POSTED UNDER Neck Lift REVIEWS
A Waste of Money - Jenkintown, PA
ORIGINAL POST
I had a neck lift a little over 3 weeks ago. The...
MadddJune 25, 2013
$6,500
I had a neck lift a little over 3 weeks ago. The doctor I went to claims to be such a good doctor, he stinks.. I went into surgery and came out with 2 drains and a head wrap. The following day it seemed as if the left drain was not working. I was told to wait until day 2 to come in. I was completely bruised from the jaw line to the bottom of my breast. I had the drains removed and came home.and was to go back in a week. I had 2 tubular lumps on each side of my neck in the middle.. I was told to massage the right side. After this visit I started noticing 3 lines in the middle towards the top of my neck going up like a smile just on the right side which got worse each day, Looks like he pulled that side to tight. I kind of started to panic but waited until my 3 week visit. The doctor shrugged it off and tried to say that I had wrinkles that he just pulled them up. Also he said that my neck looks better than it did. It does not and he offered no solution or advice and did not offer to fix it. If it can be fixed. My skin is also very crepe. Also the right ear is dented and the earring in that ear does not sit properly. The left ear is attached to my face. Doctors please inform me what happened to my neck and ear and what if anything can be done to fix this. Thank You.
Maddd's provider
UPDATED FROM Maddd
2 months post
Doctor ruined my neck and jawline
MadddJuly 15, 2013
I am age 50. It is just over 6 weeks and my neck keeps getting worse on the right side. I have at least 9 wrinkles there now and still crepe. The center is now wrinkled with crepe skin also. My chin is lumpy and dented on the right side and has wrinkles and does not match the left side. I cannot believe that I paid a doctor all that money to make my neck look this bad. I cannot believe that he would even want this to be his work. Some kind of mistake was made during the surgery and now I am walking around like this. With an 86% satisfaction rating it is hard to believe that I would be in the 14% not satisfied and very messed up. I hope when I go back in a month that he offers to fix it at no charge or gives me my money back. I should not have to pay for a neck that looks like this!!
Replies (28)
July 15, 2013
I'm sorry that it is not any better for you. Have you tried talking to your doctor again? Perhaps you might want to speak with a facial plastic surgeon who has done a lot of neck surgeries. I sure hope it gets better in time.
July 15, 2013
Hi Faith: The doctor I went to does neck surgeries. He made some kind of mistake on mine. I will be seeing him again in a month, I made the appointment at my 3 week. Hopefully he will fix it. It is not going to get better on its own. It keeps getting worse.
July 15, 2013
A facial plastic surgeon works on the neck and face where as a general plastic surgeon works on everything, including body. It doesn't always mean that they're better but that they devote their practice to specialize on neck and above, so depending on how long they have been doing it, it often means they have more experience since they are not spending a lot of their time doing body procedures.
July 15, 2013
The doctor I went to does just about everything for the face and body. He acted like he was better than everybody else and look what happened.
July 24, 2013
So sorry that your recovery is complicated. Your results are not typical for what you are going through, and your neck looks red and quite swollen. I would be concerned about the possibility of fluid collection and infection, both of which can make the end results less than desirable. If you do not feel you are getting quality care, I would recommend a second or third opinion, preferably by a skilled and experienced facial plastic surgeon. Check www.ABFPRS.org for a list near you and good luck.
Catherine winslow, MD, FACS
July 24, 2013
Hi Doctor, Thank You so much for responding. I am very concerned with the way my neck lift has turned out. The pictures were taken at 6 weeks post op and today is 8 weeks post op and no improvement. I keep getting more lines on right side going down to the middle, still crepe and now some fine lines on the left as well. Under the chin is still lumpy more on the right than left. I am also still red and swollen. I am not sure if it is fluid under my chin or if it looks that way from the doctors mistake. I am also not sure if this is dangerous. I last saw the doctor 3 weeks post op and he told me not to come back for 2 months. My appointment is in 3 weeks and hopefully he will give me my money back so I can go elsewhere to have the damage he has done fixed.
July 25, 2013
Hello again! I would recommend getting another consult NOW. IF you have an infection or fluid it can cause long term problems. Do not wait 3weeks if you do not know what is going on! At the very least insist your surgeon re-evaluate and tell you what is going on, but again it is never a bad idea to get another opinion.
July 25, 2013
Thanks again doctor. I will call tomorrow and request they see me sooner. I will keep you informed.
July 26, 2013
Hi Doctor Winslow: I went to the doctor yesterday. He looked at the chin area and said it was not infected and did not have fluid. Hi did stick a needle into the bottom of the chin on the left side and said no fluid was present. He said it was just swollen and to massage it everyday. He will recheck in 7 weeks and if it does not go down he will do liposuction of that area again at no charge. He did not have much to say about all the wrinkles or crepe skin on the right side or if he plans to fix it. I will find out in 7 weeks. I want to thank you again for taking time out of your busy schedule to comment on this horrible neck lift. I wish you were near me so I could come in to see you. I may take your advice and get a 2nd opinion. If possible I will write you again in 7 weeks and post new pictures. Thanks again.
July 25, 2013
Thank you for updating with your photos! Best of luck to you and please keep us posted.
July 26, 2013
Hi Angie: You are very welcome. It is necessary for everyone to know that just because you get plastic surgery does not mean you will look any better than you did originally. In fact you may look worse like me.
August 17, 2013
I am sorry for you. I have been thinking about doing this, but when I read these stories I am not so sure. The problem is who do you trust? The docs that I have consulted with have good credentials and many people are happy with them. Yet, there is always someone who has a bad experience. It takes a long time to save for this. There should be a better way to research the doctors. Online reviews are sometimes compromised. Who do you trust?
August 17, 2013
Hi Lilt: Thank you or responding. I think that if you are dissatisfied and have bad results you should get your money back. I am asking the doctor next time I see him. It did take me years to save that money and I am sure that the doctor makes that at least in a day. I saw pictures of his neck lifts and he claims to be a real good doctor but he is not. I am so disgusted with this neck lift. I have wrinkles and lumps that I did not have on my neck originally. He made some kind of mistake on my right side and I hope if he does not give me my money back that he will fix it at no charge. I do not trust all the good reviews either unless they have pictures. I actually put all my trust in this doctor and paid him more money than another doctor for the same procedure. You may actually have a good experience if you get this done as 86% are satisfied. I will post again after I see the doctor in September.
August 18, 2013
I have not had the procedure as of yet, because of the money. Also, because every doctor I have consulted with sounds good, and then later I hear a horror story. I am hesitant.
August 18, 2013
Hi Lilt: While your saving your money really think about it. All the doctors are going to be real nice and sound great because they are paid all that money for a little procedure. As I stated previously I actually paid this doctor more money than I could have gotten it done for because I thought he would do a better job. I am actually embarassed to go around like this my right side looks horrible and the wrinkles and crepe skin go down to the center. The left side looks completely different but has a lump on the bottom of the chin. I would have been better off and looked better had I done nothing. I also would have still had my money. If any of the doctor you go to have any bad reviews I would not go to them.
August 18, 2013
Thanks. So far, that is my dilemma. Most who are well respected in the area have a bad review somewhere. I think that it is so sad, that they are doctors and they can't get it right. Thanks..
September 18, 2013
Im posting my review with lots of photos...had my surgery July 8 in Cancun...costs way less than the US...I too had trust issues, and it did feel like a crap shoot, but there are good ones, and I found one!
September 18, 2013
Hi Floridakat52: I will be looking for your review. I am very interested to see how your neck lift came out. I am happy you had a great result.
December 11, 2013
Dr. teofilo Taranto in Belo Horizonte-Brazil. But you have to call in now to get a vonsultation apot in March or April. He is amazing and the price is half since is Brazilian currrncy. You would have to stay at their clibic/hotel for two weeks. Ge won't let anyone leave before the swalleb goes down. He does bot have a website. He does bot need one.
December 12, 2013
Hi ap515: Thank you for responding. I am very sure I need another doctor to fix my neck. The doctor I have messed up two times already. I need to go in a 3rd time for correction. He does as little as possible to fix his mistake instead of doing it properly so it is finished. I wish he would give me my money back because I really think he has no idea how to do a neck lift. Thanks again for the referral. R1
September 18, 2013
Oh so sorry he did that to you! Is he blind? Have you thought about consulting an attorney? There are so many good PS out there...I was lucky enough to find one in Cancun, but some ham and eggers really give the profession a bad name. My thoughts are with you, and I want to give you a hug!
September 18, 2013
Hi Floridakat52: Thank you for responding. Today is 16 weeks post op and I am still disgusted. I am not sure what happened during the surgery but the doctor has not admitted to anything. I went to the doctor last week and he looked at my neck and jaw line and took photos. He will fix the chin area in office with some lipo next month. We disccussed possibly putting some stitches in the right side to pull it up higher but he really does not want to do that. I hope he does it may correct that side or at least make it more presentable. I have not consulted an attorney yet. I am wating to see if the doctor will actually correct this mess.
UPDATED FROM Maddd
5 months post
Minor Revision under Local Anesthesia
MadddOctober 6, 2013
I went to the doctor 4 days ago at exactly 18 weeks post op. He was to correct the chin area with liposuction under local anesthesia. He also tried to fix the right side by cutting off some skin and putting stitches behind the ear and possibly some in the scalp. He does not think that it will help the right side but did it anyway. He told me not to worry if the ear was not sitting properly as he will fix it. As of today the right ear is sitting 1/2 inch lower than the left. I am not going to worry about it because he will fix it. The right side still has some wrinkles and crepe skin that continues to the center of the neck. It looks a little better than the picture posted above, taken at 6 weeks post op. I have some bruising and a little swelling so hopefully this will straighten out soon. After that he did liposuction of the chin area which was filled with water. I am currently wearing a chin strap 24 hours a day, just taking it off for showers. The chin area looks better but still has more skin on the left side than the right. It will possibly straighten itself out after the swelling goes down. The entire procedure took about an hour. I was able to go to the doctor by myself and drive myself home because he used local anesthesia. I will post new pictures and re rate the doctor in about a month.
Replies (12)
October 10, 2013
Good luck..I had my neck lift with lipo one week ago tomorrow and am very bruised, still can't get the caked on blood all the way clean and my right side of my neck is swollen, as I look like I went into an airbag. I have a small bald patch behind one ear...but I'm optimistic that will grow back. Keep up with the updates!
October 10, 2013
Hi Hunterharley; Thank you for responding. I will keep up with the updates. I remember when I was 1 week and swollen, that is when you cannot see if anything is wrong because you are swollen. I started seeing things wrong at 3 weeks, but 86% are satisfied with this procedure. I still am not satisfied with the way my neck and chin look but I hope it will straighten out within the next several weeks. If it does not I will see what I need to do next. Currently it looks better than it did, but it is not to my satisfaction.
November 8, 2013
I R1 - I hope you are happier with your outcome now. I can relate with you. I too went to this doctor and from all my research thought he was the best, but I had a horrible outcome with my procedures as well - I would never recommend him to anyone. I hope things turn out well for you - even if you have to go to another doctor. Good Luck
November 8, 2013
Hi bd29: I am so happy to hear from another person who went to this doctor. Sorry you had a bad outcome as well. I looked for a review from you and did not see one. I hope you actually rated this doctor so people who read realself have more information. What procedures did you have? I am not any happier with the chin liposuction done in his office. I still have the same or more of a pouch than I had. In fact I called last week to see if I should still wear the chin strap because of the pouch when the doctor was in. They put me through to his assistant who said to wear it because it cannot hurt anything. I am going back to the doctor next week and will post pictures and update.
November 9, 2013
My doc is an ear, nose and throat doc, and a dentist and a facial reconstructive surgeon. Board certified..and did a beautiful job. He knows the anatomy and knew about my salivary glands being swollen cause I have Sjorgrens disease...dry eyes, dry mouth. I used to say I look like a frog! Anyway, my neck looks beautiful..except for my swollen glands which I am hoping go down. Maybe you should look for a reconstructive surgeon who only does faces. I searched...one doc said he could do my bat wings and my face all at once. Whe I saw his wife I ran out...he made her look hideous!
November 9, 2013
Hi Mylady: I just read your review and your neck looks wonderful. I will know better next time. I thought this doctor was competent. Next time I will only use a doctor that specializes in face and neck. R1
November 29, 2013
Hello - My Dr. has been putting me off as well...I have an appt @ the end of next month & will likely have to get a revision. One side is higher than the other, the incision under my chin is crooked. Hopefully your situation has improved. Good luck
November 29, 2013
Hi Rio287: I have read your review and am sorry to hear you are having a problem as well. My situation has not improved and that is why I have not updated my review. I will be going in for a 2nd revision next month. I have excess skin on my left side, chin, and some on the right. The doctor will correct this then. As for my ear the doctor claims that I misunderstood him and as far as I know he will not be fixing it. The right ear is a 1/2 inch lower than the left side. I am very disgusted and embarrassed to go around like this. I will update again after 2nd revision.
December 12, 2013
Maybe you should take him to court. I am going to do but only with Dr. taranto. I have seen his results on many of my friends and I know he is good. I am so sorry for your results. The pain and all the time and money you put into and some DRs have no concience. It is disgusting how sone take your money, do a bad job and do not care. I hope you will get it corrected.
December 12, 2013
Hi ap515: Thanks so much. I am hoping when I go in next time he does it right but I doubt it. I am almost positive that he will not be fixing my ear that is a 1/2 inch lower on the right than left. I am sure that that really is not so hard to do. I am disgusted that it will be taking over 7 months to have my neck done. As for the money it took me years to save and to him it is pennies. I will know better next time.
Replies (5)
Thanks for sharing on RealSelf. I'm truly sorry you're not happy with your experience. If you'd like doctors to give you input, you should post a question with at least one photo in the doctor Q&A community here.
I do hope you'll use this space to keep us posted on how you're healing!