I went to Dr T because a breast implant broke and I had a question about a scar, to see if it could be "fixed". There were MULTIPLE miscommunications, even though I was very careful to tell him the exact issues I've had in the past and we talked quite a bit about the procedure in advance. For your reference, I'm 5'2" and only 120lbs. at the most. So I'm NOT overweight to start out with and due to my size, the little things matter. I started out with symmetrical breasts and although my tummy scar was not great, it was even.
Breast Augmentation - He recommended that we replace both implants since it had been over 15 years since my original surgery, which we did. I told him one breast was larger than the other and that my last doc had to use 15cc less in one breast, but I couldn't remember which and I though it was my left. I'm small, so this is a considerable amount. I also told him that I did NOT want larger breasts. I didn't know the size, so together we evaluated and he determined it was probably 450cc. After surgery he proudly told me that he overfilled BOTH implants by 15cc, and then said that my older implants were only 350cc. I was shocked. At my first follow up I told him my breasts were uneven, volume wise, it was very visible looking downward, and the larger breast was pulling my clothes crooked. He said that when he does replacements, he doesn't really evaluate the breast, it's just an in/out procedure (even though he charges the same price as if the surgery was for new implants). He also said that since he was fixing someone else's work, he had no way to tell, but they both looked fine when I was "lying on the table". ANY doctor knows that you must sit the person upright to fully evaluate the implant prior to ending the surgery. He then said it was due to swelling, when I knew I had hardly any. He said we would look at it later, which we did. He offered to try to "fix it" but said I'd have to pay for an entirely new surgery, which was obviously ridiculous.
Scar Revision - I have a tummy tuck scar that was initially in a W shape. I told him that I wanted to know if it could be made straight across the bottom so that the fatty "pockets" at the bottom of the W points would not be there. He said yes, and that if it wasn't smooth, he would lipo a bit of the underside to make them smooth. After the surgery, I immediately noticed that one side still had a "pouch" when the other did not. It was as if he removed more skin from the one side compared to the other. It even felt like there was more skin on that side. I let him know right away and he said it was due to swelling. It did not go away. I reminded him about the lipo and he looked through his notes and then said, I don't have this in my notes. I could do some lipo, but you would have to pay for it. Was it my fault he didn't make note of his own words? I certainly can't update his chart for him!
Oddly enough, both issues were on the left side of my body, as if he evaluated his work from one side only. I am extremely disappointed. The unevenness of my breasts causes my blouses and dresses to pull to the side which is very unsightly in business clothes. Every day I'm reminded of this, and apparently have to just deal with it. I feel that although he spent quite a bit of time with me discussing the procedures and my expectations, that he didn't really hear what I was saying.
I admit that I'm a bit OCD, especially when it comes to things being symmetrical. I'm the person who adjust tables at restaurants so they line up with the bench seat. But I did tell him this before my procedures. I'm certain that my dissatisfaction partly comes from the fact that these differences are SO obvious to me, but I don't understand how I could have looked symmetrical before and then he couldn't even take the time to look at my breasts and my incision properly.
I had to give the doctor one star on many of the items although he was accurate in his diagnosis and he made me feel that he listened to me,, but with a plastic surgeon, it's results that matter, not how I "felt" before the procedure. I didn't want a higher star rating to allude to my satisfaction in any way. I believe that it's common sense to expect a professional to do a professional job, and therefore I strongly urge you to find another doctor. read more