28/f/trauma Surviver in Need of the Last Pieces of a New Life After the Madness. La Mesa, CA

sjbrannon's provider

Tom J. Pousti, MD

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

S

sjbrannon rating for Dr. Pousti:

Overall rating

Doctor's bedside manner

Answered my questions

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The first top result when you search for plastics in the San Diego area is Dr. Pousti. He has amazing result photos, 100% positive reviews, and I wanted him. Unfortunately, we are an enlisted military family and heavily rely on our health insurance so I went with the referral that my insurance approved through the Scripps community. The surgeon I was assigned to, only had 3 photos and they didn't look that great, but they didn't look awful. I felt like I would rather not look amazing than have the extra skin to begin with. I had to wait over 3 months for my appointment and it was awful in every way possible. The surgeon wasn't confident, he pretty much stated he did not want me as a patient because of my history of sensitivities and complications. He was not positive about my outcome and unwilling to give me a practical plan of action. His staff was hard to communicate with and the second they took my deposit money my surgery date disappeared and his surgical coordinator was NEVER available to call me back or answer the phone to begin with and started leaving me very snippy and rude emails. I had no confidence in this procedure and greatly questioned if I was even ready for this phase. Something in my gut kept leading me back to Dr. Pousti. I eventually just called them and asked if someone would have the time and knowledge to listen to my short story of my recent surgeon experience and answer my questions regarding this process. I spoke to several staff members, all extremely kind and patient with me. They suggested I email Dr. Pousti directly and assured me that my experience was not normal. After Dr. Pousti read my email, he called me immediately to introduce himself and moved his schedule around to see me that week even though he was booked up for about a month! I was overwhelmed, yet excited, and unable to mentally prepare for the treatment I was about to receive after the precedent set by the previous surgeon I had seen. Meeting the staff ladies in person set me up for a glorious come back to my hopes and dreams for my potential outcome if I were to proceed with Dr. Pousti. They were genuinely friendly and caring and so was Dr. Pousti. Honestly, I can’t even articulate the reality of their greatness and do them any sort of justice for all they have done for me, emotionally, educationally, and physically. Dr. Pousti was extremely positive and confident in my potential outcome and provided me a lot of education about my possible treatment plans, as well as access to past and present patients undergoing similar procedures as I was contemplating. I have never experienced this with another physician or medical team. This may be one of the biggest influences on my decision to proceed, but the catalyst was actually the manor in which Dr. Pousti treated me in regards to my decline in health before my original surgery date. He was so concerned about my health, he and his staff advocated for me, and with me, to get the care I needed to start me on a safe path for a viable and successfully safe procedure with him. His genuine care for my life was paramount in his practices and I know anyone would be hard pressed to find that anywhere else, regardless of the care you are seeking. Another important thing to know about Dr. Pousti is that his second greatest concern in his practice is the resources and education that each patient receives. Plastic surgery, or any surgery for that matter, is not a magic wand. Plastic surgery feels like it has a mist of fantasy surrounding the perimeters and reality associated with the human body and mind. I think because of the way Plastics are portrayed by hollywood and the media, people have this expectation that plastic surgery can and will fix any problem you may perceive you have. Dr. Pousti is a gifted surgeon but he is human, and it seemed to me, that it was very important to him, that every patient understand as much as possible the entire scope of the plastics journey they may embark. He greatly cares what I wanted as a patient, but he also needed me to understand that it is always possible to not achieve what I hope, and in that same regard, I was given a broad range of what possibilities could happen, and dependent on my goals and my priorities, he would be able to utilize his knowledge, skill, and talents to best accommodate me and my hopes. I happen to be a person who prides myself on reality, and I tend to have lower expectations so that people have the chance to meet them, and more often exceed them. This man has greatly surpassed my expectations and not only did his best work on me, he may have done the best work he has on anyone so far. That is the love, and passion, and happiness I saw in his eyes when he opened up my bandages to check me on my first post op visit with him. I really cant express how much I appreciate this doctor. I cant imagine how my life would be if I never met him, or embarked on the journey that I desperately needed for a much better quality of life. I highly recommend Dr. Pousti and his staff to anyone who is logical, and realistic, and genuinely open to the truth and great skill required to achieve your realistic body goals and necessities. It can be frustrating to hear things you aren't ready to hear, or don't want to, but this man will be honest with you and do his best, and his best is THE BEST. I would not be having another few procedures with him if I did not feel this way. Worth every penny and then some.