I went into my consultation very skeptical about having a doctor in Alaska work on my face. This man is truly wonderful at what he does and I wouldn't go to anyone else. I trust him wholeheartedly. It's been 4 weeks since my surgery and it's healing very nice.. I'm grateful for him and his nurse she's wonderful.
I have been using Botox to smooth the forehead and frown lines, along with the nice side effect of fewer headaches, for nearly 10 years. I tend to go 5 months between treatments, and usually get around 30 units of Botox. I added filler this round to fill in the smile lines and add some volume to my lips. Today--> 34 units Botox, used .7 of 1.0 ml of Juviderm. The numbing cream was helpful and while more uncomfortable than Botox, was not too uncomfortable. I love the results so far. Made the little changes I was looking for.
I am 56 and for years have not liked my side profile. As a matter of fact was embarrassed of it. The dorsal hump was very substantial. I finally went in and had closed rhinoplasty to have my dorsal hump shaved down. So far so good. I am so happy that I did this. I look the same from the front but my profile is so much better and I still have 5 months until it will not be swollen anymore. Some times I get impatient and want it to be done now but in the long run the time goes by fast.
I spent months attempting to utilize Dr. Sedwick as a surgeon for a medically necessary pinnaplasty and blepharoplasty. For months, I would get decline letters from BCBS because Michelle at Sedwick’s staff could not appropriately interpret the BCBS letters that stated the photos needed to be emailed, not faxed for better viewing. Then a peer-to-peer call with Sedwick was arranged and Sedwick no-showed. After weeks of issues, I called Despina, Sedwick’s office manager to lodge a complaint but she refused to take my call and I was told to email her. 2 months later, and still trying to get Michelle to email the photos, I had to involve a case manager at BCBS to assist and advocate for my claim. 1 of the 2 surgeries was finally approved and schedule at the surgery ctr after Michelle emailed the photos, but Sedwick had not attended the scheduled peer-to-peer call to get the 2nd procedure approved. I didn’t understand why he’d push for 1 procedure but drop the ball on completing the process for the 2nd procedure. I didn’t want to be under the knife 2x and it didn’t make sense that he no-showed to the peer-to-peer call with BCBS. I scheduled with Sedwick to see if he even knew the issues. I needed to know why he didn’t properly submit the request for the second procedure and that I felt it was very unprofessional to have solely email responses from Despina. I’d been given poor service and at least needed to be heard. Sedwick stated that only his office manager handles complaints, and he simply refused services and cancelled my surgery. To add insult to injury he asked me if I’d like his office manager, Despina to call. That may have been helpful 2 months ago, but since she was not responsive to resolving any issue, that would currently not be beneficial as it would only escalate further. I left devastated and in tears. This has been a very trying and traumatic experience after taking 3 months to only get declined for his services and is a barrier to medical care. Doctors have a clear line in medical ethics of ‘first, do no harm, and unfortunately, this is not the case for me. Sedwick’s office staff is incompetent and negligent. I am pleased to say that I have found a skilled surgeon who has a competent staff and have now had both procedures successfully completed.
Living Wild ~ Alaska's Dorene Lorenz goes to Kelly Whitworth at Exquisite Skin Esthetics at the Alyeska Center for Facial Plastic Surgery for microdermabrasion before getting an IPA Photofacial. Castmate Bella Coley holds Dorene's hand, and the results are very predictable. Read Dorene's blog on the experience at: http://dorenelorenz.blogspot.com/2010/11/going-skin-deep-without-tongue-bath.html Watch the events unfold yourself in Living Wild ~ Alaska's three 5 minute webisodes. Living Wild.tv
