La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre
9850 Genesee Ave Suite 130
La Jolla, CA 92037
Call: (858) 452-1981 Text: (858) 203-2944
M–F: 7:30 a.m.–6 p.m.
Testimonials, Reviews – What’s the Difference?
Look on any plastic surgeon’s website, and you’ll find a link to patient testimonials. These are curated statements, letters, or notes that highlight a surgeon’s happiest patients. Reviews, on the other hand, include all patient feedback — not just the accolades.
Testimonials intentionally focus on the positive. There’s nothing wrong with that, and a long list of heartfelt testimonials is a sign that a surgeon has genuinely made a difference in people’s lives. Just make sure you’re also looking at independent review sources before you decide.
The Gold Standard: Verified Patient Reviews
When it comes to surgeon reviews, “verified” is the word you’re looking for. Verified reviews come only from people who actually had a consultation or procedure with that doctor — not from anyone who stumbled across a profile online.
RealPatientRatings® is the verified review platform we use at La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre — and in our opinion, it’s the most meaningful place to evaluate any plastic surgeon. Here’s what makes it different:
- Every consultation and surgery patient is automatically surveyed. The practice has no say in who gets asked.
- Surgeons cannot filter, select, or suppress reviews. Every response — positive or not — goes on the record.
- Reviews cover specific dimensions of the experience: bedside manner, staff, care and concern, wait time, value, facility, and likelihood to recommend — not just an overall star rating.
- Profiles are kept current, so you’re seeing real-time satisfaction data, not a snapshot from years ago.
The result? A genuinely unfiltered look at what it’s like to be a patient at a particular practice.
La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre on RealPatientRatings®: 4.8 ★★★★★ | 6,440+ ratings | 95.4% patient satisfaction
Here are links to our plastic surgeons’ verified reviews:
How Do Review Sources Compare?
| RealPatientRatings | Google / Yelp | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can leave a review? | Verified patients only | Anyone |
| Surveys every patient? | Yes — 100% | No |
| Practice can filter reviews? | No | No |
| Covers bedside manner, staff, wait time? | Yes — detailed categories | Overall rating only |
| LJCSC rating | ★★★★★ 4.8 6,440+ ratings · 95.4% satisfaction | ★★★★★ 4.9 671 Google reviews |
The takeaway: We encourage you to read both. RealPatientRatings gives you the verified, detailed picture; Google gives you a broad sense of overall reputation. When both are strong, that’s a very good sign.
Google Reviews: A Strong Second Choice
With a 4.9-star rating across 671 Google reviews*, we’re proud of what patients have said about us there, too. Google reviews aren’t verified in the same way — anyone can technically leave one — but surgeons can’t pay to manipulate their ratings, so it’s still a useful barometer.
The pattern across review platforms matters most. Consistently high ratings on both verified and general platforms are a strong indicator of a practice that genuinely delivers. (*Source)
Beyond Reviews: How Patients Research Surgeons Today
Reviews are a cornerstone of surgeon research — but patients are increasingly turning to social media, podcasts, and AI tools to get a fuller picture before they book a consultation. Discovering a surgeon through a YouTube video or Instagram post is completely normal and can be a great way to get a sense of their personality and approach.
Just pair that first impression with verified reviews before you decide. The combination of “I like how they explain things” and “thousands of patients have had great experiences” is powerful.
What About That Negative Review?
Even the best surgeon won’t make 100% of patients 100% happy, 100% of the time. A single 1-star review in a sea of glowing ones shouldn’t scare you off — but it is worth reading carefully. Does it sound like a reasonable person with an honest concern? Or does it read more like frustration with something unrelated to the surgeon’s skill?
On platforms that allow responses, pay attention to how the practice replies. Respectful, non-defensive responses to criticism often tell you more about a practice’s character than the complaint itself.
Pro tip: Before trusting any review site, take a moment to find their data-gathering methods and user policies. The most trustworthy sites make this easy to find on their “About” or policy pages.
When to Call for a Consultation
While reviews should play a role in your search, you still need to meet face to face with those surgeons who make your short list before making your final decision. If most of the reviews give you a good feeling, go ahead and make the appointment. But if you get to the consultation and something’s not quite right, trust your gut and keep searching.
