Dismissed and Ghosted

I chose Dr. Gervais and Minneapolis Plastic Surgery based on Dr. Gervais’s claim to years of experience. I regret my choice, and I write this review to help others in the process of making a similar decision.

My experience: At my one-year post-op, I expressed dissatisfaction with my outcome, due to animation distortion and bottoming out. Dr. Gervais responded that my outcome seemed satisfactory to him. A few months later, when the issues became worse, I made another appointment to ask about options for correction.

In response, Dr. Gervais essentially shrugged his shoulders. He told me “some people get a good result, and some people don’t get as good a result.” He said the two options he could offer would either make me look “like Tori Spelling” or would result in loose baggy skin. He told me I shouldn’t be so concerned because the problem was only noticeable some of the time. He also said, “we all make choices,” and told me I was free to seek other opinions.

I have since received four other opinions about my revision options. Each surgeon noted my muscle was cut too aggressively, which resulted in my poor outcome. Each surgeon assured me Dr. Gervais’s response was not standard, and each offered different solutions to address my concerns.

When I called Dr. Gervais’s office with this information, I did so seeking financial redress. His office manager told me this “just isn’t done.” (My current surgeon assures me this is not the case.) I responded that I paid $7,000 for my procedure less than a year and a half ago and was unhappy with the results. I pointed out that Dr. Gervais told me to seek other opinions, which I did, and which confirmed the surgery had not been well-executed and the “options” offered were not satisfactory. 

The office manager said I could come back to talk to Dr. Gervais again. I declined, noting he had dismissed my concerns in two previous appointments, offering options he didn’t actually recommend. The office manager assured me she would talk with Dr. Gervais and get back to me. That was four weeks ago. I’ve left subsequent messages but have not heard back from either Dr. Gervais or Pam.

I believe Dr. Gervais has taken advantage of a power imbalance already significantly in his favor. While this is most certainly about the money, it’s also about the reality that I’m now facing another surgery, another six weeks of convalescence, and another ramp up to my regular life. In addition, I feel acute irritation and more diffuse embarrassment now that I've been ghosted and can only warn others.

In the consultations I’ve sought, I’ve met Twin Cities plastic surgeons who've taken the time to listen to my concerns and who've assured me they will work with me if I remain dissatisfied with my results. It’s true that “we all make choices,” so why choose Dr. Gervais and Minneapolis Plastic Surgery when you can choose a surgeon who cares enough to support client-patients when surgery outcomes go wrong?