Warning About Local Plastic Surgeon – My Experience with Dr. Preston Ward

I want to share my experience to warn others considering surgery in Salt Lake City. I scheduled a rhinoplasty/septoplasty revision with Dr. Preston Ward at Ward MD after his office reached out to me in October 2024. I had a free virtual consultation and was told in writing that my deposit would be 100% refundable if I decided not to move forward. However, after learning that his medical license is currently on probation for three years, I canceled my surgery out of concern for my safety. His office refused to refund any of the $10,000 I paid—even though no services were ever provided.

Key Issues:

Undisclosed Probation: Dr. Ward’s license is on probation for three years due to domestic violence charges and improperly performing surgeries when he was temporarily restricted from operating. This was never disclosed to me.

Deceptive Pricing & Refund Policy: I was told my deposit was refundable in writing before signing their contract. However, they refused to return a single dollar. I later found their old refund policy (from 2020), which only kept 10% of the cost if a surgery was canceled—not the entire amount.

Suspicious Solicitation: I never originally reached out to them. Their office “accidentally” texted me in October, claiming they meant to contact another “patient.” Given the probation, I now suspect this was an intentional tactic to bring in new patients.

Insurance Fraud Concern: They billed my insurance $485 for a “medical visit” that never happened. My consultation was supposed to be complimentary. I reported this to Blue Cross Blue Shield, the Utah Division of Consumer Protection, and the Utah DOPL.

While most of the office staff were polite, the office manager, Lisa, was rude when I asked about the charges. When I told her I was uncomfortable proceeding due to Dr. Ward’s domestic violence history, she told me that wasn’t a “valid” reason to cancel and accused me of canceling because I “didn’t want to pay.”

As an operating room nurse, I work with dozens of surgeons, and I take patient safety very seriously. Other surgeons I work with told me I made the right choice canceling. I hope this post helps others make informed decisions about their care.