Asymmetrical face, abusive charges and lack of disclosure of fillers/amounts used

I am married to a physician and have used facial fillers for many many years, and after my board certified Plastic/Reconstructive surgeon retired I came to Deb Tri at Simplicity Medspa based on a friend's recommendation. The results of my visit is one of the worst experiences I've ever had. I knew what I wanted (various facial fillers). Deb put me in a chair and agreed that I needed fillers to replace lost volume in my face. She started injecting my face never telling me what fillers she was using, nor the amount used. After more then an hour she handed me a mirror saying she was done, and I noticed marked asymmetry in my face, pointed this out to her, and she then injected more fillers in the side of my face where I had less "volume." She then handed me the mirror again, and despite swelling there seemed to be an improvement - case done.

I went to the front to pay her, and that's when I almost fainted as she handed me a bill for $6100.00. Never at any time during my visit did she indicate what her prices were, or what fillers she was using on my face or the amount used. I immediately questioned her about the bill, and she pulled out a small scrap of paper which I saw for about 5 seconds which had a list of between 5-7 fillers (I don't remember the exact number as I saw the paper for such a short time). I noted that the prices and the amount of the fillers used were not on this hand written note she showed me. She wrote the amount of $6100.00, and when I stated that I had been using fillers for years, and never ever paid this type of price she lowered the price my $1000.00 immediately bringing it down to $5100.00. I then stated that my ex doctor (Deb is an ARPN) charged me between $2500-$2800 per visit she said "well maybe she was buying her drugs illegally from Canada" what the heck? Really a board certified surgeon who was a business partner of mine, and long time friend, would risk her medical license to make a few bucks - the statement was one of the most offensive and rude statements anyone has ever said to me. Additionally, I paid the same amount from other Plastic/Reconstructive surgeons for facial fillers so this wasn't an anomaly in price from someone I happened to know. I again questioned Deb and she again lowered the price another $100 bringing my total bill to $5000.00 for facial fillers (I do know she used Voluma XL and Botox, but beyond those 2 I don't remember the names of other fillers used). My face hurt, I was in shock and paid her what I considered an exorbitant and unfair amount. If at any time she had told me the price of her services, and given me the option to either use her services or not, I could have made an educated decision. But as I stated she never stated the cost of her work, the price of the fillers she was going to use on me, or the amount of fillers she used after she was done. There was never at any point the mention of money. What would she have done if I didn't have the resources to pay this incredibly high bill???!!! To make matters worse I texted her today (based on my friend's advice who has gone to Deb before she told me Deb would answer my text), and she never responded. I used her site, tonight, to email her directly as I have asymmetry in my face and one side is much fuller then the other. This is a medical concern and has nothing to do with her over zealous charges, nor her lack of disclosure for her costs, and the names, and amount of fillers she used in my face. So tomorrow I will attempt to seek her medical advice about the asymmetry I have on my face, and also get the full information about what fillers were used, and the amounts which were injected into my face. This whole experience has left me most unhappy first, and foremost, I'm concerned that I have marked asymmetry due to her injections. Secondly, her complete lack of disclosure about costs, fillers used, and amounts used is highly unprofessional. Third, the fact I contacted her today, and simply left a nice text asking her to call as I was having a problem, and she didn't return the call, is most concerning. What if I had redness, a fever, etc., and she has chosen not to return my call? I will update this review if, or when, I finally hear from her. I have been to numerous Physicians in the past for fillers (not nurse practitioners), and they disclosed everything up front, and their prices were 1/2 the price of this nurse practitioner. Secondly, I was always told in the past prior to injection what was being used and the amounts used. I was always told a price for the services, or an approximation of the price, and if the doctor got close to the agreed on price they advised me, and offered to let me spend more, or stop the service. I am accountable for being too trusting, and assuming that her prices would be commensurate with what I've paid in the past; therefore, I must be accountable for being lax, and not asking her what she was going to charge, use, etc. Even when I questioned all of this at the end of the visit all I got was a quick glance at scrap of paper with filler names on it - no prices, no itemized statement, no amount of the fillers used, etc. Without a doubt this is one of the most unprofessional medical experiences I've ever had in my life, and I would not recommend this individual to anyone I know. Lastly, the fact I've had a medical complication and she did not even call me back is by far the worse thing from this whole experience.

The following pictures and a written response are provided after talking to Deb Tri, today - January 28, 2019. I'm most unhappy with her response, and since she seemed not to believe that I was trying to reach her due to problems with my face I'm posting the exact pictures, and proof of my attempts to reach her through her website. I did send these same pictures to Ms. Tri who has declined to compensate me by returning the money I spent to look this way. Given the lack of communication from the moment I saw her until now, and the results of getting a cellulitis in my face, asymmetry hopefully caused by the infection (I've never had any infection with any other person giving me injections) and fallen brows due to Botox I'm most unhappy. Deb Tri will have to let her conscience guide her in doing whatever she considers is the right thing to fix a situation with a patient that is most unhappy from start to bad ending. Given when I asked her for a refund her response "was what about my costs" I don't expect to do what I would do if I were in her situation. I am very unhappy with all that has occurred and terrified that my face will remain asymmetrical.

Today Deb Tri sent me an email demanding that I sign a "release" with a witness and remove all my negative reviews which are 100% truthful from any site where I've placed a review. She then stated in writing that if I signed her release, and ONLY AFTER I removed my honest reviews would she refund me 1/2 of what I spent at her "spa." I was shocked and appalled that a medical provider would be so unaware as to threaten me in writing, and to refuse to refund my money for a job poorly done unless I removed my reviews from here, Google, and Yelp. I put my face and full name on every review to prove that I took this whole experience very seriously. Additionally Deb Tri has refused to accept any responsibility for her poor medical care, and puts all of the blame on the patient. Last night I looked on the web for other reviews of this "spa" and to my shock and horror I'm not the only one that has had the same experience with Deb Tri. All one has to do is type in the spa name - Simplicity Medspa - and search for reviews, and up pop numerous 1 star reviews. Ms. Tri's typical response is one of two things - either deny, deny, deny, and argue with the patient blaming the patient for her mistakes, or to say she has no idea who the patient is. She is a danger to the public in my opinion, and at the very least needs to have her medical skills reviewed. Evidently - although I have no direct knowledge of this - another reviewer had a terrible experience with her and stated that she has gone from one spa to another due to the numerous problems she has had. You can find this review on a site called Dirty Scam, and the other negative reviews which are similar to my experience on Google, Yelp and Birdseye. Since Deb Tri loves to place the blame on the patient I will copy and include the parts of her email where she demands that I remove my reviews to receive any of the money I spent for this debacle. The quotes below are part of the email that Deb Tri sent to me today demanding I recant honest reviews in exchange for money. I'm appalled and distressed that a medical practitioner would go this far to avoid responsibility for a medical service which caused harm to a patient. This woman needs to think about her moral and ethical beliefs, in my opinion.

"I have to tell you that I really just want to be done with this nightmare as well. I am willing to compromise and send you a refund for my professional services. But not without you signing a written release that you will agree to remove your reviews posted on various social media sites, and agree to refrain from ever posting any defaming remarks on such internet social media sites about me, or Simplicity Medspa in the future."...
"Please let me know if you would like to resolve this as I mentioned above and I will take the necessary steps to have the release sent to you to have you sign it and also have a witness sign it. No refund payment will be made until you remove your reviews.
Once we have a signed release agreement, and you have removed reviews from all the various sites, then I will send you a check for $2500.00 dollars and we both can be done with this very unfortunate and horrific experience. "

"I hope that I hear a response from you by 5 pm tomorrow, Wednesday, January 30, 2019.

Debra "

To other patients considering going to this place of business I suggest you do your due diligence and research her multiple negative reviews on the internet. I have never "defamed" this ARNP as that would be a lie, or false statement. I would not have put my face, or name, on all my reviews and exposed myself looking horribly if I imagined any of this in any way. Unfortunately Ms. Tri seems to have had a really unprofessional and extreme reaction to my honest reviews of my experience with her. To threaten me and withhold my money (btw the $2500 is only 1/2 of what I paid) in lieu of me signing a release, promising never to write a review about her again, to remove all of my reviews, and only after ALL OF DEB TRI'S REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN met she would then give me a 50% refund - well I don't think so. Please keep the money, Deb, there are better ways to deal with this sort of horrible medical care.