Having plastic surgery shows, like "Botched," in the mainstream media is a good thing on the one hand because, if done properly, they can educate people about a topic which is very much in the public eye right now. But, they can also be harmful to an extent too, as they can lean more toward the "entertainment value," and create drama and emotion where none should really exist. The prevalence of the word "botched" in our society lately is a prime example of this in my opinion. To the credit of those involved with the TV show, including my colleagues who "star" on the show, its producers, and mostly the people who market the concept and get it out there so that everyone seems to know about it, this show, and consequently the word that it accentuates, are out there in everyday speech. The problem with this is that now every less-than-satisfactory result or realistic potential complication of this type of surgery is a "botched surgery." The fact of the matter is that surgery is a risky proposition to some degree, no matter what. As board certified plastic surgeons we are all very highly educated and trained in what we do. For the most part, things that we do turn out well. Admittedly, no surgeon, or patient, is perfect, though, and sometimes things don't turn out exactly the way we want them to. Unfortunately, the tens of thousands of cases that turn out well in this country everyday are not "newsworthy" or exciting enough to make it on a TV show. And, the instances in which something may not turn out exactly as planned go all the way to the "botched" category. I personally find very few instances in which I would say that the surgery was actually "botched." To me, "botching" something means that there was some element of inattention, incompetence, carelessness, or intentional wrongdoing that led to a poor outcome or a complication. Something below the standard of care that most reasonable and properly trained surgeons would do. There is no question that there are some surgeons who are better at some things than others, and there are some cases that are more challenging than others, even for very skilled surgeons. These, to me, are the factors that are most likely to lead to an unsatisfactory outcome; not that the surgeon "botched" the case. As far as your own case goes, from the standpoint of the aesthetic result, that is a very subjective judgment, and much of that depends upon where you started from. This could simply be an issue of an unmet expectation, and perhaps the thing that your surgeon really "botched," if anything was "botched" at all, was the preoperative consultation and setting of realistic expectations. I don't know this for sure, as I haven't seen any preoperative images, I haven't examined you, and I wasn't involved with your surgery or care. But it is definitely something to consider. It may be that compared to how you looked before surgery, your current status is pretty good, all things considered. This is not to say that things turned out exactly as YOU wished, but it recognizes that there may have been some improvement in certain aspects of your body. Additionally, you are barely 7 weeks postop, and that is VERY early. Things will definitely change, and we all have to be patient and allow the body to heal. In any event, in your situation it is WAY too early to even begin throwing around terms like "botched." If you had experienced severe infections, tissue loss or wound breakdown, distortion of anatomy or other deformity, or some other really serious thing like that we might have grounds for a discussion about a "botched" case here, but I see no evidence of that, nor do I read any of that in your post. At this point my advice is to soften the rhetoric about surgery being "botched," be sure to communicate openly and honestly with your surgeon about all of your concerns, and be patient for now and follow his instructions closely. He wants you to be happy, I'm sure, and as things heal, if there are issues that need to be addressed later, or revisions that might need to be made in order to meet your goals if possible, you will both be in a better position to work together toward your common goals of making you happy. And leave the emotional terminology like "botched" in Hollywood where it belongs! I know some of my words may come across as harsh, and if that is so, I apologize. They are not directed to you personally as much as to the concept of "botched" surgery and the people that would use terms like that simply to stir up emotion. I truly do wish you (and your surgeon) all the best as your healing progresses!
