7 days post op TT/Lipo. ER last night for pain in my side. Was given a CT scan. ER Dr says there is no sign whatsoever, including swelling, pain, tenderness, anything at all, that would lead her to believe that I have had my fascia repaired. I knew immediately coming out of the OR it hadn't been done. I have 0 pain in my abdomen except for my suture line. He told me he repaired it and it's written so in this operative report I obtained. Please help, I've been deceived. What can I do? Thank you.
Answer: Muscle repair Ooph...where do I start. I had a patient accuse me of this several years ago. Despite my assurance, my operative report, the anesthetic provider's affirmation, the O.R. staff's reassurance, the documentation of the use of the type of suture that is ONLY used for the "midline muscle plication" - the patient and husband refused to believe me and continued with such aggressive behavior I finally threatened to , and did, call the police. Of course, they then wrote up very nasty reviews with that accusation. In this instance, I did challenge them to get an MRI to document it (not even being certain it WOULD) but they refused.In most plastic surgeon's' experiences, often times great interference in the doctor/patient relationship comes from seemingly well meaning individuals, sometime physicians, who opine about things they really can't/shouldn't because they don't have enough knowledge of the issue. That even occurs in this forum.Your story, if accurate as presented, to me seems like a CLASSIC case of this. Not only is this doctor commenting on something they have NO meaningful information on (the CT scan may not show anything) but what reason is there for the surgeon to lie? To plicate the muscles takes 10 minutes give or take five at an additional cost of a couple sutures. So, you are saying you believe someone with NO training or experience in this over the person who actually did this?Your surgeon should be notified the ER doc said this, but only as a heads up to him/her, not as an accusation that this unrequested information is true.
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Answer: Muscle repair Ooph...where do I start. I had a patient accuse me of this several years ago. Despite my assurance, my operative report, the anesthetic provider's affirmation, the O.R. staff's reassurance, the documentation of the use of the type of suture that is ONLY used for the "midline muscle plication" - the patient and husband refused to believe me and continued with such aggressive behavior I finally threatened to , and did, call the police. Of course, they then wrote up very nasty reviews with that accusation. In this instance, I did challenge them to get an MRI to document it (not even being certain it WOULD) but they refused.In most plastic surgeon's' experiences, often times great interference in the doctor/patient relationship comes from seemingly well meaning individuals, sometime physicians, who opine about things they really can't/shouldn't because they don't have enough knowledge of the issue. That even occurs in this forum.Your story, if accurate as presented, to me seems like a CLASSIC case of this. Not only is this doctor commenting on something they have NO meaningful information on (the CT scan may not show anything) but what reason is there for the surgeon to lie? To plicate the muscles takes 10 minutes give or take five at an additional cost of a couple sutures. So, you are saying you believe someone with NO training or experience in this over the person who actually did this?Your surgeon should be notified the ER doc said this, but only as a heads up to him/her, not as an accusation that this unrequested information is true.
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November 6, 2015
Answer: Definitely bring this up with your surgeon There could be a myriad of reasons for this. Sometimes, plastic surgeons have pre-printed operative notes because they do the same thing over and over the exact same way. This is dangerous in some ways because if you deviate from your "norm", the note you typically use is a misrepresentation of what happened. It doesn't mean there was any malice in what happened, but it is, perhaps, another potential explanation for your situation besides the fine points already brought up by other surgeons. Either way, talk to your plastic surgeon.
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November 6, 2015
Answer: Definitely bring this up with your surgeon There could be a myriad of reasons for this. Sometimes, plastic surgeons have pre-printed operative notes because they do the same thing over and over the exact same way. This is dangerous in some ways because if you deviate from your "norm", the note you typically use is a misrepresentation of what happened. It doesn't mean there was any malice in what happened, but it is, perhaps, another potential explanation for your situation besides the fine points already brought up by other surgeons. Either way, talk to your plastic surgeon.
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