Joel Aronowitz, MD

After having a botched breast reduction / lift with dr. Gary Motykie which resulted in fat necrosis and the loss of my nipples, Dr. Joel Aronowitz was so kind to call me through face time, since I live in another continent to give me his second opinion and medical advice. He did not even charge me for this consultation. I really appreciate his kind gesture and humanity.

I have been getting Botox from dermatologists for the past 7 years and heard about Dr. Aronowitz from a friend of mine. (He replaced her implants with fat, she looks amazing) I met with him and his injectable consultant and they suggested a little Juvederm in my upper lip to create a little fullness and to smooth out my lip lines. I was hesitant at first but finally agreed. I am SO glad that I did... my lip looks natural and full and my lip lines have smoothed out beautifully!! My Botox also looks amazing! I am so happy to have found a PS with an aesthetic yet CONSERVATIVE eye! I highly recommend Dr. Aronowitz for any Botox or filler needs and have booked a CoolSculpting procedure with his Non-surgical division as well!

Dr. Aronowitz answered all of my questions and did a beautiful job on my breast reconstruction. I would use his services again for any type of plastic surgery or beauty enhancement process. He spent time with me at length to be sure I was clear and at ease about the surgery. His staff also quickly answered all of my questions and concerns whether by phone or by email. Additionally, they have a new general MD, Dr. Sabena Toor, on staff who is wonderful. She is now my regular doctor and I'm so impressed with her thoroughness regarding my health.

I came to see Dr. Aronowitz as a 31 year old female to discuss reconstructive surgery from radiation damage after having bi-lateral retinoblastoma, a cancer of the retina. The radiation administered to the temple area at the age of 17 months had caused extensive bone, muscle and tissue damage in the temples and surrounding area. I had previously had two reconstructive surgeries on this area, one using stem cells. I was extremely skeptical about going to yet another plastic surgeon because I thought I was out of options for my rare condition. At my mother’s urging she and I went to see him. I thought I was only going to be gathering information, but through the course of my 45 minute consultation I was struck by how genuinely interested he was in my case. While my symptoms are not “normal,” and he could not guarantee success working with my damaged radiated muscles, he wanted to try doing stem cell injections to the temples to improve the blood flow, fill out the hollowed crevasses and improve the overall internal and external appearance of the area. I have had over 70 surgeries in my lifetime with around 15 different surgeons, and the comfort and faith that I had in Dr. Aronowitz truly brought me to tears. After a ten year battle with cancer and an additional ten years of reconstructive efforts, I thought for the first time in my life that I was done searching for “the perfect” surgeon to finish out all the rest of my future reconstructive procedures.

The surgery was a success, and in the 9 months since my surgery I have done two additional procedures with Dr. Aronowitz, PRP injections (blood plasma injections) and PRP mixed with Sculptra injections. Both of these injections were done to increase blood flow to the previously injected stem cells, and to attempt to boost collagen growth in the radiated area. These injections were done awake, and were extremely painful due to the damaged areas he was working with, but throughout the procedures 

I had a wonderful experience at this office in Beverly Hills. Great staff, great doctor, very imformative, accomidating and easy to work with. I would reccomend this surgeon to anyone.

I had rhinoplasty almost 2 weeks ago and my nose looks great but my smile is awful. My surgeon had to cut the skin connecting my lip to my gum (b/c my lips would of been too raised) and now it is really tight in that area and I have the goofiest smile ever. Will my normal smile ever return?

I booked a breast augmentation surgery with Dr. A to fix a tubular deformity. The day after the surgery, I noticed that one breast was significantly larger than the other (one B cup and D cup). I called the office, and was told Dr. A had left for vacation. When he returned a week later, he said one breast was only swollen, and that I should get massage sessions from a woman in his office to make the swelling go down. The massages were $225/session!! After realizing the massages weren't helping, he agreed to do a revision. I was already $11,000 down, so I asked about the cost of revision surgery. I was told that Dr. A would waive his fee, but I would have to pay "a maximum of a few hundred dollars for the anesthesia and surgery room costs." I got the revision surgery. I then got a first bill for $2,000, and a second bill for $3,000. I was told that I would have to pay, or they would submit to collections. After two surgeries (the second was for Dr. A to fix his first surgery), I'm down $16,000. If you choose to go with him, watch your wallet.

While it is certainly understood that Surgeons (and those specializing in Plastic, at that) in Los Angeles earn a great living...
Dr. Joel Aronowitz puts Cedar Sinai and the medical community to shame with his blatant 'inside referrals' (to his own outside 'medical spas') and lack of true depth or compassion.
Having survived traumatic cancer surgery, I was referred to Dr. Aronowitz for some light follow-up.
The first meeting, I got the 'warm, avuncular, caring' Dr. Joel - 'I'll take good care of you - you have nothing to worry about... we'll take care of all the pre-authorizations... I promise, you're safe."
A week later, after learning that his several recommendations for 'superficial' fast-fixes to my face were going to be rejected by my health insurance as 'frivilous' (he'd recommended expensive out-patient cosmetic procedures, IN HIS MEDICAL SPA he owns in the VALLEY)- rather than the more invasive but permanent and healthful procedures I'd come to him for.
The day before I was to have the first of these 'cosmetic procedures' - his ice-cold assistant "Lisa" called to abruptly leave a voicemail that Dr. Aronowitz was 'no longer able to assist'... And when I called back pleading that I had cleared my calendar and took off work at his recommendation for this procedure - and inquired WHY Dr. Joel could 'no longer assist' me... I got the ludicrous, facetious response that, "The Doctor just doesn't feel the procedures will be effective.'
That was that. No real explanation, no kind word from this 'benevolent' caring medical professional.
I left a request that he at least have the courage to call me back and explain why the sudden about-face and at least some show of respect + kindness that he puts such a great show on for the wealthy who walk into his plush offices...
Not a word. And the kicker?? He STILL BILLED my INSURANCE for his pricey 'consultation' (the one in which he'd assured me only a week prior that I was in great hands and not to worry...). I had a 'co-pay' he expected to be paid!!
Classless, greedy, and unethical.
A report was filed with the Medical Association, and my Insurance notified him that I would not be paying for the consultation.
There are a LOT of over-priced cosmetic surgeons in Los Angeles.
Find one with a conscience who will honor his word.
Dr. Joel Aronowitz... is not that Doctor.

I got bl with implants on 8/12/2016 with this dr. That i do regret alot i do t like them. Until now im having pain in my right breast somewhat num still no sensation now it seems like im getting a bump next to my areola and it hurts when i lean forward to tie my shoe or something like that it feels like this weird uncomfortable feeling when i press on my breast when i lay down my left side my right breast always feel like i have something there my left breast does t feel like that when im laying on my right side. Im so disappointed.

I saw Dr. Aronowitz for a thigh lift and minor liposuction. He did the thigh lift and it didn't help much at all. He also did some work on my upper body which I knew would leave a significant scar, but he SWORE it would be under my bra line. Results: nothing much from the thigh lift and the SCAR on my back was so high that no bra, bathing suit, tank top, etc would ever cover it. His response when I saw him for aftercare was "Oh well, I could have done more (the thighs) and no comment on the bad scar except it will disappear in a few years. STUPID ME had him revise the thigh lift at full price. At the last moment before the surgery he offered to put some fat he would be removing under my eye as filler. He SWORE and PROMISED that there would be no bruises. Guess what? I had two very black eyes from his "no bruises" fat transfer. After 6 months, one of my eyes is still black underneath the eye. The bruises on my legs are still there after 6 months. As for the staff, they are very nice until you pay. Then they are "sickeningly sweet" but truly uninterested. Dr. Aronowitz was not at all concerned about my disappointment. DON'T go to this surgery. I just spent a fortune to have all of Dr. Aronowitz's botched work repaired by a really fine, caring and super skilled surgeon. The new surgeon could not believe what Aronowitz's surgery botched looked like. The new surgeon (Dr. M) fixed the thigh lift and was shocked that it was so poorly done. Dr. M also fixed the scar on my back so that is truly covered by bra and other blouses. DO NOT GO TO THIS SURGEON. I gave him one star because he is sort of friendly (when he is in the mood) and is very pleasant until after the surgery is done...then he doesn't seem to be interested in you at all. My experience was 6 months ago, so apparently nothing has changed from prior reviews that warn you about. Dr. Aronowitz. STUPID ME did not read the reviews before I went to Aronowitz.

In 2006 I had a mastectomy. Nothing was left but a scar across my chest....I also had 5 weeks of radiation. I was told that because I had radiation treatment, I was not a candidate for reconstruction with expanders and an implant. There was no longer a good blood supply to support an implant.

I went to at least 5 reconstruction doctors and they gave me the same opinion...that if I wanted reconstruction I would have to opt for a tram flap or something equally invasive to remove fat and skin and form a new breast. I was very hesitant to have invasive surgery, so I just shelved my hope of

finding a way to look "normal" again. I wore a prosthetic breast and hated bending over because I

had no cleavage on one side. I paid particular attention to any innovative options to successfully reconstruct my breast. In 2011, with the help of Suzanne Somers as Dr. Aronowitz' mouthpiece,

he touted his use of stem cell fat transfer to reconstruct her breast that was radiated after having a lumpectomy around 8 years before. She claimed that she "had no breast"...that the radiation had slowly shrunk her breast to nothing. She was against implants, which perhaps was because she had

radiation and knew the chance that there would be no good blood supply to support the implant.

She claimed that Dr. Aronowitz' stem cell fat transfer "regrew her breast"....that she could feel little

snaps and pops within her breast and knew that fat was growing back. Ofcourse this caught my attention and I believed that perhaps this was what I was waiting for. I consulted with the doctor and

he said that he could inject my chest area where I once had a breast...but said that he would not be able to harvest enough fat to fill the void. I asked how he was able to do this with Ms. Somers, and he

said that he would need about 6 soda cans full of fat and I didn't have that much fat to donate. The last I remembered, Ms. Somers looked fit in her swimsuit pics and I could not imagine she had 6 soda cans of fat to donate, typically from the stomach and thighs. Perhaps a red flag? At this point I was trying to find an answer to my dilemma and the dr. suggested that he put enough fat in my chest to at least give the illusion of cleavage while wearing my prosthetic. I had faith in him and decided to go ahead and try that procedure so I could at least wear my normal lower cut tops. We set a surgery date and time.

My surgery was scheduled for 12:00 noon. I arrived at 10:00 am. I was put in an examining room by myself and the dr. rushed in and said that he was thinking about my case and felt it would be a better outcome if he took a patch of skin from my back, and pulled it under my arm and transplanted it to my chest so he would be able to give me more volume. The skin would not be detached....just twisted and pulled and sewn into an incision he would make on my chest. I was in a gown....with no one to talk to and he was telling me this was a great idea. I told him I trusted him to do the right thing. I also requested that since I would be under anesthesia perhaps he could inject some stem cell fat into my face to plump up my cheeks and in my indented scars on my hips that resulted from hip replacement surgery 2 years before. He said "sure" and charged me $5,000 extra. I sat in the room for 4 hours...waiting past my 12:00 pm surgery time. No one checked on me, brought me water, gave me a sedative to calm my anxiety....or brought my husband in to keep me company.

Sometime after 2:30pm I was taken in for the surgery...The next thing I heard was "wake up....wake up... you need to wake up and get dressed....we are closed"...My surgery was not on time...and I know that it was finished late. The doctor did not give me the courtesy to let me have a recovery period and wanted to get me out of the office so everyone could go home. I was woken up prematurely, I could not stand up to put my clothes on, so the nurses put them on for me...shoved my shoes on and stuck me in a wheelchair. I started to get the chills and began shaking from the effects of the anesthesia wearing off. In past surgeries, I was always given an injection to stabilize me and Zofran to keep me from throwing up. I had to ask for that because I was shaking uncontrollably. The doctor got my husband and told him I was ready to go home...but I was not. I said I can't go home yet...I'm not feeling normal. I could not be in the car for the 1 1/2 hour ride home sitting up. I asked to let me stay at least a half hour more to recover...but they all were in a hurry to lock up. The doctor suggested I stay in the nearby hotel that accommodates patients after surgery where they have nurses on staff. I had no choice and was picked up by their driver. I had to spend $1,000 for one night because I was not

given recovery time in Dr. Aronowitz' office. This surgery was a complete disaster. I believe that the dr. used me as a guinea pig because I am sure he never did this surgery before. The skin he transferred to my chest was in the shape of a circle. It was only 3-4 " wide. The skin was stretched so much from my back that the skin separated where he twisted it under my arm and formed a hole the size of a nickel that would not heal. The stem cell fat he injected into that pad of transplanted skin

became necrotic. It died and formed hard lumps under my skin. I had zero cleavage. The stem cell fat he injected into my face and hip scars dissipated within a couple of weeks. There was no improvement and he did not refund me any money for this failed surgery. My new "breast" was

the size of a fried egg and had hard lumps underneath that were visible on the surface. I waited 6 years to find a way to improve my chest...and Dr. Aronowitz made it worse. The scar on my back was not sewn flat. There was a pouch at the end of the scar. The dr. never had any empathy or remorse...he had the nerve to tell me to come back and he would put in an implant. The whole reason I sought his help was because all my doctors told me that having radiation kills the blood supply and makes it virtually impossible to stretch the skin and put in an implant. I was not in a good place to

fight back or sue the doctor because I was dealing with taking care of my mother who was dying from Alzheimer's. I put all my energy into taking care of her and could not afford to feel angry or depressed.

I did feel I was duped by the dr. and his celebrity spokesperson. After doing some research I discovered that Ms. Somers was not honest about "having no breast"....She had a lumpectomy, which

was treated with radiation...but she still had quite a bit of breast tissue with a void from the lumpectomy. There is no way she could have used up 6 soda cans full of fat unless she was doing it over a period of time. Perhaps she had her fat harvested for future surgeries since she did have a stem cell fat transfer "facelift"....After 1 1/2 years I received a phone call from Dr. Aronowitz as he was

upbeat and pretending as if he didn't know how he performed such a sub standard surgery.

He asked me when I was coming back to finish with an implant!! I reminded him what he did to me...and told him I was extremely disappointed with what I consider butchery. He was contrite, admitted that I was somewhat of an experiment....and asked if I was "mad" at him! I told him that I was disappointed, depressed and challenged him on what Ms. Somers said about her surgery in magazine interviews and on website articles. He admitted she did have a breast...just smaller than the other one, with a void he filled in. I told him she was not a pioneer concerning women's health issues and she was dishonest by saying that "her breast grew back"....He told me "I can't control what she says"....He offered no compensation or refund for the failed fat transfers and for the nightmare surgery he performed on me which was more like a botched experiment. My window of time to litigate had expired, so he had nothing to lose by admitting he screwed up. In 2014 I did an enormous amount of research to find a micro-surgeon to do my tram -flap surgery....I was down to my only option for reconstruction. My doctor has super hero status ...He operated for 10 hours to remove the damage that Dr. Aronowitz created and made a perfect breast from my tummy fat. He asked me to gain 10 pounds before the surgery so he would have a generous donor site. He is the kindest and most skilled surgeon I have ever encountered....Dr. Mark Kobayashi at UCI in Orange, CA. Now I know why he has patients travelling from other countries to see him. He is my personal hero. I feel foolish that I fell for the Aronowitz/Somers sales pitch. I hope others can learn from what happened to me.