POSTED UNDER Deep Plane Facelift Reviews
Way Overpriced. There Are Much Better Surgeons for Half the Price.
UPDATED FROM mariamante
2 months post
2 months post op.
$55,000
Still looking bumpy. Someone who used Dr Maercks a year ago reached out to me. She said her “neck fell”. It looks a lot like mine but worse a year later. She had several complications but these are scary stories to have to hear. A trusted doctor is so important.
mariamante's provider
ORIGINAL POST
Way Overpriced. There Are Much Better Surgeons for Half the Price.
Procedure: Deep Plane Face & Neck Lift
Anesthesia: Twilight Sedation
Cost: $55,000
A $55,000 deep-plane face and neck lift is premium-priced surgery. At that level, anyone should expect not only excellent technical skill, but also thorough pre-operative evaluation, clear communication, physician availability, and attentive follow-up care.
Unfortunately, that was not my experience.
The Positives
* My face looks natural, which was my primary goal.
* The stitching around my ears is excellent.
* My neck is still healing, so I’m reserving final judgment on the overall result.
* The office staff was consistently kind, accommodating, and reassuring.
* The procedure did take years off my appearance and I definitely recommend the procedure with A TRUSTED doctor.
If I didn’t feel that I over paid for a premium experience that I never received, I would possibly rate my experience 3 or 4 stars.
The Problems
The pre-operative evaluation was negligible. There was very little medical review or preparation. That’s normally non negotiable for most doctors, but not here. It was a red flag but I had already paid.
After paying $55,000, I agreed only to possibly consider participating in social media if I was happy with my results. Instead, cameras were brought into the operating room after surgery and into follow-up appointments without any prior discussion or agreement. It felt imposed rather than requested.
The day before surgery, Dr. Maercks suggested that I had received a discounted surgery in exchange for participating in social media. I already paid full premium pricing, so I initially thought he was joking. He wasn’t. It left me with the impression that he is disingenuous and that marketing is a higher priority than patient experience.
During my procedure, Dr. Maercks repeatedly criticized members of his staff while I was awake on the operating table under twilight sedation. He didn’t acknowledged me or check in with me. Instead, I listened to him berate the nurses throughout the procedure. One nurse was kind enough to come to eye level and reassure me, and I appreciated her compassion. I felt vulnerable and, unfortunately, very little respect from the surgeon.
Around 9 days after my surgery, Dr. Maercks left the country. I had received no advance notice, there was no other physician available in the practice, and I wasn’t given clear instructions about who would manage any postoperative emergency. I found that unsettling.
I checked the Maercks website to see who in his staff was a nurse or a doctor. The staff listed on the website was not anyone I recognized from his office. The nurses in surgery apparently work contractually. I never saw them again. I got the impression there was no medical professional in his office while he was out.
So, my third follow-up appointment was a Zoom call while he was in Italy. I wanted to discuss concerns about my neck and other issues to hear his professional opinion. Instead, he responded with statements like, “Well, what do YOU think?” I was looking for guidance from my surgeon, he was evasive. He did tell me the swelling on my neck wasn’t normal and he would give me steroid injections when he returned. I’m not sure if it was his phone diagnosis or that I just didn’t trust him anymore, but it didn’t seem right either.
Throughout the process, I never felt that expectations were properly managed. I had no idea what to expect after surgery and during the healing process, other than what friend shared. Recovery from a facelift is a long process, and clear communication and trust is essential. I left feeling that I had over paid for a premium surgical procedure and I know I didn’t receive even good basic patient care.
For those reasons, I won’t be going back there even if I need a revision. Unfortunately, I can’t recommend Maercks Institute
Anesthesia: Twilight Sedation
Cost: $55,000
A $55,000 deep-plane face and neck lift is premium-priced surgery. At that level, anyone should expect not only excellent technical skill, but also thorough pre-operative evaluation, clear communication, physician availability, and attentive follow-up care.
Unfortunately, that was not my experience.
The Positives
* My face looks natural, which was my primary goal.
* The stitching around my ears is excellent.
* My neck is still healing, so I’m reserving final judgment on the overall result.
* The office staff was consistently kind, accommodating, and reassuring.
* The procedure did take years off my appearance and I definitely recommend the procedure with A TRUSTED doctor.
If I didn’t feel that I over paid for a premium experience that I never received, I would possibly rate my experience 3 or 4 stars.
The Problems
The pre-operative evaluation was negligible. There was very little medical review or preparation. That’s normally non negotiable for most doctors, but not here. It was a red flag but I had already paid.
After paying $55,000, I agreed only to possibly consider participating in social media if I was happy with my results. Instead, cameras were brought into the operating room after surgery and into follow-up appointments without any prior discussion or agreement. It felt imposed rather than requested.
The day before surgery, Dr. Maercks suggested that I had received a discounted surgery in exchange for participating in social media. I already paid full premium pricing, so I initially thought he was joking. He wasn’t. It left me with the impression that he is disingenuous and that marketing is a higher priority than patient experience.
During my procedure, Dr. Maercks repeatedly criticized members of his staff while I was awake on the operating table under twilight sedation. He didn’t acknowledged me or check in with me. Instead, I listened to him berate the nurses throughout the procedure. One nurse was kind enough to come to eye level and reassure me, and I appreciated her compassion. I felt vulnerable and, unfortunately, very little respect from the surgeon.
Around 9 days after my surgery, Dr. Maercks left the country. I had received no advance notice, there was no other physician available in the practice, and I wasn’t given clear instructions about who would manage any postoperative emergency. I found that unsettling.
I checked the Maercks website to see who in his staff was a nurse or a doctor. The staff listed on the website was not anyone I recognized from his office. The nurses in surgery apparently work contractually. I never saw them again. I got the impression there was no medical professional in his office while he was out.
So, my third follow-up appointment was a Zoom call while he was in Italy. I wanted to discuss concerns about my neck and other issues to hear his professional opinion. Instead, he responded with statements like, “Well, what do YOU think?” I was looking for guidance from my surgeon, he was evasive. He did tell me the swelling on my neck wasn’t normal and he would give me steroid injections when he returned. I’m not sure if it was his phone diagnosis or that I just didn’t trust him anymore, but it didn’t seem right either.
Throughout the process, I never felt that expectations were properly managed. I had no idea what to expect after surgery and during the healing process, other than what friend shared. Recovery from a facelift is a long process, and clear communication and trust is essential. I left feeling that I had over paid for a premium surgical procedure and I know I didn’t receive even good basic patient care.
For those reasons, I won’t be going back there even if I need a revision. Unfortunately, I can’t recommend Maercks Institute
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