One year since upper and lower eyelid surgery, ptosis repair, fat repositioning, endo brow lift, and chemical peel. First, my husband and I absolutely agree that Dr. Vrcek is kind and very accessible both prior to and after surgery. While I believe he tries to have his patient's best interest in mind, he failed me. Upon reviewing my insurance claims, we discovered Dr. Vrcek also performed ectropion repair, We had no idea he intended to do this procedure, and it wasn't until after the fact that we learned it had been included. I had never suffered with hanging lower eyelids or any issues that would necessitate such repairs. When I expressed concerns about eye shape, I assured me that he wasn't doing anything to alter it. When I followed up about the ectropion repair, he said that tightening the lower tendon during ptosis repair is a procedure he often performs. When consulting with another oculoplastic surgeon, who had examined me a few months prior, he stated ectropion repair is not a part of standard ptosis surgery and he had not noted my having it during his exam. He also performed festoon elevation. We had a very brief consultation about minor malar bags, which I mentioned could be addressed with my upcoming facelift and neck lift in a few months if that surgeon felt it was needed. Discovering this was done, again without my consent, was deeply upsetting. I sent Dr. Vrcek photos showing how the natural hooding I grew up with was now gone as swelling resolved. The significant amount of skin and fat removed was far more than expected. When I initially consulted with him, I was quoted $2,000 for upper eyelid surgery, with the understanding that it would be a simple skin removal procedure. He initially stated that insurance would not cover both skin removal and ptosis repair, and that we would save a lot or money having the ptosis repair covered. Later, he revised his statement, saying that insurance may not cover both procedures In response to the photos I sent, he replied, "If a patient were to show me a picture of themselves in their 20s, but they're in their 40s or later, I would tell them it's not possible for me to make it look like they did in their 20s." I simply wanted to look like me but refreshed. I didn't expect perfection but did expect to still look like myself, with the integrity of my natural features intact. He also mentioned that it's challenging for surgeons when patients send photos from their younger selves and then compare them to photos taken during the healing process, which are often less flattering due to lighting and swelling. He said, "I don't think any surgeon could successfully pass this test." The photos I sent were not intended to compare images of my youth to my current post-surgery appearance but to show how my eyelids had changed. I had a natural hooding and a small lid platform before the surgery, and now I no longer do. The pain in and around my eyes remains a constant challenge. I am also experiencing trigeminal neuralgia, causing sharp, radiating pain from my scalp down across my eyebrow and upper cheek. I'm still dealing with dry eyes, persistent tightness in my forehead, and discomfort that intensifies during movement. Dr. Vrcek didn't examine me in person before surgery, despite the visit note submitted to insurance stating otherwise. On the morning of my surgery, I was very nervous and made a mistake. When being checked in, I was asked to confirm the procedures I was having, and I listed them exactly as known to me. When reviewing the paperwork, bilateral ectropion repair and bilateral festoon elevation had been added, while fat repositioning and the chemical peel were omitted. I want to make it clear there are patients who are happy with Dr. Vrcek's work, but my experience has been very different. I also want to emphasize that I never expected perfection. I simply wanted to look like myself, only refreshed. Having trouble loading photos and will keep trying. Meanwhile some are posted in my Google review. read more