Nightmare surgery. Lifelong regret.

Despite having two surgeries with this psychopath, it has taken me four hours to find somewhere I'm actually allowed to review him on his revision from the surgery I had at age 21. (revision at 24).

"**EDIT AUGUST 2026** Dr. Katzen is a truly evil man. Although- I must thank him, as I am nearly halfway through my law degree with the intention of specializing in plaintiff-side medical malpractice. I know for a fact you are reading this. After posting my initial review, I was repeatedly contacted by his office to get onto a zoom call. After three separate voicemails, I agreed. At the time I was 24, three years after meeting Dr. Katzen. On call, Dr. Katzen read me my own review and proceeded to chastise me. His exact words were, "You want to cut off your legs? You understand that's very serious right?" and then told me I was close to his daughters in age and "should not burn bridges." He offered to 'fix my legs' 'free of charge'. I was already planning to be in Los Angeles that fall and desperately wanted the situation behind me before beginning university. I agreed, and we scheduled a scar revision for the end of fall. On three separate occasions I independently contacted his office to verify the exact recovery specifications. I was assured, on all FOUR occasions including the instance where Dr. Katzen initially advised the revision, that I would be able to "walk out of the procedure." It was both implied and directly stated to me by multiple staff members that the revision would only take a few hours under local anesthesia. I asked for direct specifics and was under the presumption that they were provided to me, which was unfortunately not correct. (1/2)

I had a combined circumferential lower body lift and thighplasty with Dr. Katzen about 13 months ago. My surgery experience was horrific, the results of my thighplasty are worse than what I had before, and I am still dealing with the long term consequences of this procedure. I am filled with regret and cry regularly over the body I am now trapped in.
At 21, I gained 130lbs. At 22, I lost that weight and consulted with Dr. Katzen a few months later. I didn't even know loose skin was a thing and wanted a professionals opinion. He advised me for a breast augmentation, body lift, and thigh lift with two night stay in his preferred recovery center, Prestige. I discussed the surgery with my parents and we booked it for 7 months later.
While in recovery at Prestige, the staff forgot to give me stool softener, encouraged me to eat solid food, and crossed interacting opiates which could have been fatal and caused me to violently throw up for days with fresh stitches. I was in excruciating pain and these complications led me to a non insured week long stay at Providence Hospital. That still pending medical bill is currently more than I make in a year. The stress on my stitches during the whole hospital situation also caused the thigh stitches to tear open which has never smoothed.
While there are many things regarding aftercare I wish I'd been better prepared for. I do feel I was under-informed about the serious painkillers I was given. Yes, I knew that they could be very addictive, but I had no idea that even taking them as prescribed would lead to physical dependence. It was not until I was vomiting, shaking, and sweating I came to the realization I was in withdrawal.
As far as the results go it's mixed. I feel the lower body lift was worth it. Although the scars have keloids in areas and I am not a fan of the hideous vagina looking belly button at all, I think it's better than before. The overall shape is pretty good. The thigh lift however, may be one of the worst mistakes of my life. The truth is I am devastated. I want to cut my legs off and I feel I will never have the chance to be a normal girl now. I wanted so badly just to feel comfortable wearing shorts or a swimsuit someday but now I will never have that. There are long, hideous scars surrounded my wrinkled flesh that are far more visible than the skin I had before. I trusted Dr. Katzen's opinion as a professional to get the thigh skin removed as well. I would give anything to have my legs back or to not cry when I look down. I wanted to feel beautiful, but I've never felt more like Frankenstein's Monster.