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I Need Suggestions on How to Communicate a Major Concern with my Doctor.

asked 7 months ago by Jpriestly in Austin, TX
Latest answer by Jed H. Horowitz, MD
Question viewed 125 times
Tags: asymmetry, patient rights, plastic surgeon

I have had two blephopasty surgeries - original operation then a redo 6 months later. After the first surgery and before, during and after the 2nd surgery, I mentioned my concern about how asymmetrical my eyes seemed after the first blephopasty (left eyelid half closed). He either ignores me or shrugs it off. Meanwhile, I'm really getting depressed over how horrible I look. What can i say and how can I say it so that he understands how important this is to me? Is there just nothing he can do?

7 answers to I Need Suggestions on How to Communicate a Major Concern with my Doctor.

+1

Blepharoplasty, eyelid surgery problems

If you can't communicate your feeling in person.. send an email or letter explaining your concerns and expectations. most doctors want the best for their patients
Jed H. Horowitz, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+1

Communicating with your Doctor

You should definitely see another Plastic Surgeon for a second opinion. It also would be helpful if you could bring photographs of yourself from before the first surgery and before the second surgery so the surgeon can see what your baseline anatomy looked like. The bottom line is, this either represents some underlying natural asymmetry that you have always had, or there is an issue from your first surgery that needs to be addressed. A second opinion should help to sort... more
Robert Wilke, MD

Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon
+1

The chemistry of confidence is critical in your relationship with your surgeon.

If your surgeon cannot understand what you are looking for, you are in the wrong place. Making this individual further revise your eyelid surgery when you do not think they understand what you are looking for is a mistake. Do not make surgeons do what they are not comfortable with. You live in Austin. There is a very large oculoplastic surgery group there: TOC. You might consider seeing some of their surgeons for a second opinion.
Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon
+1

I Need Suggestions on How to Communicate a Major Concern with my Doctor.

Here are a couple of suggestions for your difficult situation: Firstly, you might find it easier to put your concerns into writing. Send your surgeon a letter outlining your thoughts and making it clear that you are expecting a prompt reply. Secondly, if you feel that you no longer have confidence in your surgeon, you should absolutely seek another opinion. Make sure you find someone who is fully qualified, experienced and compassionate. Be sure to bring along preop photos. You... more
Eric Pugash, MD

Vancouver Plastic Surgeon
+1

I Need Suggestions on How to Communicate a Major Concern with my Doctor.

Agree with Dr Aldea. Also sounds like you need to move on to other PSs in your area. Refusal to help a patient of yours leaves me wondering the surgeon you have chosen.
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Communication with doctors

I agree with Dr. Aldea - most well-trained, ethical surgeons take a lot of pride in doing the best we can for our patients, and we worry about complications and patient dissatisfaction and truly want our patients to be happy. Try to analyze how your past communications have gone - if they were confrontational, emotional, attacking, etc., and how you can change your approach. (After all, that is the only thing you can do since you have no control over how your... more
Michelle Spring, MD

Marina Del Rey Plastic Surgeon
+1

Suggestions on How to Communicate a Major Concern with my Doctor

It is impossible to begin to know what happened in your case without seeing photographs before the first surgery, before the revision surgery and the way you look now. Most people already have an existing asymmetry which they do not realize until after the surgery. Neither can we as Plastic surgeons understand what happened during the first operation to warrant a revision without more information and photographic evidence ("Left eye half closed" suggests an injury or failure to... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon

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