Get the real deal on beauty treatments—real doctors, real reviews, and real photos with real results.Here's how we earn your trust.

Consent Violation, Deformity, Intense Pain, Lack of Accountability

ORIGINAL POST

Consent Violation, Deformity, Intense Pain, Lack of Accountability

Intelligent7863
$5,000
This week marked the year anniversary from my surgery with Dr. Salzberg, a year in which every single day I suffered from pain and such increasing deformity and loosening of my skin below my shoulders that I now have to cover my bust.
In the year since my surgery with with Dr. Salzberg, I have lived in debilitating pain and increasing deformity; real detriments to my health, leading to two major health scares and destabilization of my life. In the times I met with him post-surgery, Dr. Salzberg has not been able to provide any understanding as to why he made choices in surgery I had unequivocally stated I was not willing to undergo when he originally brought them up, explaining my rationale and telling him that those choices were highly likely, in my view, to result in pain and aesthetically unpleasant outcomes.
I came to Dr. Salzberg based on his bio and online reviews. I considered doing my reconstruction revision surgery with him based on his proclamation to me that he could address a particular issue from my previous surgery to my liking, an issue other surgeons told me they were not confident they could fix. Fixing this particular issue, I considered to be vital for my ability to function. I shared my concerns with Dr. Salzerg. I sought his input and I objected to some of his inclinations, explaining that I regarded those as likely to entail pain and deformity. I also explained to Dr. Salzberg, that since I had had reconstruction before (with mostly excellent results and zero pain), I was not eager to put my body under the stress of another procedure lightly, but only if I had confidence that the issues in question could be resolved. Knowing my body, I set parameters of what I was willing to have done and what I was not, explaining my reasoning. Dr. Salzberg expressed hyperbolic confidence in his ability to fix the issues in question that colleagues of his had declared hard to improve.
On the day of the procedure, I became concerned that Dr. Salzberg may not abide by my personal requests in surgery, so I told him I am inclined to leave the hospital and rethink the surgery. He assured me that he would follow my requests, so I proceeded, making my consent conditional upon that. When I woke up, I saw immediately he had, after all, followed his own plan. The implants were almost 50% more of what my body could contain (resulting in excruciating pain) and what I had said I was willing to have placed in me. His reply was that other "women get used to it."
A fold of the one implant was visible as it was sticking out of my muscle (!). This in the months that followed became a blade that irritated my muscle from underneath. As a result of this intervention, I have lived in a form of hell (without exaggeration) for the last year. Regrettably, the procedure I had with Dr. Salzberg, despite my giving him all the information he needed, did not address any issues. It just made the issues far worse.
I cannot know what the outcome of another approach, like the one I had consistently and unmistakably requested, might have been. What I know is that I had predicted the outcome of this approach and had communicated it to him before surgery. Dr. Salzerg was not listening then and wasn’t not listening when I said to him “I do not consent.” It is unfathomable how a non surgeon like myself could better predict a surgical outcome, compared to a distinguished and talented surgeon. It is also baffling how my consent was violated.
Moreover, Dr. Salzberg never saw me in the hospital after my surgery and his office didn't call to see how I was doing the day after surgery. For 3 days after my surgery I had pain and questions about what bra to wear and despite leaving 4 messages with their answering service, no one called me back to triage and respond to any issues. When he finally saw me two times after my surgery, he proposed that we meet again after the summer to see if my condition has improved. When I returned, his coordinator wrote to me in an email that he sees patients in Tarrytown ( 1.2 hours away from NYC where he had seen me ). They eventually gave me an appointment for NYC where is actually regularly seeing patients every week and conducting surgery and where I had originally seen him. After another 3 appointments, he told me there is nothing he can do. I asked his scheduling person for an exit appointment to address the issues of consent violation and unilateral decisions he made. I was told he has no appointments available for 2 months. When I spoke with a person who didn't know me, I was given an appointment for the following week, only to have someone else within minutes telling me that his schedule had changed and I could only be seen in 2 months. At this point, I am requesting a response from him in writing. Posting such review is very uncomfortable as both a patient and a doctor myself. I feel it is my ethical duty to so with in both capacities.

Intelligent7863's provider

C. Andrew Salzberg, MD

C. Andrew Salzberg, MD

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Intelligent7863 rating for Dr. Salzberg:

Overall rating
Doctor's bedside manner
Answered my questions
After care follow-up
Time spent with me
Phone or email responsiveness
Staff professionalism & courtesy
Payment process
Wait times

Replies (5)

June 11, 2019
In concurrence with another reviewer, the doctor also initiated inappropriate touching in my initial meetings with him and before surgery. After the surgery, when he realized I didn't feel well and was not happy with the surgery, he kept his distance and was mostly in the exam room with a nurse.
June 21, 2019
After careful consideration of all the above and the doctor's inability to provide any explanation about ignoring consent, I am unfortunately filing formal complaints. NYC is full of outstanding reconstructive surgeons who abide by the standard procedure. Despite the overall high ratings, my own experience has been alarming. I would advise women in my position to look further.
October 30, 2020
i am willing to join a class action suit if anyone has a lawyer willing to work on contingency.
July 25, 2019
Good luck to you. I would highly recommend you consider flap surgery, even though you appear thin. It worked for me! I hated my implant and suffered for two years before changing plastic surgeons.
March 26, 2020
It seems that flap reconstruction is the best option, although yes, I am on the thin side. It is just such a complex procedure to undertake. I am very happy you are comfortable and pleased now! Stay safe!
November 21, 2019
I also had a revision with Dr. Salzburg and then needed to see another surgeon. Please let me know if you would like the name of a highly skilled, very caring surgeon who can help you.
March 17, 2020
Hi, I had not checked on RealSelf for months and just saw your comment. Yes, I don want the name of the doctor you saw. Please message me!
March 25, 2020
Hi @teen926. I direct messaged you to ask for the name of the doctor that helped you recover from the surgery dr. Salzberg. Please, if you see this, message me back as I really need his info. Thank you!
April 6, 2020
Hi, I am so very sorry that I did not see your message! Dr. Mehul Kamdar in Morristown NJ
March 18, 2020
Dr Michael J Brown in Virginia does a lot of breast revisions and reconstruction maybe he can help you
March 18, 2020
Thank you! I will look into it.
March 26, 2020
What other drs have you talked too about revision? I’m starting to bottom out and I think my synmastia is coming back.
UPDATED FROM Intelligent7863
1 year post

additional pictures

Intelligent7863
Pictures demonstrating the push and size that cause tremendous pain and deformity. I am currently consulting with a number of providers and my old surgeon to decide what the best option for amelioration is. Older pictures added for comparison.

Replies (5)

July 26, 2019
I'm so sorry that you are going through this,it is horrible when the results do not look anything like what was portrayed not to mention the considerable pain physically as well as emotionally. I hope things get better for you. Thank you for sharing!
November 2, 2019
I'm not the suing kind of person but this is just totally unacceptable. He needs to be held accountable!
November 4, 2019
How are you doing?
November 5, 2019
I have had you on my mind and I hope you get some relief soon. You are a strong woman for sure!
March 17, 2020
Thank you! I hadn't checked Realself in a while and just saw your nice comments! Thank you so much for your support and kind words. I have seen a number of doctors both in NY and in Europe and it is a hard situation to fix because the implants have stretched the skin is much. I am still looking for a solution.I am barely able to function daily. Practitioners are saying that it is hard to fix this unless I opt to do flap reconstruction, which I don't feel comfortable doing. The amount of aloderm used and stitched on the muscles has created a scar tissue wall all around them that pulls in all directions. I really appreciated the kind words. I will repost when there is an update.