Patient Reviews
About Patient Reviews
We value all of our patients and their individual needs. At Bay Area Cosmetic Dermatology, we want you to make the most informed decision to achieve your cosmetic goals. Choosing the best procedure and physician for you is an extremely important decision, and we invite you to read about previous patients’ experiences and better understand the quality treatment you will receive from our board-certified dermatologists. Each of our medical professionals value your journey and want to ensure you feel as comfortable and confident about your decision as possible.
Reviews for San Francisco, CA Staff Dr. Steven Y. He Acne and Cyst Treatment Procedures
"Dr Austin took my decent mid-50's skin and flagging self-esteem and made them really, really great. She flawlessly filled old acne scars, removed pre-cancer bits and rosacea, smoothed wrinkles, snatched up my jawline and explained how anatomy and biochem work during my visits. She's made a long-term plan for me and all her patients that seem like the minimum of highly effective things, so we all look startlingly better but still believable and healthy. Dr Austin is gentle, rational and super trustworthy. She's like a wizard. Her team is awesome, too."
"Ari did a fantastic job treating my acne scars. She is so highly skilled and kind to boot."
"Bay Area Cosmetic Dermatology is an office I trust to have the equipment, skills and experience to take care of all of my medical and aesthetic dermatological needs. They stay up to date with the most current technologies and techniques, so I know I’m getting the best treatment the medical profession has, to help address everything from acne to sun damage and the effects of aging on my delicate skin. I’ve been a patient of this office for decades, and regularly have people comment on how youthful and healthy my face looks (has a bit to do with genetics but much more to do with the care I get from BACS). I *strongly* recommend you schedule a visit to BACS for top-notch medical care that will keep your skin healthy, and will help you maintain a highly natural youthful aesthetic."
"I have been seeing Dr. Austin for 4 years now. I initially saw her when I was experiencing some difficult to treat acne in my early 20s. She listened to my concerns and really educated me on proper skin care. Since then she has continued to help provide new products/recommendations based on my needs at that time. I have also been seeing her for filler and botox treatments for the past two years. She has always listened to what I wanted and given me incredible results. She keeps things natural and really has an amazing eye for the face and facial structure. Beyond her work, she is a really incredible doctor. Her bedside manner is unparalleled and she is always evidence based in her practice. She is a beautiful person who works hard to help others feel beautiful. 11/10 would recommend."
"This is my first time seeing a cosmetic dermatologist at 26 yrs old for acne scarring on my cheeks, jawline and some on my temples that I’ve had for well over 8 yrs. I’ve always been super self conscious about it and I think have stopped myself from doing things that I enjoy due to it. I was able to book an appt with Dr. He and he was very reassuring. I might’ve been too comfortable to the point I didn’t ask all the questions I now have as someone hesitant to move forward with any kind of treatment, due to the trauma of previous non cosmetic dermatologist. As a mixed (Asian & black) individual, I’ve always been skeptical about how my skin would be treated since I don’t solely have genes of one particular race (which I’m uncertain if it’s even a factor). With that in mind, I really like that he went over treatment options that would be most beneficial for my skin with minimal to no side effects.I plan to move forward with subcision to get the ball rolling for my scars. I was prescribed products that were pretty pricy. $700 in total with the consultation fee. I also asked about the pricing of each treatment that may be best for me. I don’t think I’m desperate enough to cash out on anything for the sake of my skin without extensive research and consultation but I feel, and from previous reviews I’ve read, Dr. He is highly knowledgeable, takes his patients into consideration and i don’t think this will be for naught. If I know I’m in good hands I will be sure to return. I’m very anxious but very excited to finally give my skin the healing it deserves. So far Dr. He gets 5 stars from me and I’m looking forward to being under his care in the near future. I’ll follow up with this review then :)."
"This review is long overdue... I have been seeing Dr. Andrea Hui Austin for the past seven years and she is the BEST! I’m a perfectionist and she addresses all of my skin concerns with skill and compassion. I don’t even mind driving up from Los Angeles to see her because she is the only person I trust with my face. She has treated me for and practically erased all of my acne, fine lines and melasma. Thank you, Dr. Austin and all of the sweet staff at BACD!"
"I started seeing Dr. Welsh in my early 30’s for adult acne. She taught me proper skincare and set me up with the best products. I am checking in yearly to keep products on point with current skin changes. As I age, I need to choose to come in Every 4-6 months for botox & filler. Plus an occasional photo facial and laser hair removal treatments. It is now 20 years later I honestly could pass for ten years younger than I am. Dr. Welch is magical, in my opinion. If you ask her a question, you are going to get an honest, educated answer. I would not trust anyone else."
"I have been seeing Dr. Austin for almost 3 years now for acne scars treatment and my skin is totally transformed. People think I look at least 10 years younger than my age. I would say that my acne scars have been improved by 80% after multiple sessions of tca cross and laser genesis. Most of my ice pick scars have filled in. Recently I also had Fraxel laser to improve the shallow scars , black spots, and overall skin texture. Dr. Austin is amazing and she cares about her patient. She would call me after the procedure to make sure that I was doing fine. She also responded very quickly on all my questions related to post-procedure. Now my skin has been improved further after fraxel laser. I will continue to see Dr. Austin for other treatments to keep my skin young and heathy so I don’t age. Thank you Dr. Austin and her team. I also wanted to express my appreciation for Mary Krempa who has been doing my laser hair removal for. Now that my skin is so soft. I am happy with the results."
"I am not exaggerating when I say that Dr. Andrea Hui Austin is a LIFE CHANGER. I’ve been seeing her for almost two years now for treatment of my rosacea and acne and skin is clearer than it’s ever been, clearer than I ever hoped it would be. I first started seeing Dr. Austin in 2019, a few months after I turned 31. I’d been diagnosed with rosacea in middle school and had otherwise had fairly clear skin until I reached college. In college, I started breaking out more and more frequently until my acne was basically chronic. Some people in my family had late-bloomer acne, so I told myself it would probably just clear up as I got older, and I tried to take the best care of my skin that I could in the meantime. I tried every OTC treatment under the sun, went on different diets, and saw a series of dermatologists who put me on a range of topical medications and oral antibiotics. Nothing made much of a difference and by my late 20s I’d was so close to giving up and resigning myself to having bad skin for the rest of my life, although it made me feel miserable.That’s when I realized that the one thing I hadn’t tried was seeing a dermatologist who specializes in treating rosacea. I did some googling and Dr. Austin’s name came up again and again, so I scheduled a consult. My expectations weren’t high, given how little luck I’d had before. But Dr. Austin completely blew me away in the consult. Not only was she able to explain why my rosacea was causing these breakouts, but I was blown away by her empathy; she started the appointment by asking me to tell her about my history of rosacea and acne and after I went through the litany of things I’d tried she said, "I’m so sorry you had to go through that." It made me tear up to feel like someone cared and understood how much having bad skin can take a toll on self-esteem.She started me on a routine of oral medication and new topical skincare products, and did an excellent job of answering all my questions and explaining how each product or medication worked and why it was necessary. I noticed a difference in my skin within weeks, and once the breakouts were more under control we began a series of laser treatments to help tame the rosacea. As my skin continued to heal and improve, the treatments became less frequent, and I’m now at the point where I only have them a few times a year. My skin has healed enough that she’s also able to address the scarring I have from acne and, honestly, that’s a milestone I never thought I’d reach until I started working with her. She’s continued to be a thoughtful and kind person, celebrating the milestones with me as my skin healed, remembering details about my personal life, and engaging me in conversation during the treatments; I feel like she really cares.As a bonus, the whole BACD staff is competent, professional, and friendly. They keep things running smoothly, call/email back quickly, and have a very flexible auto-ship program that sends my topical products to me four times a year. BACD has done a sterling job of adapting to the pandemic--they’ve put up signage, spaced out appointments, created physical distance in the waiting room, and changed their payment process so you pay in the treatment room. I’ve noticed some other places get lax with these types of measures as the pandemic has gone on, but BACD has been incredibly consistent, which I appreciate.If you have rosacea and acne, Dr. Austin is your gal. She’s truly and completely changed my skin in a way I never thought possible. I highly, highly recommend her!(The photos I’ve included from her office are from before the acne scarring treatment; the personal photos I included are after one acne scarring treatment. No digital filters, no makeup or concealer in any of these photos!)"
"Dr. Austin has changed my life. My skin has significantly cleared up since I started seeing her, I RARELY get any pimples now and thanks to treatments like the Vbeam laser and TCA cross my scarring is very limited. All the staff and Dr. Austin are friendly and kind, it’s always a good experience going in. Dr. Austin remembers details about my life even when I don’t see her for months at a time. I recommend her to any of my friends who ask for skincare advice. My only complaint is that I didn’t start coming here sooner; I didn’t realize what a big difference having a dermatologist approved skincare routine would make!!"
"I strongly recommend this practice. Dr. Welsh, Dr. Austin, and Dr. He are so brilliant and help you take back control of your skin. I’ve been with this practice for 4+ years. In addition to the results they achieved for my skin, it’s the staff and the providers who keep me coming back. I appreciate the level of professionalism and consideration BACD has for all of their clients.The doctors are so smart and truly take time to understand your problem, and recommend the right treatment to deliver the fastest possible solution. I struggled with acne my entire life; in my first consultation with Dr. Austin she recommended a daily topical (tretanoin) and specific treatments (e.g Hydrafacial and Laser to break up redness!). Ever since then my skin improved drastically. I hardly recognize myself in the mirror today. It’s truly incredible how small changes can deliver drastic results. Recently, I met their newest physician Dr. Steven He. He is LOVELY and a true dermatology prodigy! All MDs at this practice will provide you with the information you need to treat your skin. Dr. He, in particular, is always willing to answer questions and has a magical way of breaking down the science of skincare in a way that is easy to understand. He is also very friendly and cute -- LOL! Thank you Dr. Welsh, Dr. Austin and Dr. He for all of your support over the past few years. I am so fortunate to be a client at your clinic."
"I strongly recommend this practice. Dr. Welsh, Dr. Austin, and Dr. He are so brilliant and help you take back control of your skin. I've been with this practice for 4+ years. In addition to the results they achieved for my skin, it's the staff and the providers who keep me coming back. I appreciate the level of professionalism and consideration BACD has for all of their clients. The doctors are so smart and truly take time to understand your problem, and recommend the right treatment to deliver the fastest possible solution. I struggled with acne my entire life; in my first consultation with Dr. Austin she recommended a daily topical (tretanoin) and specific treatments (e.g Hydrafacial and Laser to break up redness!). Ever since then my skin improved drastically. I hardly recognize myself in the mirror today. It's truly incredible how small changes can deliver drastic results. Recently, I met their newest physician Dr. Steven He. He is LOVELY and a true dermatology prodigy! All MDs at this practice will provide you with the information you need to treat your skin. Dr. He, in particular, is always willing to answer questions and has a magical way of breaking down the science of skincare in a way that is easy to understand. He is also very friendly and cute -- LOL! Thank you Dr. Welsh, Dr. Austin and Dr. He for all of your support over the past few years. I am so fortunate to be a client at your clinic."