POSTED UNDER Breast Reconstruction REVIEWS
Consultation review: terrible experience with consult
ORIGINAL POST
Terrible Experience with Consult
Adelaide2014January 2, 2024
I cannot recommend this doctor and would suggest going elsewhere.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer and was interested in DIEP flap reconstruction, which I was told Dr. Holton performs. At my first consultation, I told him I was interested in DIEP flap but he could not have been less interested in what I wanted for my reconstruction. He insisted that implants were the way to go. He also made a rude remark stating that he could do flat closure but he doesn't recommend that because "breasts are nice" (that is a direct quote and that is the context he said it in). He spoke for awhile, in a speech he's clearly given many times, then had to leave the appointment early to take a phone call. I was not given an opportunity to ask questions. I was told to come back for another consult if I had questions.
So I scheduled another consult and when he arrived, he said "what are you doing back here?". He had no memory of the last consult and insisted that his PA could answer my questions. Again, he was not at all interested in what I wanted for my reconstruction - he told me that DIEP flap was not a good idea, that I should get implants. Then he said he had to go. I left the office in tears, because of the experience.
I soon found a surgeon who performs DIEP flap, had a consultation where there was clearly NO agenda on what my decision for reconstruction would be, was cleared for DIEP flap, and have since had the surgery and was told I was the "perfect candidate" for it.
I now understand that Dr Holton likely did not have the skill or preference of performing that surgery, so tries to convince his patients that they want implants. He does not care what the patient wants if it is not what HE wants to perform. There is a highly skilled DIEP flap surgeon nearby who he could have simply referred me to since I made clear that was my preference but instead he tried to steer me towards implants. I posted about my experience on a breast cancer support group and immediately had another patient of his reach out to me to say she had the same experience. She has since gone on to have the DIEP flap surgery with the same surgeon I used.
Dr Holton does not care about what breast cancer patients want to do with their bodies post-treatment.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer and was interested in DIEP flap reconstruction, which I was told Dr. Holton performs. At my first consultation, I told him I was interested in DIEP flap but he could not have been less interested in what I wanted for my reconstruction. He insisted that implants were the way to go. He also made a rude remark stating that he could do flat closure but he doesn't recommend that because "breasts are nice" (that is a direct quote and that is the context he said it in). He spoke for awhile, in a speech he's clearly given many times, then had to leave the appointment early to take a phone call. I was not given an opportunity to ask questions. I was told to come back for another consult if I had questions.
So I scheduled another consult and when he arrived, he said "what are you doing back here?". He had no memory of the last consult and insisted that his PA could answer my questions. Again, he was not at all interested in what I wanted for my reconstruction - he told me that DIEP flap was not a good idea, that I should get implants. Then he said he had to go. I left the office in tears, because of the experience.
I soon found a surgeon who performs DIEP flap, had a consultation where there was clearly NO agenda on what my decision for reconstruction would be, was cleared for DIEP flap, and have since had the surgery and was told I was the "perfect candidate" for it.
I now understand that Dr Holton likely did not have the skill or preference of performing that surgery, so tries to convince his patients that they want implants. He does not care what the patient wants if it is not what HE wants to perform. There is a highly skilled DIEP flap surgeon nearby who he could have simply referred me to since I made clear that was my preference but instead he tried to steer me towards implants. I posted about my experience on a breast cancer support group and immediately had another patient of his reach out to me to say she had the same experience. She has since gone on to have the DIEP flap surgery with the same surgeon I used.
Dr Holton does not care about what breast cancer patients want to do with their bodies post-treatment.
Adelaide2014's provider
Replies (2)
I don't have any need to be a part of any litigation as I thankfully did not utilize him for any procedures. But good luck to you and your friend, I am so sorry for what you went through with him.