bad experience with dr. john b. tebbetts...

I was referred to Dr. John B. Tebbetts by a relative for breast augmentation and I also researched his book, The Best Breast, and thought he would be caring and the best doctor; however, I came away from the first appointment feeling a little like this was a business that was mainly concerned with getting as much done in as little time possible for as much money as possible (an assembly-line approach).  I was impressed with the 24-hour recovery since i work and didn't want to take off work but a couple of days.

Also, Dr. Tebbetts takes his own before pictures without a nurse or any other female present and some of his comments during the picture session were offensive and inappropriate.  I was very uncomfortable, but I wanted my surgery.  His wife is his first line in the interview process.  She was very difficult to communicate with by email and didn't understand how i could need breast augmentation since I was in a 36C already (albeit a thick gel bra C) and made a comment like 'how much bigger do you want.'  She had not seen me and didn't realize a gel bra in a 36C that I was wearing fit me even though i was flat.  This was the only kind of bra I could ever find that fit and that was hard to find.  When she saw me without a bra and flat, she finally understood.  That was my first sign, but i desperately wanted augmentation since I had gone 44 years without every having developed.

I ended up not having the surgery with Dr. Tebbetts after all because they called me two days prior to my surgery date to let me know that they wouldn't perform the surgery because one of the tests they perform came back positive for MRSA in the nasal passages and they don't take any chances (it's all about no risk and no trouble on their part to maximize income).  A MRSA specialist said I had nothing to worry about having surgery and that many patients are MRSA positive in their nasal passages, but Dr. Tebbetts wouldn't even consider it.  Apparently, I was too much trouble.  No other doct that I spoke with even conducts this test prior to surgery. I went to another, wonderful board certified plastic surgeon for my surgery who was more than compassionate about my situation and not the least hesitant about performing my surgery only wanted to consult with his specialist friend about how best to proceed.  Dr. Tebbetts will only give you the size he wants to give you based on some formula so you don't necessarily get what you want unless you pretty much sign your life away with tons of paperwork because he doesn't want to accept any responsibility if there are any complications at all.  This was a horrible experience for me as I was so looking forward to having my surgery when scheduled and had no idea it would be canceled due to their strict guidelines in order not to have any kind of possible complication or having to take any extra precautions.  They made me feel like I had some dreaded disease and could infect everyone with whom i came in contact.  NOT SO.

I do not recommend this doctor no matter how many books he publishes or how fast he claims his recovery rate is.  My outcome with breasts 2-3 cup sizes larger than he would have given me is wonderful since i never had any breast tissue to speak of.  It is not obvious I have had implants unless you saw me without clothes on before and after.  They are quite large compared to what I had and I am so happy.  I also recovered within 24 hours, following the guidelines from Dr. Tebbetts' office and moving my arms over my head about every thirty minutes the night of surgery and all the following day.  Those are good guidelines for fast recover if you have a competent surgeon.  My relative who used Dr. Tebbetts years ago also expresses alot of disappointment in her breast size being so small because of his guidelines.  She said she told him she wanted larger and he gave her a B cup even though she is very tall with a body that could carry a much larger size.  Imagine wanting a C cup or larger and waking up with a B.  His staff makes you feel you are unreasonable if you want anything other than a little larger than what you already have and if that is what you insist on, you must sign releases of liability.  I didn't even tell my current plastic surgeon what size I wanted to be, just that i wanted to be normal and have breasts that would go with my body type.  I was flat and am now a double D, unbelievable.  My clothes actually fit now and I look great. All I can say is BEWARE and if you are the least bit uncomfortable with your visit with any of Dr. Tebbetts' staff, go to someone else where you may actually get what you want without signing your life away and have a doctor spend some quality time with you prior to surgery.  The maximum amount of time I spent with Dr. Tebbetts was 15 minutes, most of which was taking my before pictures.