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POSTED UNDER Lip Lift REVIEWS

Horrible Experience- Lip lift incisions came open 3-4 days post op. Still open and ugly 19 days post procedure.

ORIGINAL POST

Scar 'Revision' Gone Bad. Incisions came open 3-4 days post op. Still open and ugly 19 days post procedure.

Sierra017
$2,500
Not happy at all so far. I had the procedure almost one month ago, on February 21st. The incision line popped open, on BOTH sides of nostrils, in EXACT same place, on day three and four post procedure. The incision line wounds continued to open more and ooze for the next week and still have not closed(I am now 19 days post lip lift).
In my first lip lift, the doctor used external sutures and scar healed beautifully, at first, but I had some tension scarring that occurred later on(but only underneath the nostril/alar base, not on the sides of nose). Ironically, the second lip lift was supposed to be a scar excision for the tension scarring underneath nose, from first lip lift, and to 'lift' the sides of lips, since in my first lip lift, not enough had been removed from the sides and my lips had a triangle shape. The first 2-3 days the incision looked okay, then one side opened up on day 3, and next day, the other incision side came apart in same spot on day 4(next to base of nostrils, around alar-facial groove and opened up around sides of nostril where incision line was).
The doctor only uses internal sutures with another small, temporary, internal stitch that you are supposed to 'pull' if the incisions come loose(this was to be removed after two weeks but it did nothing to help, when my incision line came apart). There were no external sutures or skin glue placed on the incision line. I feel like, if he had at least placed a small, external stitch(to be removed in 5-6 days) or even some skin glue, then this would not have happened.
The center incision healed okay but only 3mm was removed in center. The middle is still red, raised and bumpy with some leftover scar tissue from first lift, but at least the incision line did not come apart. Supposedly, 8mm was taken from the sides of my lips but it does not look like it to me. I cannot see ANY difference in the lip shape from my first lip lift to this second lip lift gone wrong. )-: At first, I thought the tension of having 8mm removed from the sides might be the reason the incision came apart, but it does not look like 8mm was taken on sides, IMO.
My nose is still swollen and looks weird, when looking in the mirror. I can handle being patient with healing, and the temporary nose distortion, as I was not impatient with healing during my first lip lift...but am really stressing about the open wounds still not closing, and probably scarring from the wounds, which might result in nostril distortion from this scarring. The wounds are so deep, on one side, that I can see the internal stitches and parts of my nostrils, at the nasal flare, around the alar-facial groove, that are supposed to be covered with skin. There is scar tissue already forming in this area and this might distort my sills/alar base as well...
The doctor seemed VERY rushed right before my procedure and felt he barely looked at my face before cutting me(felt rushed and almost asked him if we could 'slow down' for a minute as I have never felt rushed like that before a procedure--this was not my first procedure). They changed my surgery time the night before from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. That was fine and I agreed.
His staff was beyond nice and even picked me up and took me back, from my hotel. I really appreciated that and have no complaints with them. Except, I was told to put iodine on open wounds(a big no no), and that my incision coming open was 'perfectly normal' and I am being impatient(and, my incision looked MUCH better 13 days post--while it was obviously not much better).
Maybe, Dr. was in a hurry the day of my procedure and that is why both sides of my incision 'popped open', on third or fourth day post-op, but a couple people I know in the medical field told me it definitely appeared to be 'Dr. error'. Also, after perusing a few other reviews of this doctor, it looks like I am not the only one with bad scarring, incision problems/bad outcomes.
It looks pretty bad and nothing like my first lip lift where the incision was completely closed, after seven days, and I was back to wearing makeup. I am on day 19 at this point, and still have open wounds where the incision looks as if it was not properly sutured. I can only hope this does not scar worse than the first lip lift or mess up my nostril sills, due to the wounds being at bottom sides of nostrils.
To summarize, the whole point for my second lip lift was to remove the tension scarring from the first lip lift, which was under my nose. I was promised this would be done. He did not remove all the scarring from under my nose--I had NO scarring on the sides of my nose, which I most likely will now have(when my open wounds finally close). In fact, mid-procedure, while cutting on me, the Dr. said, ''I cannot get all the scar tissue under nose, so do you want me to get it all or have uneven lips?'. I mean, really? So, now I still have some leftover scarring under my nose, from first lip lift, along with open wounds from a bad stitching job on the sides of nose where I previously had NO scarring. Plus, the sides of my lips, where 8mm was supposed to be removed, look NO different. Am feeling like this whole experience was a big FAIL. Now, I am left with holes on both sides of nose, lips that are not fixed as promised, and an old scar leftover from first lip lift that was not removed completely-- as promised before I was cut on.
I am not sure why incisions are still not closing. I usually heal VERY fast, am healthy, and never had any problems with wounds not healing before. In fact, I had a deep puncture wound from a dog bite a few months ago and that closed up in a matter of days...
This has been quite stressful experience so far.

Sierra017's provider

Gary M. Horndeski, MD

Gary M. Horndeski, MD

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

4.6 | 319 Reviews
PROFILE

Sierra017 rating for Dr. Horndeski:

Overall rating

Replies (30)

March 12, 2017
I'm so sorry you've had this experience. Praying for a quick recovery for you-
March 12, 2017
Thank you! (:
March 14, 2017
Hi! mine popped open too on day 3/4 under my nose and along one side due to an infection (I am pretty sure). It looked a lot worse than yours- my separation was wide and oozing yellow. That said at 2 months they are all closed up and the scar is much much better than I had hoped it would be. It took over 3 weeks for everything to close up. It was very scary for me and looked absolutely awful. However, I am pretty happy now and am amazed how well my skin has healed. If it is still bumpy at 3 months I will get a laser treatment. Don't worry too much, as long as there is no tension it should come together just fine.
March 14, 2017
Thank you for letting me know this! I am so sorry this happened to you as well. Both sides opened on mine, but the left side where the incision popped, a big piece of the stitch came out a four days ago(it was round but looked cut, so must have been the weak point) and the other side is FINALLY not as wide but I can feel the little hard pieces of plastic through the 'scab'. The scab feels plastic--it is so weird! I did not have an infection, though, this was poor suturing technique, stitches(or both), in my case, but have heard that an infection cause cause this type of slow healing!

What is really upsetting, too, is the doctor did not even bring the sides of my lips up--they look almost identical to how they looked before. I will add some before photos tomorrow. If the lips had been lifted at sides to correct my first lip lift, and all the scar had been excised as dr. said he would, then at least all this trouble might be more tolerable, but I did not get this ):

Am glad yours turned out better than expected...hoping mine will, too (: It is late here but will check out your review tomorrow.
March 14, 2017
I really hope this heals up for you, did you consult with the PS? Hopefully it goes back together on its own!
March 14, 2017
Thank you!

Yes, his office no help. I get, 'you are being impatient, let it heal'.

Two big pieces of internal suture came out on the left side today(where the incision came open). One was a big knot and the other a long arch. Both pieces looked 'cut off' just like the other piece from the other side. A few days back, a piece came off the the side where it has been healing better. I assume this is where the sutures had too much tension, due to doctor error, sutures not being strong enough, or both. Hopefully, the other side will start closing up now that some of the faulty sutures came out.
March 14, 2017
Ouch. This doesn't sound good. Have you been to a good dermatologist to take a look at your situation and see if laser can help at all?
March 14, 2017
I have not yet. Am waiting for the incision to close. But, am hoping it will not scar bad )-:
April 2, 2017
Your surgeon should help you, but if not I recommend going to another surgeon or dermatologist who can help with this.
April 2, 2017
I recommend to not wait until it closes and see another doctor who may be able to fix it before it heals to give you the best result (JMO).
April 3, 2017
I wish I could have and tried. I offered to fly back to Dr. right after it happened, but they didn't want me to...and then, from what I'm told, they cannot close incision again once the wound opens.
April 4, 2017
They did not want to help you? Wow.I recommend going to a dermatologist. "Becomingstronger" who has a recent upper lip lift review just has this happen to her and discusses in her review. She went to a dermatologist did a laser treatment to help. Maybe if you send her a message she can discuss what she did. There are many different types of lasers so I think reaching out to her may be helpful.
April 20, 2017
You don't name the doctor, who did this job? Can you post pictures of you before any lift was done?
April 30, 2017
Does my review not show the doctor? It shows in my page?

Dr. Gary Horndeski, in sugarland texas
April 30, 2017
If you look at top of page, under title of my review it should show?
April 30, 2017
it's there now, it wasn't there on the 20th. You must have put it up after I asked, after you took down the pictures I guess.
April 30, 2017
Oh no, I had it listed the whole time...I asked because I was worried the site might have removed his name...
May 1, 2017
Oh, its there maybe I didn't see it. Did you get my other comment on a good doctor I bet could change it, his name is Ben and his last name begins with a T but I forgot it, its under lip lifts on this website he is in California, he could make it right.
May 1, 2017
Sorry to butt in susanduntley! I believe you're referring to Dr. Ben Talei in Beverly Hills.. :)
May 1, 2017
Thanks for the name. That's who I meant. His work looks good, what do you think?
May 1, 2017
You're welcome for the name. :) I saw pictures of his work and it appears that he knows his stuff..unlike my surgeon. :(
May 1, 2017
Ben Talani??
May 1, 2017
Yes!
May 1, 2017
I saw your comment but it's not coming up on my review or I don't see it. Him being banned is just the beginning of what I discovered--too late for me but, maybe, I can save others from making same mistake.
May 4, 2017
Yeah, almost went to him...I believed Horndufus' hype and could not have picked a worse doc if I had tried. If you take a look at his botched breast lift patients(and even botched ear pinning), it shows just how many lives he and his staff have ruined.
UPDATED FROM Sierra017
2 months post

Over a month after wounds opened even more.…

Sierra017
Over a month after wounds opened even more. Have been so upset that I haven't updated but will add some additional photos and experience. It has been extremely stressful hiding from work, friends, and family...

Replies (10)

April 20, 2017
I can't imagine what you are going through. It's amazing he is still in practice. I hope you can get it revised by a truly skilled surgeon.
April 20, 2017
Thank you...this is my face, so has been traumatizing but I saw your review and words cannot even begin to say how sorry I am for your HORRIBLE experience.
April 20, 2017
I am very sorry that you have to go through this, I just hope that you heal well. It must be very hard to write about your bad experience but I appreciate your post. Wishing you all the best!
April 20, 2017
This is not good. Go see another doctor ASAP.
April 21, 2017
So sorry. Am in the process of looking for a doctor for this surgery. What is his name so I don't see hiim. I greatly appreciate you sharing this. Praying for quick recovery and healing.
April 25, 2017
Dr. Horndeski in Texas
April 21, 2017
You are right that you are going to have scar tisses where the gap is. I had a small gap from my first lip lift and my dermatologist worked on it with a variety of tactics and it smoothed out. But it wasn't ideal.
UPDATED FROM Sierra017
4 months post

Horribly scarred

Sierra017
When I finally muster up enough courage, in order to show others why to avoid this doctor, then I will post my pictures.
Not only am I HORRIBLY scarred but my nostril sills have been 'obliterated'. That is what a talented and knowledgeable surgeon told me!! My nostrils look stuck on my face and have so much scar webbing at the alar facial groove area(where Dr. Horndeski did not place ANY external sutures, so my incision line came apart 2-3 days after my lip lift' that it looks like I have nostrils without ANY curve.
Not only will I now need scar revision but an alarplasty and/or rhino work because my alar base has been totally distorted.

Replies (14)

July 4, 2017
I am so sorry you've had to go through this. I felt sick to my stomach reading this and about what he did to you. I hope you find a better PS who can fix these issues for you. My heart goes out to you.
July 4, 2017
I'm sorry this happened to you. Maybe you will qualify for the show Botched! They can do some incredible revisions.
July 5, 2017
My surgeon has fixed some pretty bad results from others. I don't know about your cills but scar revision and the other complications can be helped. I do not think going inside the nose is a good idea, especially if you have raised cills. I started looking at pictures in reviews very carefully and have seen exactly what you describe. For those who do not have a raised nasal cill it would not matter so much.
July 7, 2017
Thank you so much...

When I feel more comfortable and have this issue resolved, then I will post my before and afters.

Would you be okay sharing your doctor's name? I am looking forward to getting this fixed but must wait and live with the disfigurement until an actual talented surgeon will even think of touching me.i have already had a couple of works renowned revision rhinoplasty surgeons tell me that I can BEVER get my sills back and that my situation is very complicated...
July 7, 2017
World renowned*
July 7, 2017
My Prayers to you. Definitely get a good attorney. This horrible monster man should be taken to court. No amount of money will take away the emotional pain this man put your through. However, you deserve justice and financial compensation to allow you to get medical treatment from an ethical and qualified doctor. He should not be allowed to practice medicine. Best wishes, healing to you and yours.
July 7, 2017
Thank you!

I could not agree more!!
July 8, 2017
I am so sorry that it hasn't improved!! I know this will Get better at some point! I hope you can o a revision soon