Bad wound healing, scars & poor result after neck lift

Hi, thank you.. Yes I can give more details, I will post them soon...

No.

You are so nice ... I'm pretty sure I have no legal recourse. All I can do is tell people what happened and show them my results...

Also, that picture you still have your stitches in. You said you would post more pics but there are none. It looks like you have an infection. Do you have diabetes or an immunity deficiency? Were you taking the antibiotics they gave you because you shouldn't have had an infection if you were. After the stitches come out there is a certain amount of personal care you must do, like applying vitamin E oil to your scars, using silicon for scar healing etc. These things aren't included. I had to buy a compression suit for example. It cost me almost $150 and I had to buy vitamin E oil etc.

I will respond to your comments in order. 1) I have collagenous colitis. I take Entocort. I told him this 3 times (twice by email , and once again the day before my surgery when I gave him the cash ). Gustavo said, " what's that for ?" I said, "Collagenous colitis", he said , "it's ok for surgery." He did not look it up, but obviously did not know the medication. 2). I can not speak to your experience with these two. I can only tell you what happened to me. 3)it is a basement floor, the windows are at street level. That is not the point. The point is that they put me away in a patient room to wait for them to get the $3,000 from the safe, but instead left me there, and went home. 3) I did not say they prescribed a dangerous drug; I said I was taking Entocort which I know now impedes healing. I bled for 20 days in Argentina and could not go home. Sole let it slip that, "she had never seen that happen to anyone." 4) the pain medicine they prescribe is equivalent to extra strength Tylenol. While my room mate and I were in our gowns waiting to go into surgery, we asked if they give Percocet or another standard opioid for pain. Dr Chajchir said no be cause he said people would break into the clinic and steal Percocet. We were scared, but had come this far and went through with it anyway. 5). I did not hallucinate. He said mean things to me, " YOU ARE NOT PARALYZED!" "You need to get a boyfriend". "DONT ASK THE NURSE ABOUT YOUR STITCHES! ONLY ME!" He was mean and mad me me cry. It is true. He was nice when I went for the first botched surgery. And mean when I came to get it repaired. Maybe he was annoyed that he had to do it for free. I can not speak to his frame of mind. 6) He did not give me his pants to wear. I did have to purchase a $90 head gaent for the surgery to try to fix the first one. It came out even worse. The underside of my jaw is lumpy and ugly. Even if he had lent be a pair of pants, it would not have made up for the nightmare I went through with these two. They are all about the money in my opinion.

I will respond, but I've gotta run now.

I think that the Chajchirs have asked you to come here and somehow blame me for their incompetence . Yes I did my due diligence pertaining to research prior to my surgery. Yes, I bought and wore the correct compression garment for the correct amount of time. Yes I took all the antibiotics given to me. Yes, I performed correct wound care. 1) they F'd up by telling me a medicine they never heard of was safe. 2) their surgical result was very very very bad. 3) the scars, the folds, the lumps under my chin prove that their technique is incorrect. The scars are a result of their negligence in approving a contraindicated drug for surgery. The lumps and folds are a permanent result if the poor surgical technique. I did not mention before, but the type of stitch they used on my face was the "railroad track type" and not the "strait line" technique. This is incorrect and results in a scar with dots running along either side of the long center scar.... ON MY FACE!

That is funny because I was thinking the same of you as your story has really begun to become very personal towards them. I will again tell you that you were wrong not to talk to your prescribing doctor. A small percentage of people using entocort will have a problem, just like you are advised, even in the USA that a small percent of people will have surgical complications. These are risks we take when undergoing any surgery. What is usually done there is concern about the corticosteroid you are taking, is YOU would talk to the prescribing doctor and he may put you on a different dosage. I don't know how to make this clearer for you?? The Chajchirs DID NOT prescribe this medicine, so asking them about it is not what you are supposed to do. Here is an article that you should read, since apparently you are not listening to anything anyone says that isn't in your cheerleading squad. How to Reduce Drug Side Effects Theodore R. Fields, MD, FACP Attending Physician, Hospital for Special Surgery Professor of Clinical Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College Corticosteroids, often called just steroids, are anti-inflammatory drugs. Most are synthetic forms of cortisone, a hormone naturally made in your adrenal glands. These include: prednisone (sold under many brand names, such as Deltasone and Sterapred), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisolone (Prelone, Pediapred), dexamethasone (Decadron, Hexadrol), and hydrocortisone (Acticort, Cortef). Note: This article and the information below do not refer to "androgenic" or "anabolic" steroids, which are properly used only to treat a deficiency of sex hormones in men, but are often abused for muscle-building. They share some chemical similarities but act quite differently - and are not used in treating inflammation. Corticosteroids come in many forms; these medications can be taken orally or injected (into a joint, into a muscle, or via intravenous infusion) - all of which may be used in inflammatory arthritis. They may also be applied to the skin as a cream or ointment, used for rashes including those of lupus, or inhaled, as is done for asthma and nasal allergy. Understanding Corticosteroid Side Effects Steroids are often extremely effective in relieving the pain and other symptoms of inflammatory arthritis and other forms of rheumatic disease. In some cases, they may be life-saving. However, like all drugs, corticosteroids can have negative side effects. The degree to which they occur is usually dose-dependent: the higher the daily dose and the longer the period of time you take the drug, the greater your risk of side effects. If your dose is low, your risk of serious side effects is quite small, especially if you take the precautions below and any others your physician recommends. Sometimes your physician will arrange for you to take steroids on alternate days, which can decrease side effects. Reading about these side effects may make you uncomfortable about taking steroids. While you should be fully aware of the risks before starting these medications, please be reassured that many people take steroids with minor or no side-effects. If any of the suggestions here is unclear, or seems irrelevant to you, please discuss it with your physician. With long-term use, corticosteroids can result in the following side effects. But taking care of yourself as discussed below may reduce the risks. Altered Response to Physical Stress If you have taken steroids for more than two weeks, even if you then stop, your body may have a decreased ability to respond to physical stress - because your adrenal glands may not react as they should normally. This effect can last as long as a year after steroid discontinuation. If you have a surgical procedure, develop a new serious illness, or experience serious trauma (such as a car accident), your body may not be able to respond to the physical stress. Your blood pressure could drop, and other physical effects can occur, which at times can be very serious. This condition, called adrenal insufficiency, can be avoided by taking "stress dose steroids" should such illness or injury occur while you are taking steroids or during the year after you have been on them. The stress dose makes up for the sluggishness of your adrenal glands and provides your body with the steroid it needs to handle the physical stress. After a year off steroids, essentially all patients have been shown to have recovery of adrenal gland function and are able to respond properly to the physical stress of surgery or major illness. Self-care tips: If you are taking or have taken steroids in the past two years, be sure to tell your doctor or dentist. You may need a higher dose of steroid at times of major stress, such as surgery or very extensive dental work or serious infection. Discuss this possibility with the surgeon or dentist, etc., taking care of you at the time. Steroid Withdrawal Syndrome Rapid withdrawal of steroids, particularly if you have taken these medications for more than two weeks, may cause a syndrome that could include fatigue, joint pain, muscle stiffness, muscle tenderness, or fever. These symptoms could be hard to separate from those of your underlying disease. That's why steroids should never be withdrawn suddenly, but rather must be tapered slowly. Self-care tips: If you get symptoms like these when you taper your steroids, discuss them with your doctor. Your physician will work with you to continually try to taper your steroid dose, at a safe rate of decrease. On each visit, discuss with your physician whether it is possible to decrease your steroid dose. Even if you develop a side effect that requires stopping or rapidly reducing your steroid therapy, you still need to taper the dose-never stopping or decreasing the dose abruptly. The adverse effects of an abrupt decrease of steroid dose are often worse than the side effect you were concerned about. Infection Long-term steroids can suppress the protective role of your immune system and increase your risk of infection. Self-care-tips: Have a yearly flu shot as long as you are on steroids. If you are on steroids for a prolonged period of time, discuss with your doctor the possibility of getting Pneumovax - a vaccination against a certain type of pneumonia. Get immediate medical attention for signs of possible infection, such as high fever, productive cough, pain while passing urine, or large "boils" on the skin. If you have a history of tuberculosis, exposure to tuberculosis, or a positive skin test for tuberculosis, report this to your doctor. Gastrointestinal Ulcers or Bleeding Steroids may increase your risk of developing ulcers or gastrointestinal bleeding, especially if you take these medications along with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or aspirin. Self-care tips: Take the steroid medication after a full meal or with antacid as this may help reduce irritation of the stomach. If you experience frequent heartburn, discuss it with your doctor. An acid-reducing medicine may be prescribed. Call your doctor right away if you have any severe, persisting abdominal pain or black, tarry stools. Osteoporosis Thinning of the bones, with an increase in fracture risk, can be a result of steroid therapy. At the beginning or before the start of steroid therapy, many physicians ask their patients to have a bone density test, especially if the steroid dose is high. The test will be repeated in the future, to assess the effectiveness of measures to prevent bone loss. Self-care tips: Take calcium supplements and milk products, like cheese or yogurt, to get your calcium intake to at least 1500 mg of calcium a day. It is essential that calcium be taken throughout steroid therapy, since one can lose 10-20% of bone mass within the first 6 months of corticosteroid therapy. Take a multivitamin to be sure you get a minimum of 400 IU of vitamin D a day, because it helps the absorption of calcium. Some physicians recommend 800 IU of vitamin D a day. Smoking and alcohol increase the risk of osteoporosis, so reduce or eliminate these habits as much as possible. Weight-bearing exercises, such as walking, running, and dancing, are helpful in stabilizing bone mass. Exercise will also improve your balance and flexibility and decrease your risk of falls. Ask your doctor about which kinds of exercises are appropriate for you. Other bone-preserving medications that your doctor may prescribe depending on your individual medical history include: alendronate (Fosamax), calcitonin (Miacalcin), raloxifene (Evista), and risedronate (Actonel). If women have hot flashes after menopause and are treated with estrogen, this will also help preserve bone density. Assess your risk of falls. Thoroughly examine your home and correct situations that might result in a fall, such as eliminating scatter rugs and any obstacles between bedroom and bathroom, and installing night-lights. Weight gain Steroids affect your metabolism and how your body deposits fat. This can increase your appetite, leading to weight gain, and in particular lead to extra deposits of fat in your abdomen. Self-care tips: Watch your calories and exercise regularly to try to prevent excessive weight gain. But don't let weight gain damage your self-esteem. Know that the weight will come off - and your stomach return to its normal size - relatively easily in the six months to a year after you discontinue steroids. Insomnia Steroids may impair your ability to fall asleep, especially when they are taken in the evening. Self-care tips: Ask your physician if you can take your entire daily dose in the morning. Try to establish a regular hour for getting into bed and small rituals that help you prepare for sleep. Make sure your bedroom is cool and dark and free of noise. Learn relaxation exercises to help you get rid of the day's tension. If all of this doesn't work, ask your doctor about other options. Mood Changes Especially in doses over 30 milligrams per day, steroids can affect your moods. Some people can feel depressed, some extremely "up" and others go up and down for no apparent reason. You also may feel irritable or anxious. Self-care tips: Just being aware that steroids can do this sometimes makes it less of a problem, but this side effect at times requires that the steroid dosage be decreased. When the steroid dose is absolutely necessary, sometimes another medication can be added to help with the mood problem. Make sure your family and friends know about this possible side effect - so they will know what's going on if you respond in an unexpected way. Ideally, tell your family and friends about this possible side effect as you start the medication, so that they can help you detect any changes in your behavior. Fluid Retention and Elevated Blood Pressure Because cortisone is involved in regulating the body's balance of water, sodium, and other electrolytes, using these drugs can promote fluid retention and sometimes cause or worsen high blood pressure. Self-care tips: A low sodium diet helps reduce fluid accumulation and helps control blood pressure. Look for low-salt versions of typically high-salt foods, such as chips, soups, canned vegetables, salad dressings, and prepared foods. You'll get more salt "taste" if you salt food at the table rather than during cooking. Watch for swelling of your ankles, and report it to your doctor. Have your blood pressure checked regularly, especially if you have a history of hypertension. In some instances, your physician may prescribe diuretics (water pills) or other medications to manage these problems. Elevated Blood Sugar: Since cortisone is involved in maintaining normal levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood, long-term use may lead to elevated blood sugar or even diabetes. Self-care tips: See your doctor regularly for blood sugar checks while you are on steroids. If you already have diabetes, follow your prescribed medical and dietary regimen with care, including regular monitoring of your sugar levels, ideally both at home and in your physician's office. Eye Problems: Steroids can sometimes cause cataracts or glaucoma or worsen these conditions if they are already present. Self-care tips: If you have a history of glaucoma or cataract, tell your ophthalmologist if you are started on steroids because a special schedule of check-ups may be needed. If you develop any visual problems while on steroids, see your ophthalmologist promptly. Some steroid-caused blurred vision may be temporary and not serious. However, ophthalmology evaluation should always be arranged for any new visual symptoms while on steroids. Let your ophthalmologist decide if the symptom is serious. Atherosclerosis (Hardening of the Arteries) Steroids may increase the rate of development of atherosclerosis, which could increase your risk of heart disease. This risk is probably much more significant if steroids are taken for more than a year, and if taken in high dose. Self-care tips: Follow a heart-healthy lifestyle - a low-cholesterol and low-fat diet, regular exercise, and stress management. If you develop signs suggesting a heart problem, such as chest pain, get medical attention quickly. Make sure that your cholesterol and blood pressure have been checked and treated if necessary. Aseptic Necrosis Steroids, particularly at higher doses, can sometimes lead to a form of damage to bones called "aseptic necrosis" - the death of parts of bone. This can occur in a number of bones, but the bone at the hip joint is the most common. You can reread this article at: http://www.hss.edu/conditions_steroid-side-effects-how-to-reduce-corticosteroid-side-effects.asp

They have 2 cooks, 3 nurses, 2 or 3 secretaries, interns, a large building to pay taxes on, maintain, pay electricity, and they don't live there. I would gladly pay them what I did then to have never afforded it here. I'm sorry but I don't believe what you say about them stealing medical supplies. They even asked me to choose what products I wanted from two different Spanish manufacturers. If I wasn't able to get my surgery through them, I would have never went overseas to marry my husband and I would never have been able to have a child. You just have to look at my review here to see my face lift. My Mom was saying I looked 18 again and she kept calling me "18". I have a before pic up and I looked horrible in it.

Though I never heard them asking anyone to do this, you make it seem to be a criminal offense. When I went to marry my husband I paid $130 in customs because I sent myself my $20 toaster oven, paid $50 to ship it and on top of that I paid $130 to customs. There was no place to buy an oven like that in the country I was in and it was not fair I had to pay several times for my own toaster oven. You are allowed to bring 2 laptops to most countries. One can be a gift. I brought my husband a laptop from Best Buy..do I feel bad not to have paid $300 to customs...NO. I am sure if they did ask you, it wasn't to "sneak" it in. It was not to tell customs they had paid you for it and just bring it in as your "gift" laptop. Its normal to do this. Since they do travel themselves to USA and can each bring a laptop back..I'm really not seeing the point.

Please stop.

Please stop.

Please stop. Let people decide for themselves.

Let people decide for themselves.

Please stop. Let others decide. The more excuses you make for "doctors" Abel and Gustavo Chajchir the worse they look. Please. Stop being cruel.

This is a commentary for all views. If you mean by letting people decide to just let something I know because of my background is not fair be seen from one view, I can't be a human and do this. I am not trying to be cruel. I am trying to show not just anyone reading this but you that you are seeing this from one side. I posted that article so you could read advice from "googling" as you said you did. It says that "the risk is minimal but the doctor may have to alter your meds if there is a risk". So what doctor could have altered your meds? .....the doctor that prescribed them. Why? Because plastic surgeons are not GPs. You don't go to a Psychiatrist to get pain pills. Psychiatrists are prescribing meds that have to do with only Mental Health. You don't want to see that because you want someone to blame. Things didn't work out as you wanted them to. You weren't in that 90%. There is a 4.5% risk of infection in Facelifts within the USA. 1-10% chance of hematoma. The risk of those who are taking cortosteroids, are the same risks as those who drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, hypertension, diabetes, poor nutrition, bad health in general. It is a low risk and usually not a concern.

Helen, what I have written is true. I believe that when undergoing surgery, especially in a foreign country, it is helpful to have a first person account of their experience. That is why I've shared what happened to me. That is all. I wish all the best for you, take care.

Qpdoll, don't talk to me this way. We all have the right to post here and personal attacks aren't allowed. You can state your opinion but comments like "Maybe they paid you..". "Go Away", "Stop". "Leave me alone" are over dramatic and offensive.

Helen. Their package price covers all pre-op tests and patient medication evaluation. As physicians it is their responsibility to make sure that the patient is suitable for surgery, and to be familiar with drugs that are contraindicated for surgery. What they did to me is equivalent to them approving a diabetic or someone taking blood thinners prior to surgery. The word is For this is "negligence". In the states they'd be sued for malpractice. You see Helen , I also completed a course in Law and Business Ethics before I graduated from Carnegie Mellon University.

Also you can not blame me for their incorrect surgical technique and horrific results.

There is no glitch. This is the same for everyone's review.

Hi helenofknots,

You can click "yes" if the review is helpful. If it wasn't, you just go on your way. Please send me a PM if you have further questions.

Angie

Thank you Angie.

Thank you Angie.