Update (2016-10-31) I read the reviews, since I last posted coupled with looking at the non-website and other factors and I have to demote my rating to 3-stars from 4-stars. Technically, Dr. O'Dea, when I saw him was topnotch. He gave implants and time released injections before other doctors did. He researched hair growth formulas by adding estrogen to minoxidil (which I have been told has been shown to cause cancer). When I saw Dr. O'Dea he was constantly doing research in the field and talking about his field. That is why I am giving 3-stars and why I earlier gave 4-stars.
Another component to business is wanting a business and caring for people, not to mention conveying to society integrity and wanting a topnotch business. Dr. O'Dea does not care about his website, which has been down a year now. He does not, at least from my experience and what I read, contact anyone on Yelp, who wrote a review and try to make things right. The vast majority of reviews are negative (yes, I read the 9 "hidden/not recommended" reviews, which I usually read first). His former employees do not like him. He does not follow up with former patients, and his changing offices several times does not bode well either. There are other things too. I cannot comment on Dr. O'Dea being like Donald Trump. I would say no, from a purely analytical comparison, although I do not know him recently. If nothing else, DT is anti-LGBT, while Dr. O'Dea is not. He helps the community.
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I saw Dr. O'Dea a few years ago for about a year, back when he was at the Screen Actor's Guild building, not that I knew at the time that that place on Sawtelle Blvd was the Screen Actor's Guild building.
I did know Francine and Peter. I had no issues with them. If anything, they were nice to me. That was an emotional time for me, but not because of my issue, which caused me to see him, but rather issues with my family and a recent divorce. He asked me to leave, which at the time was for the best. I needed to work my personal life out.
I cannot speak to Dr. O'Dea talking about breasts all the time, but that is his job. His job is to help transsexuals gain breasts and become females. One has to have a passion for his/her work to be successful. I totally get that and understand that.
I always thought that he was upfront and fair towards me. He explained everything by drawing illustrations on the whiteboard and explaining the differences in details between what he does and others. When I had questions, he answered them in detail. I was a participant in my own treatment, not just a receiver with no explanation whatsoever. I have had that experience. I can understand someone mistaken passion for one's work, when it comes to this sensitive area.
True, things could have changed in the last 6 to 7 years, since I was there. People change. I changed. I am sure that he changed.
I do not know the new staff, so no comments, but I do have an allergist, who changes staff periodically. One staff member told me that the reduced hours and frequent turnover was to save money and avoid benefits. That may or may not be true here. Sadly, the staff is quite important, because that is who patient's sees.
Yes, his big cash cow is treating transsexual women, but that is true for every doctor treating transsexual women. That is true for all medical professionals. I recently had a colonoscopy, not by choice, if I might add. The insurance company notified me that the 2-minute procedure plus waiting time in the recovery room was billed at roughly $5,700. That is 2-minutes guys/gals. How does one come up with a bill for that kind of money for 2-minutes. It is the entire medical profession which is the problem, not specifically Dr. O'Dea. I had a nasaloscopy last year. That is a tube stuck in the nose, snap a picture, take the tube out. The time from beginning to end inclusive of talking, the majority of the time, could not have exceeded two minutes, but I think more like 1-minute. The cost was $670. Talk about cash cows. That procedure is a cash cow. Shall I continue?
Dr. O'Dea did provide a good treatment, which reduces medical risks and does help promote the desired goal. I know that first hand. Most doctors in this area just give tablets, which does not benefit the patient.
I am not trying to defend him, not at all. Heck, I got tossed out, although that was entirely my fault and for my benefit. Maybe because I have been at this transition, but my main priority is if a doctor is good, knows his field, and explains thoroughly what he does. A nice bedside manner is nice. The holographic doctor on Star Trek Voyager comes to mind here. read more