physician

Recent comments

• Posted to Lifestyle Lift; Evidently I Am One of the Lucky Ones. on 10 May 2009

  I am a Lifestyle Lift surgeon, and I am interested in the reputation of my company so I took some time to read these comments. No surgeon or practice wants unhappy patients, so I found these stories to be troubling - I am not agreeing or disagreeing with anyone; I just want to express some empathy for those who are unhappy, no matter what the reason, and I hope that you will eventually be happy/satisfied with the outcomes, whatever they may be. Since I have a lot of experience in the world of facial plastic surgery, I would like to at least provide a few points to consider for those considering a LSL procedure. This is not necessarily a defense of LSL; I know the company is not perfect. These points will hopefully help prospective patient have a good outcome, no matter where they go. First, every plastic surgeon in the world has unhappy patients. My fellowship director was literally "world famous", and yet there were some patients who asked for their money back. So, if someone writes off LSL, and has a procedure by a privately practicing plastic surgeon, this does not provide a guarantee of a good outcome. I understand, though, that many of you may think the chances are worse at LSL. I don't agree with that, but I'll comment more on that later. Second, some reviewers are distrustful of LSL consultants because they are paid on commission. There is a fear that unnecessary procedures may be pushed. The truth is that every doctor, in every medical specialty, is essentially paid on commission. If no procedures are done, the doctors do not have any revenue. So, LSL consultants are really no different. One must be hopeful that the consultant is ethical enough to promote only the procedures that each patient desires, needs, and can afford. I am very confident that the vast majority of LSL consultants are ethical in this manner. Another point to consider is that the doctor makes the final decision about what is done, and I frequently modify the consultants' recommendations based on what I see. A third point, and I think the most important, is that each patient's experience at LSL is based on the doctor providing the treatment. The staff certainly affects the happiness of patients, but in the end the outcome comes from the surgeon. All LSL surgeons are very well trained in facial plastic surgery, but as I mentioned above, all plastic surgeons have the potential for at least a few unhappy patients. The responsibility of prospective patients is therefore to find the best LSL surgeon for their concerns. So, rather than avoiding the whole company, prospective patients should simply consider the qualifications and personality of the doctor they meet. This is the same responsibility patients have with any plastic surgeon. In closing, I would like to make a recommendation. If you are interested in a LSL procedure, talk to other patients of a particular surgeon. They are the best judges of that surgeon's ability. Comments from patients of other surgeons may be somewhat irrelevant. In addition to asking for a list of "happy patients", you can also just hang out in the waiting room after your consultation and talk to a more random sample of patients. Believe me, there are many, many happy patients of LSL who can help to clarify the work of the a particular surgeon. I would also recommend that you do not base your surgeon selection on experience alone. I have seen so many "experienced" plastic surgeons who are technically poor and have horrible "bedside manners". If you find a LSL surgeon whom you like, and who talks to you in language you can understand, and makes you feel comfortable, and has a good number of happy patients, you will be doing much better than patients who choose a doctor solely on experience. If you follow these steps, I truly believe that you have a very good chance of being a happy LSL patient.