Good Work, Poor Office Practices

This is a review of my entire experience with Dr. Oliver Pope Simmons, and Vixen Plastic Surgery by way of New Life Plastic Surgery. I initially thought I was booking through Vixen however after contacting their number via text, someone from New Life messaged me back instead. The text message based initial inquiry process was straightforward, they asked what type of surgery I desired, I told them, I sent them pictures, they sent me back a quote. After receiving the quote, I was sent back general information such as payment methods which can be used and asked to complete a text questionnaire with demographic and overall health information. After paying a deposit and confirming a surgery date, I then visited my primary care physician to get a few medical tests done for medical clearance which have to be returned within 2 weeks of my scheduled surgery date. Depending on your age, your tests may be more extensive and include chest x-rays, mammograms, etc., especially if you are over 40. To expedite this, I sent the information needed over to my primary care prior to my appointment so they could have all tests ordered. I was very appreciative of how thorough the pre-op medical evaluations are-this opinion would change later as you will see. Upon arriving in Miami, I went to my pre-op appointment, scheduled at noon. Upon arriving at the New Life building, there were so many patients up and down the hallways in the waiting areas, the consultation areas, and the parking lot was jam packed no cars could fit it was a mad house. The wait time was insane and inefficient, instead of having you fill out the multiple pages of paperwork as you are waiting, you wait hours and then receive paperwork, and then wait more hours. Plan to be there anywhere from three to four hours for your pre op and make sure you have snacks because you'll probably be hungry from traveling all day. The very next day was surgery you get very specific pre op instructions on how to wash your body, what to wash it with, when to stop eating food etc .
I was told to arrive for surgery at 8:30 am. I was not called until 10 am to sign more consents, and I was given additional screenings for Nicotine and other drugs via a urine screening. It was not until 10:30 am I was placed into a room to change into a surgical gown, surgical socks, surgical cap to cover my hair and surgical shoes. I then waited another half hour or so before Dr. Simmons came in. Doctor Simmons came in and immediately began to mark on my body without asking me about my preferences. In fact, It wasn't until I showed him my wish pics that any discussion was had. Dr. Simmons seemed to be in a rush and not very interested about what I had to say although he was pleasant. This is not the feeling you want to have traveling hundreds of miles from your home/family and about to undergo surgery with general anesthesia. However, after showing my wish pics Dr. Simmons did slow down slightly, and I felt a little bit more comfortable about obtaining my desired results. At three days post-op I am satisfied with my breast being lifted and my back lipo along with my fat transfer to the top of my buttocks and hips. What I am not satisfied with was not being able to obtain my pain medications or my antibiotics the day before surgery. As luck would have it the nine different pharmacies, I tried in Miami being CVS and Walgreens were all out of the controlled substance to manage pain. The pharmacy New Life recommended to have prescriptions filled did not answer the phone and was closed. Therefore, I had no pain medication other than over the counter Maximum Strength Tylenol. Additionally, after getting back to my hotel to recover, I realized my prescription for my antibiotic was blank because they did not prescribe an alternative for Amoxicillin which I have adverse reactions to. However, this was resolved the next day at my post op appointment. The staff advised me to text their physician assistant, who insured the prescription was called in and luckily CVS had it in stock. They physician assistant made me feel like a patient and important like my life mattered. Otherwise, I felt much like a number and not a patient. New Life truly made me feel like I was in a surgery mill. The only reason I proceeded was because I saw people showing up for their post op appointment during my pre-op appointment, therefore I assumed I would live it all else fails.