Fat Transfer: Stories

My ocular surgeon recrurited Dr. Joel Aronowitz to join him in a June, 2012 surgery. My eye surgery was a medical necessity and Dr. Aronowitz was invited to participate at the same surgery in order to add stem cell fat to areas of my face that had been damaged and had disfiguring indentations and loss of fat due to partial paralysis. Dr. Aronowotiz charged me $18,000.

As ypu can see from the Before and After photos sent by Dr. Aronowitz's office, there is no discernable difference between the 2 sets of photos. Both my ocular surgeon and Dr. Aronowitz's staff saw my grief and disappointment within the first week. The notes from Dr. Aronowitz's office attest to this and my ocular surgeon was so sympathetic that he offered to do the fat grafts himself, even though it was outside his field of expertise.

The one procedure he did perform that had nothing to do with stem cell fat grafts, was to correct my left earlobe curl, a result of a previous surgery. Following his ear surgery, the left earlobe still curled because Dr. Aronowitz did not reattach it to my face. like the right one. Furthermore, my ocular surgeon noticed that the left earlobe was longer than the right one. In his Operating Room Report, which Dr. Aronowitz would not release until my lawyer called 3 months later, Dr. Aronowitz stated that there were "deformities on both earlobes." This is contradicted both by his own photos and the list of procedures I was charged for.

When Dr. Aronowitz was finally compelled by my lawyer to release my Operating Room Report, It was significantly different than the two released by my ocular surgeon. Under, "Procedures," my ocular surgeon just listed the procedures performed. Dr. Aronowitz's Operating Room Report also begins with "Procedures," yet Dr. Aronowitz spent the entire first half of his "Procedures," with declarative statements both about the purpose of the surgery and my mental state.

Dr.Aronowitz begins his "Procedures," by commenting on my mental state, declaring I was "distraught," and that he had even spoken to my psychologist. In fact, I was incredibly excited about this surgery because it offered the promise of re-engaging in life.

After 11 eye procedures and because of my physical disfigurement, I had withdrawn from life.out of embarrassment at my appearance. Everyone I knew was aware of my elation at this upcoming surgery,, including my therapist, who told me she had never spoken to Dr. Aronowitz and hadn't even known his name. In point of fact, however, my mental state is irrelevant to the outcome of his surgery.

The next portion of Dr. Aronowitz's "Procedures," states that the purpose of my surgery was "scar revision." This stands in direct contradiction to the very reason my ocular surgeon recruited him. In addition, almost all the major procedures I was charged for, clearly state "PRP stem cell fat." with the hollow,indented and depressed areas to be filled to restore facial volume. Nowhere is scar revision mentioned in his notes or itemized charges. Indeed, Dr. Aronowitz's prominence is based on his expertise in autologous stem cell fat using liposuction. In fact, his major claim to fame rests on reating a new breast for Suzanne Somers using this method.

Judge for yourself by looking at the photos. I did get emotionally "distraught," but that was after I looked the same after the surgery as I had before. It wasn't even the issue of the $18,000. It was my loss of trust, faith, and hope. I feel betrayed.