Dermatology Institute

I would go here for cosmetic dermatology, Botox, and laser, but not clinical dermatology such as mole removal, Etc.
I had a mole removed and I had a huge scar, the worst ever and I have had many moles removed by many dermatologists. That said, the office workers were always very nice and I always got in quickly. But, I would not go back.

The Dermatology Institute is Awesome. Both Dr. Peter and Jennifer Rullan are so warm and welcoming, and you can feel how their good nature transcends to the different staff members in their office. I would highly recommend this office to any of my family members.

I would not recommend. The front desk staff is very rude and not friendly or welcoming whatsoever. Just sitting around chatting about their day to one another. Didn’t even look up when I walked up to the counter. When they noticed I was standing there, they acted as if I was a bothering them. One girl was talking so loudly on the phone to her child, very unprofessional.
Next, I was seeing them because of possible bites, allergic reaction or rash of some sort. I was in tears because my skin looks horrendous. They were barely listening to anything I was saying. I felt like they were rushing me out of the office. They said they were gonna cut one of the spots off of my side to send it out to a lab to see what it was. The girl who did this small procedure seemed like she didn’t even know what she was doing. I had to awkwardly hold up my own shirt. I had two small stitches on the spot. It took almost two weeks to find out the results in which I had to call them multiple times to find an answer. I also had to cut out my own stitches. The scar looks like complete shit. I could’ve put two stitches in cleaner than this. They prescribed me some stupid steroid cream that has done nothing. They haven’t followed up at all, called, or anything at all. I am private pay and really wish I could get my money back.
Stay away if you’d like a doctor who cares about you.
Furthermore, if I could reply to this Peter’s response I would like to say that no, not one single person tried to contact me in any fashion regarding a follow up visit. Perhaps they noted they did, but they did not. Which would not be surprising considering their unprofessional behavior I viewed in the short time I was there.

Wish I could give 0 stars
I went to Dr. Rullan to get a few moles checked out. I had a horrible experience. While about ½ the time the staff was friendly most of the staff (including Rullan and some of the doctors) were incompetent. A list of things that irked me:
1. It took over 5 days of calling to get ahold of them to get information about the moles removed AFTER they left a message saying to call ASAP. Everytime I called the 1 person in the office I was allowed to speak to was busy.
2. They botched up the mole removal. Not only the initial removal on my shoulder which became infected and sore but also the extra skin they took off my leg to make sure they got all the pre-​cancerous material. It took over 3 months to heal. I was going into the office every other day for them to fix something wrong with the bandage.
Things like: they didn’t pack it right
They didn’t put enough aquaphor so it dried out and they had to dig it out (with scalpel/​tools) and start over.
Infections from the open wound/​constant prodding of the wound.
3. The wait time. Unless you get an early morning apt expect them to be 1+ hours late. There is always an «emergency» or the Dr. is running late.
4. They started taking mandatory blood pressure readings. ½ the time they can’t do it right and when they do mess up/​get an off reading they just ignore it.
5. They try to upsell you on procedures you may not need or want.
I told them in no uncertain terms I do not care if I have a scar. I have others one more won’t change anything. What I did care about was the pain keeping me from being able to walk. Their solution… to tell me that I could use a painless/​harmless procedure that would heal my scar and make the pain go away. Turns out when I made the apt (after speaking to Dr. Rullan himself as he sold me on this treatment I did not even think I needed) that it was a scar removal treatment. It had the (likely) potential to be painful. It was a series of treatments (he had said only 1). And insurance was unlikely to cover it (another point I had told him I was concerned about when he told me I should do the procedure, and he assured me my insurance would cover it).
Basically they messed up a procedure through incompetence, and then ignored my wishes to upsell me on a treatment I did not need and would cause more pain. I was so upset I almost broke down crying in the middle of the appointment. I told the dr. (who was not rullan, but the specialist for the treatment) that I had been told different than the paper work he had given me, that I would not sign the paper (which covers them for liability/​insurance b/​c it says I know what the procedure is) b/​c what was on the paper was not what I was told. He then tried to sell me w/​a story of a boy w/​scars on his face that he (the dr) made go away almost completely w/​the treatment. I said good for him but I don’t give a care about a scar on my leg no one is going to see.
I left the office (wasting my copay and 2 hours) and never went back. Be warned they are out for your money. They care about getting awards and looking good, they are sloppy and unprofessional.

If you have any problems with your skin, this is the place to go. The staff is friendly, professional and the physicians are super attentive, they go above and beyond to diagnose/​treat your condition and they are always concerned with your overall well being. They are amazing!

Over the top professional, kind, welcoming, accommodating and top-​notch. Took my daughter there today and will go there for all our family’s dermatological needs.

Dr. Rullan is sincere, kind and only wants the best for you. I suffered from severe cystic acne and Dr. Rullan suggested accutane and it cleared me right up. I’m currently being treated for my acne scars and can’t wait to see improvements. I highly recommend!

As a preface, this review is not about the dr but about their front desk pre-​appointment procedures.
I can’t remember the last time I gave anyone 1 star but here it goes:
After seeing the great reviews on Unilocal I called last week to get an appointment for the problem I’m having with my facial acne. I spoke with Melissa on 10÷21÷15 and she told me they had just had a cancelling for 10÷27÷15 at 8:40am. Ok so I told her I’d take it and ask her if I could please email her my insurance card so they could have it verified for my appointment. She gives me her email and I send it right after hanging up.
I show up at 8:35am and the receptionist is nice and hands me papers to fill out which is normal because I’m a new patient and asks me for my insurance card. I tell her that I emailed it and she says «we have to verify it the day of the appointment». Okay fine. I’m optimistic about seeing the dr because I just want to get tx for this ugly acne so I don’t see a problem with waiting a bit. After filling out my papers and turning them in she tells me that she’s still trying to verify my insurance and I say «still?» and she says «yes, that why we tell new patients to be here 30 mins early» WHAT?! Melissa never told me that! Otherwise I would have been there at 8! I tell her «I wish someone had told me to come 30 mins early.» She’s says «no one told you?» I say «no» and she tells me she’ll keep trying to verify it. So I’m waiting to be called in and at 9:15am the receptionist tells me she hasn’t been able to verify my insurance and that I am welcome to be seen but if my insurance doesn’t clear I’m responsible to pay for the services rendered and she asks me «Would you like to be seen?» I say «no» and she says «no?» And I say «not if my insurance isn’t verified» and she asks if I’d like to reschedule but in reality I can’t because I have to move a million things around to get appointments anywhere! Kids, school, other urgent matters… I’m sorry Dr. Rullan, I really wanted to see you but I wasn’t told to come early and I was proactive by sending my insurance card a week in advance to help smooth things along for today!

so impressed! I never felt more taken care of. Dr Jennifer and her assistant Patricia
were so kind and concerned. Without my even asking, Dr Rullan noticed a few skin
issues I was having … I wasn’t even going to ask about them because I am not insured
and I did not want added expenses. Anyway, she noticed the issues and asked about them and offered free samples of creams to help. Even after I left the office, I was in my car about
to drive off… her assistant Patricia called me back for something else she thought of to help. I can’t say enough about the whole staff here. The office staff was also very patient with some payment issues I was having. They never made me feel rushed and they went out of their way to help me, even using their own cellphones to make calls to clear things up. I had been seeing another dermatologist for 20 years and after he retired I never thought I would find one I could trust again. Now… I feel like I’ve found one even better in Dr Jennifer Rullan. Thank YOU!

1. The woman at the front are a horror to deal with
2. The nurses don’t know what their talking about, and are very unprofessional
3. Dr rullan isn’t very thorough, in-​out-​next. He doesn’t consult and spend time with you to turkey understand the issues in place. I mean especially when the wait time is so long, you would expect to have time spent taking care of all the needs you are there to discuss.
he does work miracles. You just need to walk in knowing exactly what your issue is and exactly where the seem issues are on your body, otherwise he will most likely miss them.

Amazing! This is a lovely place and well worth the visit to the older part of Chula Vista. The office is clean and bright and has so many new and exciting products. It was easy to get an appointment and the staff was sweet. They are all bilingual if that helps. The absolute best part is the medical aesthetic practitioner, Hiba Younis. WOW!!! I had an adult a new facial that was the best I have ever had anywhere! She is classy, professional, and certainly knew how to work with my aging, lifeguard damaged skin. Unbelievable service! I will for sure be back for more! (And if my skin can look like hers one day, I will be in more frequently!) it is about time we got some elegance like this in the South Bay. Thank you Dr. Rullan for hiring Ms. Younis!

The doctor is very unprofessional. Dont step in there

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I used to work here, Dr. Rullan does wonders.
It can take long (the wait) but worth it. The staff was amazing, I can def say that I would totally recommend this place for anything «derm» for sure. It’s definately a must go to. They will take good care of you.