Monday, October 30, 2017

Review of Sclerotherapy at D'Spa and Skin Care Center

The Cheaper Deal for Sclerotherapy at Metrodeal Enticed Me


I visited the internet some few weeks ago and saw a cheaper deal for Sclerotherapy at Metrodeal. I have been scouting for a cheaper deal for this procedure because I have varicose veins and spider veins on my legs. I already inquired from another clinic, the Skin Station, about Sclerotherapy and they charge PHP2,000 per session.   So I got so excited upon seeing that this deal from D'Spa and Skin Care Clinic was for PHP699 per session only.  (By the way this D'Spa and Skin Care Clinic is also selling vouchers at Metro Deal under the name of Eslendre Body Sculpting and Slimming Center. I had this conclusion because they are operating in one and the same office and they have the same staff.)


Getting a Schedule for my Treatment Took Some Two Weeks

Before buying a voucher, I called first their Alabang branch  to book a reservation because based on my previous experiences on their  facial treatments deals  I know  that booking an appointment will not be that easy. Well, I was told that the doctor was then in America and would be back within the week.  They told me they'd call me back to give me a schedule.  I was also told that I have the option to just pay directly to their clinic instead of buying vouchers from Metrodeal because they also charge the same  amount even without voucher.  So I decided to take this option.

After some two weeks of waiting, I finally got a call from D'Spa about my appointment with their doctor so I went there as scheduled. 


I Made the Mistake of Signing an Unexplained Waiver

 Upon arrival, the doctor was not yet in but  I was a given by an attendant, a waiver to sign.  The waiver states the Doctor has explained the stated facts there about the procedure to be done on me. I was quite hesitant  to sign because there was nothing explained to me yet.  But, I thought, maybe this is just to facilitate the procedure and that the doctor will explain when she arrives and so I signed the waiver. By the way, the name of the doctor is Rosemarie Arellano Deles.

 Unfortunately the doctor came very, very late. Instead of 4:00 PM, she came at 6:00 PM and when she arrived she did not explain anything at all. She just instructed an attendant to lead me to a bed where I was asked to lie on my back. 


No Local Anesthetic 

 I was lying on my back, the attendant wiped my legs with alcohol while the lady doctor was busy talking with another patient in a nearby bed who was undergoing a laser treatment. I asked the attendants if they will apply local anesthetic but they said the pain is tolerable and there is no need for such.  I was somewhat shocked because the doctor from the skin clinic where I first inquired assured me that she will apply topical local anesthetic on my legs before the procedure. Believe me, I did not know if I would back out or proceed, I was somewhat worried and scared the pain won't be that tolerable. But since the attendant told me it was not painful, I stayed.

The Rude Doctor Offered a Package

When the doctor came to me, she examined my spider veins and told me I should rather get a package so I can save because one or two sessions will not be enough for my legs.  I asked her how much is the cost of the package and I was told PHP10,000.00.  I could not believe it was that much because the first clinic which charges PHP2,000.00 per session was charging me PHP12,000.00 so obviously this doctor was cheating me when she quoted PHP10,000, considering the fact that her price per session is only PHP699 and no local anesthetic at all?  So I told her I don't have that much money and  then she said, she will give it at HP8,000.  But I told her I only have PHP4000 on hand so I was kind of asking her if she will accept 50% payment.



I Felt Mishandled By this Rude Doctor

Now this doctor without even answering my question started injecting my veins on my left leg.  The first injection was like a bite of ant so I tolerated it, but as she went on injecting, it was becoming painful so I was telling her about the pain. But she was unmindful and and then later she asked me if I  have Hematoma as she noticed, the injections on my legs turned to dark bruises.  She then stopped and in uncaring tone told me she could only do that far and I had to just come back next  time because of that. Then her two attendants then put bandage on my left leg.


This Rude Doctor has the Habit of Not Explaining 

This doctor was so uncaring and not even telling me the details of what will I do next not until I asked her.   She told me I had to take a blood thinner  for a week and handed me some capsules and ointment without even explaining why and how and then made herself busy with another thing.  I was all along trying to control my temper.


The Rude Doctor OverCharged Me and Issued no Official Receipt

And  then she was charging me. PHP4,700.  She said I had to pay for the 4 sessions of Sclerotherapy which she just did on me and the rest is for the cost of the medicines. Before paying, I asked her when will I return and she replied after two weeks. Then I asked her if my spider veins one the injected part will vanish and she answered me, it all depends.  So this means I could not be given an assurance at all even if it is very clear that their advertisement states "sessions of sclerotherapy can do a lot to dramatically make protruding, too-obvious red, purple, and blue blood vessels shrink, flatten, and basically disappear from your skin’s surface" but she was telling me on that particular hour that it all depends.  I felt so devastated.  This doctor is not worth being trusted. She did not even issue official receipt so I am kind of tempted to report her to the Bureau of Internal Revenue. 


The Rude Doctor Showed More Rudeness

When I asked her what would I do to help myself,  she coldy told me to wear compression stockings and even if I was about to make a follow up question, she went to another room without even excusing herself. She was so rude.  I promised myself never to return for the succeeding sessions anymore.


Overpriced Medicine and Ointment 

To make sure she could not cheat me any further I rejected all the medicines and ointment she was asking me to pay. (Photos attached below.)   I thought  I can buy those medicines in the drugstore  for cheaper amount perhaps, so I told her I don't have enough money so I returned all the medicines and asked her to just give me a Prescription so I can buy later..  She did but did not even complete the writing of the Prescription so I complained and it was her attendant who wrote the name of the ointment. 

When  I went to the drugstore, I was able to confirm that she was really charging too much on medicines because  I was able to buy the blood thinner, Vessel Duo for only PHP50.50 per tablet and ointment for only PHP201.75. 

Vessel Duo tablet - the blood thinner. 


Hydrocortison Cream

Progress on my Legs after 11 Days

It has been 11 days now since the procedure but apart from the disappearance of bruises, it looks like the spider veins were not even reduced.  Of course I know I still have to go through some more sessions but I hope I should at least see some signs of vanished spider veins from the 4 sessions.

Here are the relevant photos you may want to see :





This is my left leg 4 hours after the 4 sessions of Sclerotherapy as I removed the bandage



On the 4th day.  My bruises were starting to lighten.


On the 7th day. The bruises were almost gone.  Note that my right leg has not yet been treated
In conclusion, I would say that this clinic is giving very low rate for Sclerotherapy just to entice people to buy vouchers.  Low price is equal to poor service as far as this rude doctor is concerned.  The rude doctor's trick is obviously to make buyers of cheap vouchers to come to her office so she could offer them  much more expensive package along with overpriced medicines and ointments.  Avoid being another victim, don't buy at all.