Romano Dermatology

My dermatologist of 35 years retired in January. His suggestion for a replacement doesn’t take Medicare, and so I went to a highly reco’d one on the UES which was super inconvenient since I live in the West Village. And a bit too sterile and cold for my taste.
I went to Dr. Romano late this summer with a problem (UES venue couldn’t see me fast enough) — it was easy to get an appointment, and a quick accurate diagnosis and cure.
New problem popped up (literally) last week, and I’ve now seen Dr. Choe twice on last-​minute-​hassle-​free appointments and am a happy patient. Do they pamper you?
No.
But they’ll fit you in and treat you.
In this day and age, I think that’s just fine.

After going here for about 2 years, I’ve reached the end of my rope. I came here because of a referral from my GP. I won’t be going back.
There was not one time that I was actually seen by Dr. Romano, having asked to see him as a specialist. I stayed with Elizabeth Choe for all of my treatment. Even though she is listed as being a specialist in treating psoriasis, I knew more about it and its treatment by google searching.
Apparently they are good for cosmetic dermatology… but if you need actual medical assistance, I’d look anywhere but here.

DO NOT GO HERE!!! i wish Unilocal can rate negative stars. i have a rash on my hand and went to see the doctor on Wed. She prescribed a topical ointment and told me to come back immediately if it gets worse. it got significantly worse over night so I went back next morning. They told me no one can see me because i didn’t have an appointment and they were fully booked. They made an appointment for 8:45am the next day — which was today. I had a major train delay so I got there 30min late. (I called from the train but they put me on hold for 7min before the train started moving and went underground) I explained the train issue and my rash getting worse since i put on the prescribed ointment when i got there. The answer i got was that i missed my appointment and there was nothing they can do because they were once again fully booked. I was having an allergic reaction to their prescription! You’d think they have someone see me regardless of having an appointment or not. That’s irresponsible to say the least. Now my rash is twice the size when i first went in and is so much worse than before. I would not recommend anyone to this practice.

let me preface this by saying I’m a terrible patient to work with.
I hate medications but want my problems solved.
the thing about Romano Dermatlogy was that I wanted to like it and wanted it to be the answer. I have acne thats gone from bad to worse in the past couple months and need to get it under control, stat. I thought maybe they could work with me to find some sort of miracle cure, which, duh, was dumb, but it was pretty unhelpful. The doctor himself was pretty cold, and gave me the standard response «if you dont want to go on accutane or birth control I cant really help you» which stung (but i think what stung worse was his comments about how acne cant be solved it can be ‘dealt with’ until it goes away on its own. not something someone willing to shell out $ 200 for help wants to hear :(…) They offer pretty expensive services like lazers and acid peels and something called ‘acne surgery’ which freaked me out and just wasnt going to happen (again, the last thing someone with big red scars on their face wants to think about are metal objects coming at said face to cause even more scars. eek.)
He did tell me he could write me a perscription for antibiotics (even after i said they havent worked for me in the past…) and gave me a card to get it cheaper, and gave me many free retin a micro samples (which was nice, because that stuffs expensive) and alluded to later writing me a perscription for what i’d come in asking for (spironolactone, another last resort wonder drug like accutane but addressing the hormonal side of things) so I guess it wasnt all bad, but I’m still searching for that godsend derm of my dreamzzz.

I have been a patient of Dr. Romano’s for many years and have never had a bad experience. The wait time is no more than 15 minutes and he has a wonderful new office space! More importantly, he is extremely knowledgeable and never makes me feel rushed. I would highly recommend him.

I was referred to Dr Romano and Elizabeth Cho by my GP. My GP is pretty well respected so I trust his referrals. I first saw Cho last summer and she was dismissive and impertinent, telling me that I had a mild staph infection. My conditions got worse over the next 6 months so I saw Dr. Romano. He refused to do a biopsy on my skin (I thought it might be a skin fungus) and when I called to make another appointment, I was told I’d have to wait a month as he couldn’t fit me in. I now have to scramble before I go away and they don’t seem to care. I am NEVER going back and I wouldn’t if I were you!

I have seen both Dr. Romano and Elizabeth Choe over the years for rosacea and they are both very knowledgeable, professional and pleasant. (Pleasant really matters when you have someone so close to your face.) It wasn’t until I came to this practice that I was properly treated with rosacea medications as opposed to run of the mill acne treatments. Also had IPL for rosacea with Dr. Romano.

I’ll preface this with that I almost never go to any doctor of any sort as my parents are physicians, so I basically think paying for health insurance is a waste as the few times I’ve actually used it, I NEVER am able to see a doctor of any sort, and am always stuck seeing a nurse or PA (and they always tell me I’m «on the mend» or some other useless BS).
I had a breakout, which as it was in a very isolated spot and seemed to be spreading, my boyfriend suggested might be a fungus of some sort (gross), so sufficiently freaked out, and with Memorial Day fast approaching, wanted it cleared up for the beach. As all the dermatologists were «booked,» they set me up with a PA, Liz Choe (another reviewer below was also displeased with her. no one else referenced her in any reviews, and saw MDs, hence perhaps why theirs arent also 1 – 2 stars), and assured us that they are equally qualified as doctors. Odd, because I’m sure my parents and any other physician would disagree, and I’m pretty sure I wasn’t licensed to practice law prior to law school when I was only a paralegal, nor would I be getting paid the same amount as a lawyer (as yes, you pay the same to see a PA as you do a dermatologist).
They REPEATEDLY assured us that she was as qualified as an MD, and ignored our inquiries as to how that’s the case if I wasn’t qualified as an attorney prior to law school, when only a paralegal. After filling out all the paperwork and waiting, I finally go back to see Liz, who basically has no explanation other than no, it doesnt look like a fungus — and people just break out, sometimes only in one spot! She offered no other explanation other then that breakouts happen, and didn’t seem too concerned about the fact it was in one area, and spreading. As I was already there, I wanted to do a skin cancer screening, which she told me to come back for, but not eager to pay another $ 50, I said I’d wait. She tried to insinuate there was no time, but as my boyfriend gets routine screenings and knew it would take 5 minutes tops, we asked to wait and get one.
She also scraped my face for the routine culture, although it «wasn’t a fungus.» My face cleared up a few days later… and now, weeks later, I found out from her last night that — it WAS a fungus! SHOCK. So yes, it appears that our questioning her qualifications were well founded, and honestly, I very well may have skin cancer given I clearly can’t trust her skin cancer screening given her inaccuracy about the «fungus» that was obviously just a «break out.» Good thing my face cleared up on its own, as I’d be pleased she called with my ACTUAL correct results weeks later were my face still broken out in a fungus.
I want my money back, another skin cancer screening by a qualified professional (read: dermatologist), and they should be ashamed to advertise any «physicians assistant» equally qualified to an MD. Guess I didn’t need to go to law school as I was equally qualified to an attorney when I was a paralegal.
Oh, and this place is also a dump. We live nearby and I’d thought it was some sort of homeless facility/​healthcare.

This review is only after one appointment with Dr. Susan Hirsch but from what I can tell I definitely recommend her! I just moved to NYC and needed a last minute appointment. My friend recommended Dr. Buchness but she wasn’t available until the week after. After reading Unilocal reviews on Dr. Hirsch, I called and got an appointment for 9AM the next morning (she works from 8AM to 5:45PM Mondays through Thrusdays)! The office is beautiful and prestine. Last thing I wanted at 8:30AM was a rude secretary but all the secretaries were charming and patient while I asked all of my questions. Oh, and I was the only lady there… the other four patients in the waiting room were all men if that means anything to the guys out there. As for Dr. Hirsch, I cannot rave enough. She was so sweet and patient without rushing me at all. I hate the feeling when doctors try to push you out the door! She gave great recommendations and was not pushy (as I do not tend towards aggressive treatments). I absolutely loved her and will definitely be going back!

Dr. Susan Hirsch’s face is in the dictionary next to bedside manner. It’s true — and I want others to experience how great she is.
Hopefully by sharing the following info, it will still be easy to squeeze in a last minute appointment with her.
She is now located at 560 Broadway, and her office # is 212−822−3515.

First visit was with Susan Hirsh and I am hopeful of the outcome. She seemed knowledgable of the condition and hopefully the treatment will work. My first dermatologist prescribed an eczema cream that did not have a generic counterpart and was not effective. Hirsh gave me a ‘scrip for something that was ¹⁄₃ of the price and it seems to be working. I would definitly go back. Her assistant, Nadia, is also fantastic.
The only reason they got 4 instead of 5 stars is the office staff. They seemed friendly, but not knowledgable when it came to insurance. When I asked them about payment, they wanted me to submit the claim to my insurance myself, even though they are a member of my PPO. They also didn’t know my copay, which I had to tell them, which they then agreed to charge. I would suggest knowing if you have a copay (specialist or not), need a referral, etc. The staff didn’t seem to know. I live in NJ, but I would continue to go to them as long as they continue employing knowledgable medical staff. I guess good office employees are hard to come by.

Going to this doctor’s office is what gave me the push that I needed to actually start writing reviews. I had such a great experience that I had to tell people about it. I saw PA Susan Hirsch based on the recommendations. She is great! Very professional and extremely nice. She explained everything and answered all of my questions. Treatment was great.
The office is very clean (a very important aspect for me) and I was seen on time.

I have been a happy client for a number of years and would happily recommend to anyone seeking a dermatologist in the West Village.
I have to agree with Sonia D (minus the needles poked in the face… ouch!). Susan Hirsch is great, always concerned for her patient’s well-​being, and is helpful and very good to work with.
The office staff is pleasant and I rarely ever have to wait long to be seen.

Dr. Eidelman was thoughtful, caring, and interested in what I needed and was very up front with what he thought I didn’t. We had a great doctor/​patient conversation and felt like we could really go forward, working together, with my care.
Plus his staff that assisted were great. A lot of fun and funny and totally got our vibe so it felt relaxed and not so stuffy.

I went to see Elizabeth Choe for my patchy skin which sometimes breaks out, and left disappointed. Not only was she late, she was also very stressed and jumped to conclusions without listening or discussing my issues. My impression was she couldn’t get out of there soon enough. Needless to say, I won’t ever go back.

While John Romano and Mary Ruth Buchness are both well regarded West Village dermatologists, you often have to wait a month or two to see them. For those not willing to wait, I highly recommend PA Susan Hirsch, who was able to quickly resolve my issues (which a seasoned Park Ave MD at another practise failed to do) and she was as sweet as a honeybee, happy to answer any question I could think of!