Reviews of Dr. Rodney E. Schmelzer, MD (Plastic Surgery)

Chris Forsey

Dr. Schmelzer is awesome. Highly recommend.

Michael Reading

I made an appointment at Primary Children's to get a small growth removed from her finger that was present at birth. Dr. Schmelzer walks in, takes a look at her finger, and says, "Yeah, this is no big deal, we can take care of this easy" and tells me to set up an appointment at his private office (Plastic Surgery Associates) and gives me his card. He then left the room. I thought, "Seriously?! That was a joke." I never made an appointment with them, I made an appointment with the Primary Children's satellite office in Riverton and got in the next day. The doctor there came in, tied a string around the growth and said it should fall off in about a week. Dr. Schmelzer couldn't have done that? She is fine, no big deal right? A few weeks later, I get notification that Plastic Surgery Associates sent a bill to my insurance for a few hundred dollars and that I owe a $30 copay. I called my insurance and they said to take it up with Plastic Surgery Associates. Now, I know that $30 is not a lot of money, but out of principle, I called to contest the bill. I was told that the lady that handles billing was out of the office and that they would have her call when she gets back in. I heard nothing until I got a bill saying there was a late charge of $10 added to my bill. I called them back and got a hold of the lady that does billing. I explained the situation to her. She was no help. She said that there is no way to take care of this other than paying the copay. I am beyond frustrated with this place. Since when do you get to charge someone for doing nothing. Lo and behold, I come to write this review and notice that others have similar bad experiences and the same frustrations. Stay away!!

Alissa Poulton

Dr. Schmelzer was a wonderful surgeon! He made me feel really comfortable and the staff was very friendly. I'm so happy with my results!

Tracy Riley

My daughter took her baby in to see Dr. Schmelzer because her baby has a flat head. Dr. Schmelzer ordered a scan to see if the skull bones were completely fused. A week later he calls and tells her that the radiologist said everything looked fine but that he had not seen the scan and he did not trust the radiologists at Davis Hospital even though he said my daughter was ok to take him there. My daughter had the hospital send the scan to Primary's so Dr. Schmelzer could review it. She showed up to a follow up appointment to go over the scan only to have him say he STILL had not looked at it! She handed him a copy of it at that time and he said he had to go and that he would call her in two or three days. WHAT? He couldn't take a few minutes to look at it? She was waiting for a confirmation that it was ok to proceed with a helmet. To top that off she was told by his office staff to quit calling. There is a timetable of when a child's head can be corrected and we were wasting time. He had his assistant come in to do some measurements for a helmet and that was it. Dr. Schmelzer is arrogant and does not care. What are people paying him money for? We still have not heard from him and it has been two weeks! We have looked into two other helmet companies. One of them was able to call Dr. Schmelzer's office and get the results of the scan we needed. We will NOT be getting a helmet through Dr. Schmelzer. We will not be dealing with an office staff who does not understand the concerns of a mother. After doing a thorough research, there is a new company called DOC Band in Murray. They have been in business for 35 years and are new to Utah. There office is very child friendly and the staff is awesome! My grandson has just started therapy with them. They are confident they can get the desired results we are hoping for in a now 9 month old baby. We wasted a good six weeks waiting for answers from Dr. Schmelzer's office that we never did get! That is totally unacceptable.

Melissa Smith

Quick, efficient, helpful visit. He heard my concerns, laid out clear options and plans, and got to the root of the visit without wasting time (while still making us feel like we mattered).

Brian Gallo

Dr Schmelzer is very thorough and always answers my question in a way I can understand them. It’s a pleasure every time I talk with him.

Jen Dearinger

I found Dr. Schmelzer by doing an online search and felt the reviews were positive and because it was near my place of employment. Dr. Schmelzer took time to answer my questions and informed me about what to expect. I've been twice to the office for Botox and aside from having to repeat some paperwork because they changed software, no problems.

Yossi Feldman

I work with Rod and his team on a regular basis. He is an extraordinary surgeon and is fair! His staff is a pleasure to work with. Highly recommend!!!

Sheila Flores

Wonderful surgeon. Very kind and considerate and listened to/answered all our questions. Staff is very helpful and polite as well.

Nichole Forsey

My little four year old was recently in a sledding accident. Had a gash in his face that was stitched up. Went here to get a second opinion on how it was stitched and how it was healing. Dr Schmelzer was great, nice and helpful and told us what we could do to minimize the scar. Also very friendly front desk and clean office.

Darren Chertkoff

Dr. Schmelzer did an incredible job removing a cyst from the back of my head. He was professional, courteous, and made me feel confident and comfortable during the procedure. I would highly recommend him to anyone needing craniofacial or general plastic surgery.

George White

Dr. RODNEY WAS VERY friendly Professional and Knowledgeable in my Consultation Give me great options for my procedure.

Chris Martin

I think hes a great surgeon. However he is a super hard Dr to work with. Very arrogant and does not keep within the timeline he provides when you first meet with him. I was told to come back in a month to discuss the next surgery. I came back and after sitting in the room for an hour he sent his assistant in to tell me he wasnt going to come in and see me because hes not ready to do surgery yet. Lots of other great surgeons out there that have a better attitude.

Stephanie Beck

This is the most unprofessional and dishonest practice I have ever been to! I have never written a poor or good review for any other doctor, but I am so beyond upset with this office that I don't want anyone else to experience what we did! My daughter did the cranial helmet with Dr. Schmelzer for plagiocephaly (flat head). At our first appointment, we asked 3 or 4 parents in the waiting room what they thought of their experiences. They all were in agreement that they didn’t love Dr. Schmelzer, but they thought Allen (the orthotist who makes the helmets) was good, so that’s why they were still there. We should have listened to them. After 3 months of wearing the helmet, Dr. Schmelzer told us to remove the helmet at age 1 (without asking anything about her developmental milestones). He didn't ask...but I didn't know I needed to tell him. She was developmentally delayed and was not crawling or walking. A month after removing the helmet, we took her in because the flat spot had gotten worse. Dr. Schmelzer arrogantly told me I was wrong and there was no way it had gotten worse (before he had even looked at her). Once he examined her, he kind of panicked and said the only way it could have gotten worse was if she was delayed developmentally. Well, she was and he had not taken time to ask that before it had gotten worse. By then she was too old to continue treatment. We were so upset and wanted a second opinion from another doc. They had us get a second opinion with another doctor in their office (probably just trying to keep our business). The doctor admitted that Dr. Schmelzer had removed it prematurely and it would have not gotten worse had he known her delay and kept it on. I spoke with the office manager, and they agreed to give us a 17% discount on what we paid. Super small percentage, but that's all they would offer. Well, it's been 3.5 months since that conversation and still no refund. And the office manager won't ever accept my calls or call me back. And to top it off, Dr. Schmelzer's final consolation was, "Well, if her hair is as thick as yours is, it'll cover the flat area and you'll never know." We didn't pay him just to have our daughter’s hair cover what he was supposed to fix in the first place!

Marcy Certonio

Dr. Schmelzer is a fantastic doctor. He takes the time to explain the procedures and after care. He allows us to ask questions. We are grateful for his confidence and thoroughness. We felt good about our experience with him and his staff.

Colt Brunson

I have had the privilege and honor of working directly with Dr. Rodney Schmelzer in the operating room for the past 2 years and can say nothing but wonderful things about the work that he does. Seeing what goes on behind the scenes gives me a very unique perspective, and I can say without hesitation that his patient care is outstanding. Dr. Schmelzer has a genuine concern for the well-being of his patients and their families. He is kind and compassionate, and a true professional in every regard.

Tami Young

My daughter has gone to this practice since she was born. Dr. Louis Morales was the best and hired the best Dr. Schmelzer to work along side with him and Dr Morris. I cannot say enough about how much I respect them, their training and talents. They are the best with the most experience in the state and beyond. Dr. Schmelzer is who I want to fix my child’s birth defects. Whether you are dealing with Craniosynastosis or cleft lip and palette or other genetic syndromes you do want the best outcome so you want the best doctor. This is the best team to work with!

Kylee Parker

Dr. Schmelzer and his staff are magnificent and always treat their patients like a VIP! Dr. Schmelzer took the time to answer all my questions and made me feel confident in my decision for cosmetic surgery. Highly recommend Dr. Schmelzer and his team!

Kylie Pierce

They were so kind, and very knowledgeable. They were able to explain it, so it was very clear what needed to be done. They also went for perfection. Which I really appreciated. Very great with my baby and put him first. I would recommend it to any parent questioning a helmet for their kid.

Niki gledhill

Dr. Schmelzer and his team are exceptional! I was very happy with the care I received. They are all very personable and professional.

Julia Clark

Great office staff!! Dr. Schmelzer is very straightforward and KNOWS what he is doing!! He is among one of the best in my opinion and I have had a lot of experiences with doctors. His team is always very friendly, personable and helpful!! They are all nonjudgmental and they all just want what is best for your little one!! Would recommend over and over again!!

Leon Harper

I've been seeing Dr. Schmelzer for over 10 years: he is a great doctor and an even better man. Thank you for taking great care of me!

Rob Horn

Very good Dr.! Honest, straight shooter and very positive. I would recommend him to anyone ! We left his office feeing pretty happy and positive!

Stacie O

Dr Schmelzer is an excellent plastic surgeon. He is honest, has a great bedside manner, and is very skilled. He did three different procedures on me, and each one I felt totally at ease and he was always available to answer any questions I had during recovery. I experienced little to no post op pain and great results. He was recommended by an acquaintance, and I am glad I had a consult with him because after meeting him I knew that he was a very good surgeon and the one I would choose for my surgeries. Highly recommend.

Natalie Savage

Not at all pleased with my experience. My son’s pediatrician referred us to him to see what his opinion was on his ear (the top of his ear was folded over). He looked at it briefly and said it was minor and there was nothing we could do about it, and then proceeded to look at his head shape, which was not the purpose of our visit. My son had a minor case of Torticollis which resulted in a slight flat spot on one side of his head; this had already improved significantly as we were seeing a chiropractor and a Physical Therapist to help fix it. He then starts saying he wants to get a CT scan to see if my son’s skull had solidified too soon and wanted to discuss possible surgery... First off, there was no reason my son needed to be exposed to that much radiation at his age. His flat spot was VERY minor. His PT, chiro, AND pediatrician all confirmed it was minor and he wouldn’t even need helmet therapy for it due to how much it had improved in a month’s time. Second, we were not there to ask his opinion on his head shape. We simply wanted to ask about his ear. I got the impression from that visit that he either wanted our money, or was not experienced enough in this field to know what he was talking about. Just yesterday I took my son into get a second opinion up at Primary Children’s with Dr. Siddiqi (Specializes in Craniosyntosis) who is AWESOME. Super personable and obviously knows what he’s talking about. He instantly asked what doctor it was that recommended surgery and informed me he was WAY off and my son wouldn’t even need a helmet, let alone surgery. I HIGHLY recommend seeing Dr. Siddiqi if your baby has any issues related to craniosyntosis, flat spots, helmet therapy, or torticollis. Trust me, it’s worth the drive up to Primary Children’s to see Dr. Siddiqi instead of Schmelzer.

Janna Capener

We recently started seeing Schmelzer for my son who was born with cleft lip and palate. I appreciate that I am brought into the decision making process and that they take extra time to explain why something needs to be done instead of just telling me to do it.

Sean Thomas

Don't waste your time

Jeremy assayah

I signed up for their hair removal. I already did half of the treatment and have EXCELLENT results at a reasonable price. The team has been so nice with me and the ambiance at the spa is great. I highly recommend it! :)

Leslie Tolman

I recently seen Dr Schmelzer for a consultation and will hopefully be returning as soon as possible to have surgery. He was highly professional and made me feel very comfortable, especially concerning how sensitive and personal it was. Definitely a great doctor to go see if you're considering plastic surgery!!

Mindy Bowen

Dr. Rodney Schmelzer is such a great doctor. He is very knowledgeable and comes with the highest credentials. He has helped out me personally and my whole entire family. Young to old. I recommend him and his staff to anyone. They are all very personable and treat everyone with great care. 5 big stars for Dr. Schmelzer and his office!

Rachel Cox

In response to the response from owner: check your sources. Your office did NOT submit to the insurance with the physical therapy information. I called the insurance MYSELF, a week and a half after talking to Bolera and submitted that information MYSELF when I talked to the insurance and they said that they still hadn't received anything since the initial submission. I also called and spoke with the insurance TODAY and they said that my son's case is still under review, and so there is no definitive response on whether it will count toward the deductible or not. And since I was already lied to once ("the insurance said that they will only let us know once he is already in the helmet.") I think I will believe the insurance company. Dr. Schmelzer and his office taught me a valuable lesson about trusting my instincts as a parent. The first visit, he was very impatient with me and brush off my concerns. He seemed to think I was wasting my time bringing my son in at such a young age. a The second visit, he was much more helpful and concern, but still arrogant. It was like the first time I met Mr. Hyde and the second visit I met dr. Jekyll. He gave me the run-around and some BS about my son's head unflattening on its own. When I expressed some concerns about trying to get him in the helmet as soon as possible, his exact words were: "Well I am the expert." I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, but now that I have met with someone else, I have to say he was much too arrogant and it does get in the way of his ability to treat his patients. He is not the only issue, however, I had HUGE issues with his medical assistant, Bolera. I really liked Alan, he was gentle and fast with my son when taking measurements, however, Bolera in the office staff was ridiculous to work with. To the point where I have switched plastic surgeons because my son really needs a helmet and I cannot rely on the office staff to handle paperwork, schedule appointments, or even deal with the money. Here is my soap box with his office staff (that he promised me would "handle everything"): Strike one: They had to reschedule an appointment because it was much too snowy to travel on the day of the initial appointment. I was promised that the office would call me to reschedule and they never did. I rescheduled it myself. Strike two: Dr. Schmelzer had told me his office staff would take care of all the paperwork dealing with the insurance and finding out whether or not they would cover my son's helmet. Again, four weeks after the appointment and I heard nothing so I called. Bolera told me that the insurance said they would not let them know the estimate until after he was already in the helmet. This is a rather obvious lie. I happened to receive a letter from the insurance company that same day telling me they simply needed more information about his physical therapy. Naive me called back to tell Bolera not to make any phone calls they just needed more information. She then backtracked what she said and wove new lies about not having the information. I told her "you never asked me for it, I have it. Please e-mail me the rest of the paperwork and I will e-mail the information to you." she promised she would fax it to the insurance company. Strike 3: She never faxed the information to the insurance company. I naively waited a week before I called the insurance company directly because I never want to deal with her ever again. My son is much too important to me for me to deal with someone too lazy to deal with the appropriate paperwork and who makes up information instead of asking or telling me she doesn't know. I will NEVER be going back.

Chloe Hadley

Wait time was brief. Dr. Schmelzer was informative and reassuring. He was kind and validated us as parents.

Jillian Wismer

I trust Dr. Schmelzer and his staff 100%. They make me feel comfortable and confident in doing all my procedures. Dr. Schmelzer is detailed, honest, and well educated. Every experience is positive. I will never go anywhere else!

Amber Day

I have been to this office multiple times. Each and every time I go I am greeted by the friendly front office staff. The office is very clean and welcoming. I have used Dr. Schmelzer multiple times to get filler in my lips and Botox done. He has always been very friendly and nice and my lips look amazing. I will continue to go back and see Dr. Schmelzer.

Frank Mitchell

Easy scheduling. Great and realistic advice. He made sure to speak on our level. Highly recommended

Marci Robison

Dr Schmelzer was great! He made sure I understood everything he was explaining and was very kind. After getting MRI results back, his office called to tell me they were normal, but that I could schedule a consultation for a helmet for my child. Sorry, but if there's nothing wrong with my child, why would I want to get a helmet for my child?

Jeremy Runnells

We really wanted to like Schmelzer and sought his help for our 8-year-old son with craniosynostosis but our experience with Schmelzer was absolutely horrible. Our son had been complaining about constant headaches and nausea and it wasn't until a CT at a local hospital that we learned that he had sagittal craniosynostosis and a chiari malformation from the pressure on his brain. We went to Schmelzer and he was friendly and charming at our first appointment and gave us a liner about the mother's intuition and how much he "respects" my wife's intuition about our son's condition. My wife told him that she felt strongly that his craniosynostosis was a root cause to our son's symptoms. It went downhill in the second appointment where Schmelzer started to try to tell us that our son’s symptoms were most likely not from the cranio and that our pursuit for correction was not worth it for "cosmetic" reasons. He also stated that it would be “child abuse” to put our child through a CVR (Cranial Vault Remodel). We couldn't believe it but this unpleasant experience led us away from Schmelzer to a competent surgeon who ended up not only correcting our son's craniosynostosis but resolving all of his symptoms as well (headaches and extreme pain gone). Had we taken Schmelzer and his opinion seriously, our son's health would not only be in serious jeopardy today but he would still be dealing with extreme headaches and pain. (At the time, he could not even attend school because of his symptoms.) We're still in shock today at Schmelzer's unprofessionalism during our visit with him for what we felt was an attack against us as parents and for his extreme negligence and incompetence in putting our boy's health and future at risk with his absolutely nonsense and inaccurate opinion and "assessment" of our son's condition (later confirmed by other competent surgeons). If you have a child with craniosynostosis in Utah, please consult with several surgeons and get multiple opinions before settling on one.

Michelle Champneys

Excellent Dr.! I have worked with Dr. Schmelzer several times on various occasions. He is very knowledgeable and informative. His professionalism is outstanding. What I appreciate most about Dr. Schmelzer is his honesty - he is very transparent and will tell you straight if he feels you are asking for something that is not in your best interest. I also appreciate his commitment to giving the very best service. He cares very much about patient satisfaction. He is skilled and kind! His office staff is also very competent and enjoyable to work with.

Frank Bennardo

I can personally speak to the skill, level of care, and work ethic of Dr. Schmelzer. He has provided years of positive care to me and others I know. Few can match his combination of experience, industry know how, and raw skill in his trade.