Rant: lost $400 on a 'discount' rhinoplasty from a sketchy clinic

I tried to save money on a nose job by going to a discount clinic in Phoenix that claimed they could do it for half the price. Put down a $400 deposit before the consultation even showed me the real quotes. Turns out the surgeon wasn't even board certified and the whole place felt like a front. They canceled my appointment twice and then stopped returning my calls. Had to fight with my credit card company just to get the deposit back after months. Anyone else get burned by cheap surgery prices that seemed too good to be true?

3 comments

3 Comments

west.casey9d ago

I read something the other day from a plastic surgeon's blog that said these discount clinics are almost always a scam or dangerously underqualified. The whole "half price" thing is a huge red flag because real rhinoplasty involves anesthesia, a certified surgeon, and follow up care that costs money for a reason. I saw a news report once about a woman who went to a place like that in Miami and ended up needing reconstructive surgery after an infection. You're lucky you got your deposit back at all, some people end up with permanent damage from those places. Good on you for fighting with the credit card company, that's a nightmare to deal with.

ivanbell9d ago

Credit card chargeback is the way to go but next time check the surgeon on the state medical board website before you put a dime down. I got burned for $600 on a lip filler "deal" in a strip mall, turned out the guy was a dentist who lost his license. The real trick is look for before and after photos that match your nose type, not just their best work. Also ask if they have hospital privileges nearby, if they say no then run the other way. A real surgeon will let you talk to a past patient, a scammer will have excuses why you can't.

the_terry8d ago

Used to think those places were a steal, honestly. This post and the comments totally changed my mind though. Not worth risking your face to save a few hundred bucks.