How do I request a refund for an incomplete Smart Lipo?

Question

I paid for lipo to be done on my entire stomach (upper&lower) and flanks (separate charge), w/fat transfer to the bum. Things went downhill from there. It's 1 week post op and I'm feeling & looking worse than i did when i came in. He didn't even do my flanks. Then he changed his story, said he did do it and pointed to my upper rib cage. I wanted my flanks/muffin top/love handles to be done. He claimed that he ran out of anesth and couldn't get to it. I just want a refund for the flanks charge.

Marco A. Pelosi III, MD, FACOG, FACS · Answer

There are always 2 sides to every story. Regardless, if you paid for 2 specific areas and only got 1 area treated, then you are owed either the additional money or the additional work. If I were you, I would take the additional work over the money back because the cost of having your flanks done elsewhere separately is usually higher than the cost as part of a multi-area package. Surgeons usually take photos of the presurgical markings and these will demonstrate the areas that were marked for treatment at the original surgery.

Erika Sato, MD, FACS · Answer

This story seems a little strange. How do you run out of anesthesia? Was he administering it himself or were you at a facility with an anesthesiologist? Were you actually asleep or was this under local with PO/IV meds. If it was under local with PO/IV meds then he could have gotten to the safe dose of meds and you just didn't tolerate the pain. It would have been unsafe to give your more meds. In this scenario, I have heard from other patients who have come to me for a revision that the work was not completed but that they knew this was a possibility of doing the procedure without true anesthesia. Most plastic surgeons are reasonable. I think it is best if you speak with him/her about your options at this point. If the procedure was done with anesthesia and for some reason the facility ran out of the proper medications, then you should be reimbursed the surgeon fee for the area or given a credit for this surgery in the future.

Jan Zemplenyi, MD · Answer

Hello,One week is still very early to assess the results of your liposuction.  You should ask your surgeon if he will do the areas you paid for and he agreed to do at another session.  If in several months you are not happy with the result ask him to do a touch up of the areas you are concerned about.Jan Zemplenyi MDBellevue, WA425-455-7225

How do I request a refund for an incomplete Smart Lipo?

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Everything you need to know about Smart Lipo

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How do I request a refund for an incomplete Smart Lipo?

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Smart Lipo

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.