POSTED UNDER Buccal Fat Removal REVIEWS
PARALYZED the left side of my face during Buccal Fat Removal. He Cauterized the Nerve. PLEASE don't trust this man- Knoxville
ORIGINAL POST
I was not going to leave this review because I do...
love2love10May 4, 2015
I was not going to leave this review because I do understand that people make mistakes but he is not even willing to help me fix the damage that he has done. I strongly believe in communicating to make things right and he has refused treatment 3 times .... I had surgery on April 6th for buccal fat removal by Dr. Steven J. Smith that has left me partially paralyzed on the left side of my face. I'm reminded everyday that the left side of my face is paralyzed because I wake up with a drooled wet pillow, stiff right jaw and a swollen face. The right side of my jaw hurts for the over compensation of the left. At the end of the day attempting to get my mouth open to eat dinner, I have to pry it open with the spoon just to end up drinking a protein shake instead without a straw because it's nearly impossible to grasp on to a straw and you should see the unnatural facial expression trying to do so. On occasion my drink spills out of the left side of my mouth. I have asked Dr. Smith to prescribe me Prednisone, Vitamin b-12 injectable and Vitamin C injectable for better faster healing if any healing occurs. He said it will subside on its own. I'm not asking for narcotics. I'm only asking for meds that will help my body heal faster. I'm in disbelief. He acknowledges the damage that he has done but refuses to give me any medication to help it heal faster. I understand mistakes happen but to be able to help me get better sooner and to not do so, is beyond me.
love2love10's provider
Replies (47)
May 5, 2015
I'm so sorry you went through this. Hugs ! A dentist paralyzed my dad's face years ago but his face is now not paralyzed so have hope:) he also still gets bad migraines though so make sure another doc can document things. Take care and hugs to you
May 6, 2015
I'm glad to hear there is hope! I was just telling a family member that I've never had someone so nicely do me bodily harm, then throw me out there and say you're on your own. He could at least show some aggression! Unfortunately he leaves me no other option but to resort outside for treatment. I was not expectinging mistaken loyalty. He was great at the consultation visit but what makes it really odd is that we have mutual friends. Thank you for the information!
May 5, 2015
May 6, 2015
May 30, 2015
Agreed and SOME of these Doctors will do anything for MONEY even if they ruin a person's face. They all stick together too. We need to start getting things in writing from them so they cannot cover their ass. They try to make us SIGN all kinds of stuff....I SAY NO!!!
Hugs
May 30, 2015
You can sign away but it doesn't matter; The State board doesn't state that it's okay to damage nerves, paralyze, deform patients nor any other kind of medical malpractice. He's on his own with any signed papers, that's nothing more but a mental set up.
June 21, 2015
You are correct again. What they make you sign is legally not worth the paper it is written on and is a scare tactic.
UPDATED FROM love2love10
1 month post
Please don't put your trust in this man. He will permanently damage you and act dilusional, unlike any worthy physician.
love2love10May 7, 2015
Please don't trust Steven J Smith in your care. He will carelessly damage you and ruthlessly act as though the permanent damage will heal itself. He'll act like he knows nothing about treating the damage that he's done and act like he doesn't know anything about medications. Every doctor I know owns a Physicians Desk Reference book.
Replies (9)
May 11, 2015
I do not think FAT should ever be removed from the FACE, even in lower BLEPHS, they can just move it up or around. Fat never comes back once it is gone. People like me have paid THOUSANDS of dollars in fillers to get fat back lost by age weight loss, THERMAGE ETC..... You lose fat in the face as you age anyway
June 10, 2015
I would have someone video all your problems...get it on record, sue him for malpractice, ensure that you're within your statute of limitations...you can find this info online. His refusal to help you is reprehensible. Although I'm sure you signed disclaimers, you still have rights. Please video your symptoms...let an arbitrator decide. Good luck to you.
June 13, 2015
Thank you Linda, I'm 100% covered. The statute of limitations in TN. is one year. However the doctor needs a 60 day notice, so quite possibly breaking it down to only 10 months. Whether that's true or not I'd rather be safe than sorry and assume the 10 months. Again, I thank you for your input!
June 20, 2015
I just found your reviews and I'm so sorry about what has happened to you! I hope that he is correct in that you will heal soon. That would be so very scary. You said that he did other plastic surgery on you? Was it at the same time? How did that go? How did you find him? Did you ask to see before/after photos? I only ask because that is what I've been reading here so I wonder what they looked like. Did you ask how many of those surgeries that he performed before yours? {I'm thinking I should ask my PS about that}. Sorry for so many questions. I'm just trying to wrap my head around this. Full and quick healing to you! {{HUGS}}
June 21, 2015
After this experience, the key questions would be, "How many of these particular surgeries have you performed and get a feel for his/her confident level. He could have done a thousand different types of surgeries but buchal fat removal is completely different because he only has a small area to work from, dependent on his assistants for lighting, swabbing and having a clear view to a very confined area. Plus he did the incisions very high in the cheek which defeats the purpose at least for me because I have high cheek bones. I understand he tries to avoid the salivary glands but he was way off, far from the salivary glands. For best results you must make the incision directly above the salivary glands and not up in the cheek bone area. I studied this particular procedure for an entire year and I took it for granted that he was confident at what he was doing.. I have seen his albums, I've personally seen a couple of his patients recovered procedures from group get together chit chats and I liked the almost invisible work that he has done, A friend of his recommended him. I hate that this has happened but what's wrong is wrong and right is right. If I drove my car into a neighbors home. It would be my full responsibility to make it right and react accordingly. I don't feel that I've had that kind of response from him at the least. I've had all of my surgeries in California and it does make a huge difference. Thank you for your concern!
August 14, 2015
I am very sorry for what happened to your face,hope you heal ,and have a normal life again. I was considering fuccal fat removal after a doctor in the Dominican Republic injected me fat in my cheeks instead of the expression lines. My face looks round with no shape.. Thanks for this inf.
August 26, 2015
Actually I'm told that adding volume to cheeks looks better long term than putting in expression lines, as its the cheeks where we lose the volume from in the first place causing much of the creasing. Done right, it looks better, less flat and more youthful
August 27, 2015
For each individual it's different. Angelina Jolie doesn't have her buccal fat pads and I personally think she looks gorgeous. I have high cheek bones and love the chiseled look on my right side. My left side is still swollen and looks fatter than it did prior to surgery. I don't have obvious crease lines and if I did I'd get a mini face lift with a Reputable and Trusting Plastic Surgeon. I can tell you right now Dr. Steven J. Smith is lying. Therefore, Cannot be trusted. My only regret was allowing a Plastic Surgeon with absolutely no moral and terribly careless to do my surgery.
August 27, 2015
I do have the natural deep crease on the left side due to the snarl of the synkinesis. That could possibly be fixed with a lifetime worth of Botulinum toxin and I will not be the one paying for Dr. Steven J. Smith Negligence. It will remain as is until litigation proceeds.
UPDATED FROM love2love10
1 month post
Sad reality to expect Post Op.....
love2love10May 7, 2015
Maybe the Germans have a code word to describe Dr. Steven J Smiths act of delusion and murmured words. That's the best way I can describe my first and last visit with him Post Op. Otherwise Deanna gets to do the dirty work over the phone and to hear the desperate plead in her voice stating, "I don't know, I understand what you're saying but I'm just the nurse relaying his message and that is what he said." One can tell that she has been through it many many times....I can honestly say that I had an awesome review written up for Dr. Steven Smith based only on the initial consultation. He was as clear, kind and direct as he could be. Why the 180 degree change with the act of delusion and murmured words? My child does the same thing when I ask her why she did something that she wasn't supposed to be doing. I'd not be upset if I didn't have a valid reason to be. Being left with facial paralysis because the doctor cauterized a nerve while under anesthesia is way above and beyond justified for my actions.
Replies (5)
June 5, 2015
July 30, 2015
Get a lawyer and sue him for malpractice.
Welcome to the community, thank you for sharing your personal experience with us. I hope that you find the support you need here. Take care. :)