Athenix Body Sculpting Institute

I'm writing this to hopefully save somebody a lot of time, money and heartache. Do not give these people your money.

I scheduled my Dec 2020 surgery in Dec 2019 after being pressured that the price would go up if I didn't schedule.

I gave a large, fully refundable deposit of half the surgery amount (required to hold a surgery date).

My concerns started when I set an appointment to meet the surgeon who would be operating on me and he was on lunch during my appointment time. The entire appointment was to meet him and talk through my expectations. The staff had to go find him and after some time he came in and clearly had no idea I was there to meet with him that day. The appointment felt rushed and he contradicted everything that the saleswoman had said to me in my first consultation.

It seemed the saleswoman had just lied to get the sale, but I was open to adjusting my expectations and the doctor did seem warm and competent.

I gave a cash deposit with the promise of an email receipt. Athenix didn't send the email. It took multiple calls and emails over a week just to get a receipt for the deposit.

Because I had scheduled so far in advance, I made another consultation appointment a month before the surgery date to confirm what results would be on my current body and if I wanted to proceed with the surgery. I had been told in the beginning I could have as many appointments as I needed to feel comfortable.

I arrived to this appointment and they tried to give me new client paperwork, they had no idea who I was or why I was there. I became very concerned when I found out that everyone I had interacted with, from the desk staff, to the saleswoman to the manager no longer worked there.

While the first couple of appointments had been on time, this one ran over 30 minutes late, parking in the building is by the hour and very expensive, they don't validate. When I went to check if they had forgotten me in this little room, they sent in the regional manager and I laid out my concerns. She was very reassuring and didn't hide the fact of the staff turnover and explained away the administrative issues I'd had as new staff being trained.

I was told that the front desk staff was "not up to par" but the surgery staff had all been there for awhile so I shouldn't worry. I wish I had canceled the surgery at this time.

I had been told the doctor was on vacation so I needed to wait to get the instructions for my lab work, but was assured I would have it well in advance. When I had some unexpected time off, I called to see if I could move the surgery date sooner. I was told that morning the scheduler would call me back, they didn't.

I called back the following day and not only could they not move the date, they didn't realize they had never sent me the information for the lab work and were now requesting additional medical clearance from my doctor a week before my pre-op appointment. I was told I should have been sent a few emails when I booked the surgery, which was a year ago at this point, that I had never been sent.

Over the next couple of days I received a 20 page document to sign, including an arbitration agreement that I wasn't expecting. I explained over email that I wasn't sure if I was comfortable signing something that said I couldn't sue if I'd been hurt or disfigured by the surgery, especially after I'd gotten very vague answers about how Athenix addresses cases where the client isn't happy with the results. Within minutes I received a phone call saying that I didn't have to sign the arbitration agreement that day, but would be required to sign before my surgery or there would be no surgery.

I felt blindsided, this was 3 weeks out from a surgery I had planned a year out, had saved for, had arranged time off and care for. I won't lie, I absolutely lost my temper. I spoke to the manager who said she would check with corporate if I was required to sign the agreement, I still don't understand how no customer had asked about this in the past that they didn't know their policy.

A week later, after begging my doctor's office for an appointment for medical clearance last minute and spending hundreds on bloodwork, I received a call saying that while corporate did not require me to sign the arbitration agreement the surgeon would not do the surgery. I explained that having now had a week to research and get legal advice from friends, it seemed the arbitration agreements are somewhat standard in sue-happy Los Angeles and I had reconsidered.

I was then told that Athenix only wanted "happy patients" and that because I had to follow up on literally every interaction with the staff because they didn't do what they said they would I was simply too much drama. My surgery was canceled 2 weeks before the scheduled date, but that's not all!

I'm now trying to recover the $10,000 deposit I gave Athenix over a year ago. After canceling my surgery, the manager stopped taking my calls or responding to my emails. I was sent an email with no body and an attachment for refund of deposit that said Athenix would deduct $500 for cancelation.

I called and explained that I was told I would receive the full deposit, they said that was just on the form and didn't apply to me, when I said I wasn't comfortable signing a form that said they could keep $500 they got frustrated, said that I was "unnecessarily complicating things" and that they would simply use the email I had written to confirm the conversation I'd had with the manager regarding my refund.

I have in writing from Athenix that my refund would be processed in 30 days, it wasn't. I have a complaint in with the BBB, do yourself a favor and look at the complaints against them, they have a C rating.

I know Athenix is a cheaper option, that's certainly how I justified staying with them after the many moments my gut told me not to go with them, but this is your body and your health.

I signed up for a procedure for liposuction in April. At the time it was determined that I had high blood pressure so was delayed.

I tried to get on meds and have BP regulated took some time, and was unsure I was going to proceed with it. By mid November I cancelled and requested a refund, and was told it could take 6 weeks, or up to 2 months max. Called mid December, was told not sure of a timeframe, maybe a couple more weeks. Called early February, said I was "next in line", not sure why only one refund can be processed at a time, and told it would go out that Friday, and they would call.

Called the following Tuesday, they're not sure why it didn't happen, would call the accounting department and call me back, but no call!

Another Friday passed and still nothing! It's been 3 months!

I had a tummy tuck, lipo hips and fat transfer to buttocks, I did not feel like I had anything done very minimal results, I complaint they agreed on revision, again no difference If not bad enough I had a severe infection ended up in the hospital with sepsis that could have been avoided if a CBC would have been drawn when I went to see the surgeon. after I complaint tried to speak with the medical director most unprofessional person ever, tried to CEO James got no were he referred me to Pasadena were the surgeon there stated did not feel comfortable doing a revision due to my infection.

so I was very upset I posted my experience in yelp, got a letter from athenix attorney to take down my review or see me in court.

A ATTORNEY ADVICED ME TO FILE COMPLAINT WITH MEDICAL STATE BOARD.

at the end had no results, waste of lots of money and now my hopes of changing my body are gone.. thanks a lot athenix for your great customer service and compassion..

I had a consultation at the Pasadena Athenix location on September 20, 2018. At that time they gave me prices, but the manager said I needed to leave a deposit of 2,000 to have a consultation with the doctor.

I went ahead and left my deposit and got promised that my money would be returned if I decided not to do it after all. I called a week later to cancel the consultation, and so far it’s been over 2 months and my money has not been returned. I have called the Pasadena location many times and nobody seems to take charge of this problem.

It’s been such a headache trying to get anyone to help, they are just giving me the run around.

waste of money my body is ruined and reputation runied

I scheduled surgery & qualified for loan. I cancelled the surgery the same day.

I was told by Athenix I would not be charged and loan would be canceled!! ATHENIX took the money, and will not return the loan money, i had to start making Payments on a loan I did not utilize.

I went to Athenix for Liposuction and had a beautiful outcome. I feel sexy than ever and proud to have made an investment towards myself.

After raising kids it was my turn.

I research Athenix and was blessed to have had my surgery by Dr. Fellows in Irvine.

Not at all satisfied. Left side had less taken out so now left and right side are uneven, lumpy results.

Also paid for lipo on flanks and no difference at all. I wasn't even sore in that area so I don't believe any work was actually done...

Absolutely satisfied so far I had two treatments and the results are awesome.. I'm definitely going to get another part of my body done... Thanks Angie & Alexis you two made my experience comfortable and relaxing..

Athenix in Irvine Nightmare! Doctors quit after they nitch you up with no real fat loss results but disfigurements and loose skin in areas you never asked for!

These are doctors who are obviously practicing! I wish there was a way we could all get together to see an attorney! I have found other complaints and they are all between 2013 to 2015. It's funny how all their doctors disappear!

Mine did! The first time...I had zero results but left with a loose lower stomach that I never wanted done, and lumps of fat balls. So a year later they agree I need revision after seeing my before and after pictures...before looked better!!!! So I do a revision and add my upper thighs (saddlebags).

The doctor never touched my saddlebags but got the middle side of thigh...who does this? She was incompetent! Did not get my underarm fat but left my arm pit sagging where I now need surgery! Not one revision came out, not one!

Flanks, hips, lower back ribcage, and arm fat! All the same! I asked the doctor (Barnett) not to go into my lower stomach since she had already loosen it so much and made if fold over now when I sit! She said she would do laser skin tighten.

Their Vaser machine was broken that day! I could hear them talking about the morning of surgery! I don't know what she did but after the swelling went down I need a lower tummy tuck and you can see the skin fold in my clothes! I never had anything like this.

She should have known better!!!!! I now have to buy new tops to hide! Mind you...I never wanted my stomach done. The upper stomach....not an ounce of fat removed but she shuffled the fat around with her magic wand so now I have an inconsistent look of fat mounds here and there.

They offered full revision AGAIN!!!! And this time with a arm put surgery to cut the skin due to their mistake and wanted me to pay another $5000 on top of the $$14,000 I already paid! And to add.... I never had to buy new pants....never even went down a size from either surgery!

What nerve they have to want to charge for their mistakes not to mention what wacky doctor do they expect to do me now?? They are getting away with this stuff at the moment but we all owe it to the consumers to get out there on realself.com and all the forums you can find and put them on blast. Go to BBB and Comnsumer Alliance and make complaints so that they show up for all to see! Email me at lmartinez6@***.rr.com for questions or to start a group lawsuit!!

There are lawyers in Orange County who will review our case and no charge, they get paid when we get paid!

If Yelp takes me off due to Athenix....I will get back on! And I'm going to be everywhere on the Internet unless Athenix makes this right!