The man is an uncertified doctor, despite his website’s claim and his work is horrible. He performed a surgery on my ears to shorten my earlobes. I cannot even wear earrings anymore. I had an infection so bad that I had to be on antibiotics for a month. It just looks awful. I was going to have my neck surgery done by him as well, but there is no way I will now. I would not recommend him, it is too big of a risk.
Gerard Gianoli MD Ear and Balance Institute, Don’t trust your aesthetic at the hands of Dr. Gianoli
1
Dr. Gianoli is a one-size fits all doctor. He completely misdiagnosed my problems and because of it I have been in much worse shape than when I first went to him. He takes terrible notes and he was not at all receptive to learning that he was not correct. As a result of his treatment, and the drugs he prescribed, I have terrible tinnitus due to his surgery. It has taken me a long time to get back to where I was (which was uncomfortable enough) before I saw him. I would recommend seeing other doctors who have experience with head trauma if you have balance problems and you have had head injuries, as there are reasons other than the inner ears that can cause inequilibrium.
Gianoli is a hard core predator in a lamb skin. Instead of simple medication to control blood pressure for me, he put me on diuretics and aggravated my situation badly. Once I was doing so bad he told me that only surgery would help me, he cut off my ear, and now its pure misery without balance, partial hearing and a throbbing tinnitus . Other ENT doctors from Tulane University could not find any reason to justify Dr. Gianoli’s ear surgery. When a doctor deprives you from your most important sense for no reason that is a hard core predator.
Did you ask yourself why insurance isn’t accepted? And why the focus is on ‘rare’ controversial diagnoses?
They hand out expensive treatments and controversial diagnoses like candy.
Go some place reputable.
People. Don’t trust this doctor. He is dishonest, dangerous, careless, and eager to perform invasive unnecessary surgeries. I trusted him despite getting 4 other opinions informing me not to go through a surgery he recommended and consequently lost my hearing caused by the surgery he performed on me. Red flag to warn the naive people, “hundreds” of positive reviews.
Massive scam operations and people are getting seriously damaged for life; I worked at OLOL Pontchartrain Surgery Center in Covington Louisiana, and I can tell you that Gerard Gianoli is manipulating and elevating the lumbar puncture results of his patients. After botching their ears he is blaming their injuries and their horrifying symptoms on elevated intracranial pressure that they never had. He then suggests to perform additional lumbar punctures and additional surgeries. Gianoli is orchestrating a massive financial scam operation in Covington Louisiana.
I have taken some time to reflect on my father’s experience at the Ear and Balance Institute, and I feel like I have to leave this feedback for anyone considering them for treatment. We were told about EBI while my 82 year old father was in St Tammany hospital recovering from surgery. He has suffered with constant dizziness for 5 years, and has had every test and/or exam know to the medical world, with no relief. So I called EBI and was told about them not accepting insurance, and how this would allow for more personalized treatment, since they weren’t dependent on referrals from other doctors, or insurance company approvals for treatments and procedures. While not inexpensive, my father and his children thought that the possibility of him finding out the cause, and subsequent lessening of his dizziness, far outweighed the out of pocket costs, which he had no trouble affording. He went through an initial exam and a battery of tests, went on a special diet, and took prescribed medication, and followed all of the doctors instructions in the hope of reducing the dizziness. After having crystals reset in both ears, and six weeks or so of the diet and medication, the dizziness lessened only slightly for a day or so, but quickly returned to the previous level. At this point Dr Gianoli, wanted my dad to meet with his partner Dr Soileau, later the same afternoon as our visit with Dr Gianoli. As I made the appointment, I asked if the $250 charge for the second opinion visit with Dr Soileau would be covered under the $250 visit fee paid for the visit we had just finished. I was met with some resistance from the lady behind the counter that always handled the billing, so I asked if they would please check whether the fee would be waived, and give me a call, but that I was coming back for the second opinion visit regardless of having to pay the $250 fee or not. We were happy to pay more the $6000 for our visits and treatments, but if I can save my father $250, I’m certainly going to try, as would any of you who are reading this review. I received a call from a different employee about an hour or so after we had left, telling me that Dr Gianoli, had now changed his “best course of action” to getting another second opinion from another doctor. I was shocked to hear that because I had questioned the extra visit fee, that we were being told that we should go somewhere else to get a second opinion(a second opinion that we had NEVER requested, but that Dr Gianoli had requested). I was assured that that was not the case, but honestly, how else could that have been translated? If I don’t question the fee, my dad returns that afternoon to meet for the “second opinion” that they recommended, and everything is good. Had they called and simply said that they were sorry, but the fee had to be paid, and would we still like to come for the visit, I would have been completely satisfied. While meeting with Dr Soileau for another 3 hours, my dad was told that he had an irregular heartbeat(he had just had an echocardiogram less than 60 days before and his heart was fine), and we should consult with his cardiologist before coming back. As we walked out, Dr Soileau shook my hand and smiled at me and said “we’re going to fix your dad, don’t worry!” On my dad’s next 2 nurses visits, no irregular heartbeats have been detected, nor have any been detected since. After spending over $6000 out of pocket with them, and being told how they were going to help(I took this with a grain of salt), we have not heard a peep from EBI, since the day we left that “second opinion” visit. So my dad is still dizzy, $6000 poorer and feels betrayed and lied to by both doctors at EBI. Since telling our story to anyone who will listen, I’ve discovered many other patients of EBI that payed a lot of money out of pocket with zero results. Fancy machines and sophisticated testing is no substitute for quality patient care, formerly called bedside manner. Whatever happened to “do no harm?”
Ear and Balance Institute owned and operated by Gerard Gianoli, a nasty and dubious medical entrepreneur committing health care fraud and engaging in a scheme of false diagnoses and bogus courses of treatment and unnecessary invasive procedures, dispensing unnecessary and harmful medications all for his personal financial gain and with no regard for patient well being.
Gianoli has been ordering fraudulent repetitive and excessive medical procedures on his patients in order to increase revenue . After been severely injured by this medical provider, he told me to go look for another provider, if I refuse to undergo additional invasive procedures.
In his written medical records he never documented the things he told me upfront about the necessity of additional procedures. While his brother John Gianoli was already sent to jail and his medical license forfeited, Gerard Gianoli is still on the loose and in the business of hurting people for personal gain.
Dr. Gerard Gianoli is a perfect example of the money-hungry doctor that has no true concern for his patients, but wants to operate on them and throw them to the curb. This was certainly my experience. After his disastrous operation, he was non-existent to my post-operational patient needs. His office charged my credit card for every question/concern although he is the one who created all these problems that I did not have before his surgical intervention.
Do your research, get a second opinion AND DO NOT SEE THIS DOCTOR FOR SURGERY!
Wish I had checked reviews before I was abused by this doctor and his staff. Unprofessional, incompetent, and will scam you for money. I was Misdiagnosed with bilateral PLF.
Dr Gianoli is sacrificing healthy organs. Avoid this place like a plague!!
Surgery of the round window is an absolute scam!!! My dizziness is worse than before the surgery and the tinnitus is a killer. DO NOT GO THERE!!!!!
They do this for money. That is it.
What a waste of money and being treated for a condition that other doctors confirmed I do not have. Gianoli tried to convince me that I have holes in my inner ears when this was ruled out by other specialists. I have one word to describe him, smug.
If you suffer from dizziness, find another provider, it will be the best decision that can save your life.
Beware of Dr. Gianoli
Dr. Gianoli is very deceptive after many doctors even (Mayo Clinic) Couldn’t identify the cause of my bilateral internuclear ophthalmaplegia, dizziness, balance issues, to name a few of my symptoms. I was desperate to find the cause, I was referred to Dr. Gianoli by my opthalmolgist after prisms weren’t helping me, he believe maybe it was my ear causing my issue. Like many doctors before I was looked at like a “medical mystery” I was quickly scheduled after contacting the office and my husband and I flew out to Louisiana to meet with Dr. Gianoli. Unlike the review he wasn’t good at listening to me. It was like he was setting me up for his assumed diagnosis before he even examined me. I spent 8 hours that day going to the most awful testing and felt like death by the end of the 2 full days of testing and left with a diagnosis of bilateral perilymph fistula. It took him forever to say what I had, he had to tell me about a gymnast that hit her head and he did and surgery and then he had to repeat the surgery on her. It’s truly like he was painting the picture for my failure in the future, I didn’t see it at the time though. I thought finally an answer to my suffering and a glimmer of hope.
He prescribed me some medication to try first to see if we could avoid surgery. Accetazolamide and stool softeners along with this intense list of what I cannot do, which included no bending, no lifting, basically bed rest. I have a husband and 2 small children this felt impossible. I was getting worse everyday seeing spots and feeling like my body was stripped of all strength and energy. I also developed swimmers ear after the “water test”. We met a few times via video call since he was 12 hours from where I lived and assured me that I just need to increase meds. He called me in a new script and before I went to pick it up I call my pharmacist to see how much it was going to be since I was self pay. I heard someone in the background saying sir this patient doesn’t have insurance can we offer the generic version? A few seconds later the pharmacist gets on the phone and asks me why won’t my doctor wouldn’t allow the generic version when the non generic cost $100 dollars. I was immediately suspicious and turned off. How dare he, he was charging me 200 dollars every video appt, and that’s when I learned that doctors make money off of medications they prescribe.
I was mad but was still hopeful he would help me, it wasn’t until a few weeks later after no success on the medications and stress levels at an all time high in my marriage that we decided I would have the surgery. It was going to be 20,000 dollars but I was desperate to get better. On Jan 5, 3 weeks before my scheduled surgery my grandpa passed away. At the funeral I ran into my uncle who is a neurologist and he asked me about this doctor and warned that I should be Leary of any doc that isn’t affiliated with a university and doesn’t accept insurance, and suggested maybe getting a second opinion. I was mad and offended at first but on my 2 hour drive home I started to researching Dr. G a little further. Turns out a lot of people get my same diagnosis and have had their lives destroyed after he operated on them. Not to mention the very obvious ALL 5 star reviews on his website almost every one uses the word thorough. Red flags were going off like crazy! Clearly I had an angel looking out for me, I made an appointment at Barnes hospital with a neuro-otologist and he said that a bilateral perilymph fistula would be very unlikely as the cause to my issues without a severe blow to the head, which I have not had.
He said it was more likely vestibular migraines I was experiencing but wanted to look through all the testing results I had from the office, low an behold when they looked through them they said why is there another patients name on your records. I immediately called the office after my appointment and cancelled my surgery. I’m so thankful I didn’t become a victim of disastrous irreversible surgery. I wanted to share my experience in hopes that others will not fall victim to this ridiculous lie he is feeding people. Please whatever you do, don’t trust this doctor or the staff.
As someone who has been afflicted with pain and suffering for 2 years now, If someone promises answers before you even meet with the doctor, run!
Dr. Gerard Gianoli is THE PLF SWINDLER. There could have been hundreds of reasons for my dizziness but for The PLF Swindler it was a bilateral PLF. No other doctor except of him agreed with this imaginary diagnosis. He told me that I will not get better without surgery, but I did get better without surgery, and the problem was even not my ears.
Do NOT, Absolutely do Not go to Gerard Gianoli. He will tell you that you have an inner ear fistula if you have balance problems, put you on horrible medications that will make you much worse and then convince you that you need surgery. Once done with the surgery, you will feel even worse and he will not acknowledge unless it is to say that the problem is that your other ear needs surgery, too. He IS a scam artist.
This is the WACKO doctor from Louisiana! I saw him a few years ago, paid 4000 $$ for his trash diagnosis and he wanted to patch my ear “windows” for additional 30,000 dollars.This con doctor is still in business? Suckers don’t die…
This is so sad for the people that were hurt by this doctor. I know someone that work for him and they told me that they put the reviews for him. They pay to a reputation company to remove the bad reviews from some medical review web sites and really the most terrible is that on Facebook people that never had any surgery with him fake like they are success stories. This is everything he is doing for the money.
Dr Gerard Gianoli is very good at what he does, lying and scamming people! Seems like the majority of patients get the same disgnoses of plf and he wants to perform surgery. Of course in the beginning he makes it seems like surgery is the last options and it can be managed with lifestyle change, then medicine….when that doesnt work then he will lead you to believe surgery is the only option. After he said surgery was last option I decided to get another opinion, now 8 month after seeing a new team of doctors that I never had what Gianoli claimed I did. I am being treated for vestibular migraines and have had zero dizziness. I now have my life back! When under the care of Dr Gianoli I couldn’t drive, couldn’t take care of my kids; barely myself. Being late 20s, I was ready to give up and after reading about his botched surgeries I am happy I was not another victim.
Dr Gianoli forwarded my records to new doctor and no where in my records did he ever mention the diagnosis of plf or that he was urging me to have surgery. Seems to be what he did with many patients.
Lucky the people who were saved from Dr. Gianoli. He messed up my right ear so badly. He is a lying crook because I never had a PL Fistula in my ear and no doctor can fix his butchery because legit neuro-otologist don’t do PLF surgeries and they cannot fix irreversible damage from non-legit surgeries. In Germany these type of doctors satisfied their racism and perversity. Gianoli is satisfying his greed and perversity and the State of Louisiana allows this white collar institutional crime.
Dr. Gianoli impaired my hearing so badly with a terrible and useless surgery of no benefit. He was so nice and patient with me before the surgery and replied to all my emails. After the poor outcome of the surgery he completely lost his patient with me, he was so rude and arrogant and it seemed like he only wanted to get out of the room as quickly as possible. I paid him so much money and I believed to all his lies and empty promises, and after the surgery he told me that I need to see another doctor if I am not happy. The nerve of this doctor.
I saw Dr. Gianoli five times and every time he gave me a new misdiagnosis. He insisted my vertigo that kicked in immediately after his surgical procedure had to do with the other ear. What an unlikely calamity. Really? On the same day of the surgery? When I told him about the pain in my ear, he told me there wasn’t any pain in my ear. One thing is for certain: this doctor who brags on his expertise serves probably two lords, one of them is mammon. The Lord of Greed. Beware of anyone who claims to be “an expert.” Most experts in any industry will NEVER claim it. They may show it to you, but you won’t hear them or others claiming it. In many cases, when someone claims he or she is an expert, he or she is a con artist who is trying to cajole you into taking his or word without any outside verification. When in doubt, step back and doubt. Studies show there are more sociopathic doctors than previously suspected and one of their gaslighting tactics is the good ole “I’m an expert” claim.
0.5
EAR AND BALANCE INSTITUTE REVIEW
Beware of Dr. Gianoli
Dr. Gianoli is very deceptive after many doctors even (Mayo Clinic) Couldn’t identify the cause of my bilateral internuclear ophthalmaplegia, dizziness, balance issues, to name a few of my symptoms. I was desperate to find the cause, I was referred to Dr. Gianoli by my opthalmolgist after prisms weren’t helping me, he believe maybe it was my ear causing my issue. Like many doctors before I was looked at like a “medical mystery” I was quickly scheduled after contacting the office and my husband and I flew out to Louisiana to meet with Dr. Gianoli. Unlike the review he wasn’t good at listening to me. It was like he was setting me up for his assumed diagnosis before he even examined me. I spent 8 hours that day going to the most awful testing and felt like death by the end of the 2 full days of testing and left with a diagnosis of bilateral perilymph fistula. It took him forever to say what I had, he had to tell me about a gymnast that hit her head and he did and surgery and then he had to repeat the surgery on her. It’s truly like he was painting the picture for my failure in the future, I didn’t see it at the time though. I thought finally an answer to my suffering and a glimmer of hope.
He prescribed me some medication to try first to see if we could avoid surgery. Accetazolamide and stool softeners along with this intense list of what I cannot do, which included no sex, no bending, no lifting, basically bed rest. I have a husband and 2 small children this felt impossible. I was getting worse everyday seeing spots and feeling like my body was stripped of all strength and energy. I also developed swimmers ear after the “water test”. We met a few times via video call since he was 12 hours from where I lived and assured me that I just need to increase meds. He called me in a new script and before I went to pick it up I call my pharmacist to see how much it was going to be since I was self pay. I heard someone in the backround saying sir this patient doesn’t have insurance can we offer the generic version? A few seconds later the pharmacist gets on the phone and asks me why won’t my doctor wouldn’t allow the generic version when the non generic cost $100 dollars. I was immediately suspicious and turned off. How dare he, he was charging me 200 dollars every video appt, and that’s when I learned that doctors make money off of medications they prescribe.
I was mad but was still hopeful he would help me, it wasn’t until a few weeks later after no success on the medications and stress levels at an all time high in my marriage that we decided I would have the surgery. It was going to be 20,000 dollars but I was desperate to get better. On Jan 5, 3 weeks before my scheduled surgery my grandpa passed away. At the funeral I ran into my uncle who is a neurologist and he asked me about this doctor and warned that I should be Leary of any doc that isn’t affiliated with a university and doesn’t accept insurance, and suggested maybe getting a second opinion. I was mad and offended at first but on my 2 hour drive home I started to researching Dr. G a little further. Turns out a lot of people get my same diagnosis and have had their lives destroyed after he operated on them. Not to mention the very obvious ALL 5 star reviews on his website almost every one uses the word thorough. Red flags were going off like crazy! Clearly I had an angel looking out for me, I made an appointment at Barnes hospital with a neuro-otologist and he said that a bilateral perilymph fistula would be very unlikely as the cause to my issues without a severe blow to the head, which I have not had.
He said it was more likely vestibular migraines I was experiencing but wanted to look through all the testing results I had from the office, low an behold when they looked through them they said why is there another patients name on your records. I immediately called the office after my appointment and cancelled my surgery. I’m so thankful I didn’t become a victim of disastrous irreversible surgery. I wanted to share my experience in hopes that others will not fall victim to this ridiculous lie he is feeding people. Please whatever you do, don’t trust this doctor or the staff.
As someone who has been afflicted with pain and suffering for 2 years now, If someone promises answers before you even meet with the doctor, run!