My doctor is ignoring my pre-op photo request - how long do plastic surgeons keep records/photos?

Question

I will be coming up on 5 years since my first rhinoplasty. I've been really unhappy with the results and gave it plenty of time to heal. I want a revision done (by another doctor), but I contacted my original surgeon for my post-op pictures, but nobody at his office is being cooperative/keep getting ignored. Now what? What if he never gets back to me or what if he deleted them?

Tim Sayed, MD, MBA, FACS · Answer

By law, physicians are required to keep medical records for a prescribed period of time which varies by state. In California, it is standard to keep records for seven years. Photos of plastic surgery patients are considered part of the medical record. If you are having difficulty, you should send a certified letter and if that is not successful, you have recourse through the medical board. At the end of the day, however, a new surgeon will have to start with your current appearance and try to move forward from that, even if old photos are never retrieved. Good luck!

Steven Turkeltaub, MD · Answer

By law, you are definitely entitled to these records and they should be available to you for around 7 years. There may be a nominal charge for them though this varies by state. Since you have not received a response by phone, you may want to send a certified letter documenting your attempts at obtaining the records. If you still don't receive the records or a response, you can contact your state medical board and report the situation.Steven Turkeltaub, MD

Fred J. Bressler, MD, FACS · Answer

The rules and guidelines for patients who wish to requests for medical records, documents and photos are regulated by law and must be followed. There may be a charge for documents and photos, also regulated by law for your state. There also may be a required time limit for physicians to keep such records and photos, usually 7 years. Perhaps your request for records was misplaced or improperly received by your physician. A nice letter or email may serve to help you acquire your information. If not, check with the State Medical Board or local Medical Society about how to best obtain your records. Hope this helps.

Arian Mowlavi, MD, FACS (license on probation) · Answer

You should be able to get your photos and chart; these are your property; some doctors do charge a small clerical fee to copy them for you.

My doctor is ignoring my pre-op photo request - how long do plastic surgeons keep records/photos?

Answers (4)

Answer: Obtaining your photos and chart

Answer: Obtaining your photos and chart

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Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

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

My doctor is ignoring my pre-op photo request - how long do plastic surgeons keep records/photos?

Answers (4)

Answer: Obtaining your photos and chart

Answer: Obtaining your photos and chart

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

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