Rivera Michelle A MD

Dr Rivera and her assistants were phenomenal! I would highly recommend her from the moment I walked in all the way through the end of the appointment the entire operation was one of the best I have been to in the DC area! She talks you through all the details of what she is doing and gives you a lot of information for taking care of yourself better. She clearly knows what she is talking about!

Dr. Rivera herself is great and her assistant Graciela is very sweet and thorough. I have been to dermatologists I liked better, but there is no real problem; it’s obvious Dr. Rivera is very intelligent and knows what she’s talking about. My review is about her office and staff.
One complaint is that in the exam rooms there are no gowns, I was given a paper drape to wrap around myself like a towel which was uncomfortable and chilly. I also agree with another review that there are too many people in the room for exams.
Her desk staff is not friendly. I have never had such an uncomfortable experience in a physicians office. One woman at the desk was particularly rude to me despite my attempts to be friendly. I have never been treated like that and as a patient who could have chosen any office to go to, next time I will definitely be choosing a different office.
On top of all this, the office is very small and there are boxes of paperwork everywhere beyond the waiting area. Sitting in the waiting area you can hear the staff making home phone calls to patients giving them their diagnoses which must be a patient confidentiality violation. There should be a private room for those phone calls so patient information isn’t being broadcast to the entire waiting room.

I’ve been using Dr Rivera for a few years now. I really can’t recommend her more highly. The way she talks you through everything she is doing was a little different than other Drs I’ve used but you quickly get used to it. She has pulled a few cancers and pre-​cancerous moles off me and given me a great understanding of what I have to do to reduce the risks of skin cancer going forward.

I have always found Dr. Rivera to be professional, thorough and helpful in explaining what is going on. Personally, I really like her manner. Sometimes her staff make things a bit awkward for me as they repeat her instructions and talk over her. The office staff can be a bit clueless at times but they are usually polite. I would guess some of the complaints are cultural in origin due to different communication styles.

No one has addressed the front office staff. I can not understand them and asking for a simple receipt turned into not getting the correct thing. I dread having to talk to them again. Unless you speak Spanish don’t try to get anything accomplished with them.

Saw her a couple years ago. She had two assistants come in the rm with her. Do you know what itz like to have three people looking at you naked? She also had an attitude when making comments about my skin like «what the heck is that?’ It was an odd experience. I will not go back to her. So far I have had good luck with Dr Bray in Alexandria.

I have been seeing Dr. Rivera for a few years, and I love her. I don’t understand the reviews saying that she is rude and condescending; I find the opposite to be true.
Dr. Rivera’s staff is friendly, courteous, and professional. I usually don’t have to wait very long when I go in for an appointment, but, if I do have to wait for a while, the wait is made more pleasant by a large selection of current, fun magazines in the waiting room (the kind you love reading but never want to actually buy for yourself).
Dr. Rivera explains everything as she’s doing it. She’s not condescending at all, but rather communicative and informative. I always feel like I understand what she is doing and why she’s doing it. She somehow manages to make me feel comfortable even when I’m standing practically naked being examined under bright lights (not exactly a situation I love). I don’t know why anyone would say she has no «bedside manner.» Perhaps she’s not super smooth, but who cares? She is nice, warm, funny, and seems very thorough and knowledgeable. Plus she doesn’t make you feel rushed – which is unusual for doctors these days. She answers all questions clearly, too. I never leave her office with the feeling of being overwhelmed or confused, as too often happens with specialists.
Her assistants are always really good too; they explain how to use the products and reinforce the instructions Dr. Rivera provides, which helps you remember them.
I like and respect Dr. Rivera and would recommend her.

I just went to see Dr. Rivera today. I was impressed by her and her excellent staff! I was worried going after reading some of the negative reviews, but as I have been to many derms in the area, I would say to give her a try. She sees you with an assistant, who is extremely knowledgeable. While the doctor wrote the prescriptions, the assistant explained the products, how to use, why they would help, and how long to use. My prior derm would pretty much say ‘use this’ with no explanation. I had several issues to discuss, she listened and addressed each one. Several of my issues I had brought up to other derms and they dismissed them, or sold me some useless product. I found her and her staff very professional. I highly recommend and plan for her to be my derm from now on.

I originally saw Dr. Rivera on an «emergency» referral from another Dr. I was visiting, who was very concerned about my infected poison ivy. I walked over to her office and she saw me immediately, perhaps explaining why some appointments run late. I wasn’t hospitalized but she stressed the seriousness and her assistants handed me the info and the prescriptions. I have since returned for skin cancer checks and a skin care consultation (required up-​front fee) and started on a regimen of cremes, which I chose instead of a more aggressive approach. Solo office is run a little old-​fashioned. Accepts BCBS for qualifying medical expenses. Dr. Rivera spoke to me quietly, quickly and calmly and has always answered questions. I will return.

After meeting Dr. Rivera, I can tell you that all those Top Doc magazines don’t know what they’re talking about. Both her and her staff are completely rude and unprofessional. The worst dermatologist I’ve seen and I’m blessed with tons of moles so believe me, I have seen my fair share of dermatologists.

I had an appt. with Dr. Rivera yesterday for my adult acne. I was nervous to see her after reading the horrible reviews on here, but my appt. actually went really well. I did have to schedule it a few months in advance, but that seems standard for dermatologists around here. I waited about 15 minutes before seeing her, but that also is pretty standard. She listened to my concerns and recommended a treatment plan. I was uncomfortable with one of the prescriptions she recommended, and she was understanding and accommodated me by prescribing something else. The treatment plan was simple and affordable which isn’t always the case with dermatologists– sometimes they push pricey products on you. I will write another review in a few months to see if the treatment is effective, but all in all, I“m really satisfied. I can’t imagine her being rude or uncooperative. The only drawback was the appt. did feel a little bit rushed and sometimes I didn’t quite understand what they were telling me about the prescriptions because they were in a hurry. But I still got to ask all my questions and they were happy to respond.

Another scheduling nightmare with her office. First she cancelled then I had to cancel. Finally rescheduled but could not convince scheduler I needed a morning appt. because I work far from the office. Sure enough traffic and bad parking at hospital center made me 20 minutes late. I was rudely told I was late, appt was cancelled and next available was early spring. I am looking for another dermatologist — I don’t need this.

I have had several friends recommend Dr Rivera, but I honestly now think they must not have high standards for service and patient care. I saw Dr Rivera (waited the usual lengthy amount for a dr), but when I returned for a follow up I specifically told the receptionist that I had to pick my children up early & to please let me know if she was running behind. I waited over an hour and I eventually left. I even told them I would be happy to come back but I was continually told she would be right with me. I’ve never gone back.
I agree with the review below — I have no idea how she became a top rated dr. Her diagnosis/​prescriptions weren’t any different than my «old-​school dermatologist» on Carlin Springs (Dr Fuchs — whom I love). I was trying to find a cosmetic derm & that’s when I tried Rivera. So not worth the wait.

I don’t understand what this reviewer said because my experience was so different.
A friend told me to see Dr. Rivera after I had a bad Botox treatment that left my brows drooped. I could not even put shadow on!!!
At the visit, Dr. Rivera explained how my forehead muscles worked and the problem with how the Botox was injected, and how it needed to be corrected.
She injected between my brows and around my eyes, and told me to come back in 2 weeks for a follow up. I was told if I need more Botox at that time it would be done for free, sine the touch up is included in the price.
I was pretty nervous, but it has been more than a week and I can see the changes already. Was the treatment worth the 680?
For me, definitely yes!!! can’t wait to go back in one more week!

This review relates exclusively to Botox and fillers. Went to her after seeing her listed as one of the best derms in Washingtonian magazine. Since there were no reviews on Unilocal,I thought she must be so good that y’all were keeping it secret. She does not accurately target the muscles and does not use enough product (Botox), so there is little to no effect. She charges by the area – 680 for one area, 880 for two, 1080 for three – and by using so few units, she must be making a killing. One month after treatment, I had full mobility in all treated areas.