

Update: Dr Zimmerman is no longer with Berman Skin Institute

I saw Dr. Zimmerman today and he was wonderful. Super nice guy and very efficient. Walked in, asked about my reason for seeing him and had a game plan drawn up in 30 seconds. Then he went back through to explain it all and make sure it would work for me. Definitely recommend him for any kind of cosmetic dermatology. Also, the staff in the office were very nice. read more

I picked Doctor Z. after reading a ton of bad reviews about other Dermatologist. I am so glad I went to him. He put me on the right medication for hormonal acne and stopped my battle! I thought of giving a 4 star because the office is over booked. But then I thought...Dr. Z's quick prognosis is not worth underscoring because of the over booking. The wait is a bit of an inconvenience..But I think getting things done right quickly once you see the Doctor makes up for it. read more

3rd dermatologist I have seen in the WNC area, and the first who seemed to care. Very personable, treated me well, didn't try to sell me products and procedures other than what I wanted (which seems to be a common practice for WNC dermatologists). His explanation of the surgery I was to have was excellent and put me at ease, as was all the follow-up care. It is very difficult to find a caring doctor who has a warm personality. Definitely recommend Dr. Zimmerman. read more

Dr. Zimmerman was the fourth dermatologist I have been to in a span of maybe 8 years, and he has been the only one to find an effective treatment for my acne. A lot of other doctors that I had seen wanted me to try every medication for and it was the same old antibiotics over and over again. Dr. Z did not hesitate to try new medications and actually believed me when I would tell him that my skin wasn't improving. He is not afraid to try new medications and seems to keep up with the current medical findings and treatments. With a few medication trials we have found the right combination that has essentially gotten rid of my acne, it was a lengthy process but SO worth it. This is saying a lot because I have had acne for over 10 years and nothing has worked until now. I am so grateful for what he has done and would highly recommend him to anyone who has persistent acne. read more

Dr. Zimmerman is my favorite doctor I have ever worked with. I have had several procedures done with him and he is amazing with all of them. Very patient, thorough in response and explanation, funny and down to earth. I refer everyone I know to him! I also just got a facial for the first time from his office with Irene and she was also amazing. I am really interested in learning all I can about skin care and she was extremely knowledgeable and gave me a great facial! read more

I saw Dr. Zimmerman today to have a mole looked at, that thankfully ended up bing fine. He took his time, was very nice, answered all of my questions and truly seemed to care. The staff was pleasant and efficient during check-in and check out and my appointment was on time. No one tried to push me to buy anything at all. Overall excellent experience. I will be back. read more

Within the last year I have seen Dr. Zimmerman three times. Each time the office was busy, yet Dr. Zimmerman saw me within 10 to 12 minutes. Dr. Zimmerman will take the time to listen to my concerns and will explain in detail what is going on with my skin and offer a treatment. I have seen a couple of dermatologist over the past twenty years and I am very pleased with Dr. Zimmerman. Dr. Zimmermann and the office assistants are friendly and professional... read more

I took my son here several months back to see Dr. Becker, but we got Dr Zimmerman instead. Nice fellow, but he was just into writing prescriptions. We left out of there with no information on my sons condition, but we had about 5 prescriptions for different things. I felt rushed and not listened to at all. Now when my other son's Dr. wanted to refer him here, I said absolutely not! Since we are not medical professionals, I would prefer someone to take time and explain what is happening and why. Now that my son who originally went there needs a refill, he can't get one to save his life! ITS BEEN TWO WEEKS. I am done, I will just make an appointment with another doctor, pay another copay, and take him out of school, to get him the medication he needs. Wish they would have paid attention to the referral and gave us Dr. Becker instead! read more

Saw him first time yesterday, no problems. Smart, warm, and funny. Turned out none of my four concerns were anything to be concerned about. I recommend him. read more

First of all, I have to say that yes, Dr. Zimmerman is a great guy - however, he has no business performing Juvederm / Botox treatments on a patient until he has a little more experience. I recently saw him for Juvederm treatments to the lower jowl area. He decided to shoot Botox as well in the corner of my lower lips. To my dismay, the Botox travelled upwards and I now have a dental block feeling through my nose and can't feel it, as well as my upper lip feels numb. I was getting pains in my cheeks and after calling him, he told me he has never heard of this before, it is not possible, and that I should see my physician for a possible sinus infection. I'm also experiencing difficult eating/drinking and can hardly wait for the Botox to wear off. read more

15 minutes after I posted the last review I got a call from Dr Zimmerman himself to see how I was doing. (A month after my appt) A coincidence, meethinks not! read more

Dr Zimmerman is great, but the way his staff deals with issues is appalling. Either an error was made on my bill or fraud. I went in a year ago and Dr Zimmerman diagnosed my condition quickly and medication was prescribed. (thrilled with his knowledge) A year later I needed a refill for the same medication. I was in his office with him for less than 2-4 minutes and my bill was labeled a level 3 visit. Meaning in depth and highest billing code.(NOT) IM so mad because I have been to him a few other times where he did more and I owed less. I called his billing dept thinking it would be an easy fix that it was just an over site...BUT instead I got a lady that was condescending and snooty....She said she would have me talk to the office manager but of course the manager was too busy to talk. I HATE that I have to find another Dr. But the staff here is REALLY bad. I saw so many bad reviews about this place I wish I would have listened to my instincts before. read more

Seems like a nice guy, but the treatment was horrible. After IPL treatment, he just left the room, no one else came in, and he never removed any of the gel from my face. I was left with huge clumps of goop all over - in my eyes, ears and hair. Finally I figured out I was on my own to clean up the mess. I was left to use a tiny little sink with one of those auto on/off faucets that kept blasting little bursts of water at high velocity, of course it got all over my clothes. I found one thin, sand-paper towel to dry off with (like you find at Motel 6). Those towels felt really good on my freshly treated face (NOT!) I'm not a complainer, but I've had enough IPL treatments to know this was a horrible experience. I will never go back. read more

Dr. Zimmerman is great! I went in the first time for my annual check and Dr. Zimmerman recommended removing 2 moles. He explained everything very clearly and answered all my questions. He removed the moles right then. He called me within the week and said the lab thought one mole was suspicious and I needed to come back to get clear margins. I was very nervous the day of the surgery and Dr. Zimmerman put my fears aside! He and his assistant were great and talked through the entire procedure. They kept my mind off of what was going on. The incision healed great and I was so impressed by my scar. It is healing so well and fading very quickly. I can't say enough great things about Dr. Zimmerman! read more