POSTED UNDER Breast Augmentation Reviews REVIEWS
Very disappointing - looks and feels like symmastia
ORIGINAL POST
I am in the immediate post operative phase so I do...
JBD3November 18, 2015
$8,400
I am in the immediate post operative phase so I do not know how my breasts will look but I can say that Dr. Hochstein was extremely rude during the day of surgery, and post operative follow up. He never spoke with me or my husband after surgery or while I was recovering. My heart rate was 126bpm immediately before I was discharged and the highest that I was awake to read was 145bpm. The nurse never acknowledged it and the Dr never assessed me. I was wheeled out to the curb with discharge instructions shoved into my belonging bag with a follow up appointment card in my hand. I've never been more embarassed to have allowed such a person to be involved in my medical care. I wish more people would warn others of his medical practices. There are some many top rated plastic surgeons throughout the US. I suggest you use someone else. I wish I could take my money back and give it to a real human being, someone who cares about people. While I was waiting in the room for 20 minutes to get "marked" he was next door in his office speaking to his wife about cabinetry they were choosing for his new house. What a jerk this guy is.
JBD3's provider
Replies (5)
November 19, 2015
I'm sorry you didn't have a good experience. Have you had your post op appointment with him yet? If so, did that go any better? I had my surgery with Dr H a few weeks ago and my husband was texting and calling him that day following my surgery and he always picked up the phone and texted back right away. I also called him on his cell the weekend following my surgery and he picked up right away. Not trying to downplay your experience but you need to feel taken care of by your doctor so if you need to talk to him about a concern maybe just call his cell phone. I think the front desk staff tries to answer questions the best they can but really in some cases it's best to talk to him directly. Hang in there. I hope you have great results!
November 19, 2015
I flew in from New York to have him perform my surgery. I have heard nothing but great things too. My husband and I are medical professionals, we know what bad days are, we know the drill. There's no excuse. This website is used to spread experiences and that is what I will continue to do. Glad to hear your experience was better than mine.
November 19, 2015
I traveled to see him too. Good luck with your recovery and please keep us posted! Mine has not been fun. It's also harder when you're an out-of-towner.
November 19, 2015
I never speak with anyone right after surgery while they are in the recovery room. Instead I call everyone a few hours after so that I might be able to answer any questions. Most people appreciate the opportunity to talk to me then. Apparently this patient would have preferred I had done it differently. The patients heart rate never went above 90 bpm during the entire recovery room stay. Perhaps while you are coming out of anesthesia is not the best time to read numbers on a screen? Before you were ever wheeled out your husband was given complete instructions by the nurse. The written instructions are meant to be there in case you forget any of the verbal ones. I am assuming that your husband forgot to tell you that the nurse spoke to him prior? It might have been possible that I was speaking to my wife before marking you. I apologize if that offended you but there is usually about 30 minutes before the OR is ready and it is the only time I get to speak to my wife. I assure you it did not delay your operation by even a second. Fortunately I do expect your result to be excellent so at least you will have something to show for your poor experience.
Leonard M Hochstein MD
Leonard M Hochstein MD
November 20, 2015
Dr. Hochstein responded with valid points and I appreciate his honesty. That's the most I've ever heard from him during this process. I will be removing this poor review from the website because my breasts post operatively are the most amazing things I've ever seen.
UPDATED FROM JBD3
14 days post
Attentive to post-op concerns
JBD3November 28, 2015
I had a concern regarding my 2 week post operative incision so I called Dr. Hochsteins office after hours and was directed to another phone number. Dr. Hochstein responded within a minute on a Friday at "dinner time". Could not be more grateful for his attentiveness post operatively.
Replies (1)
January 3, 2016
They are super quick with responses which I love! I'm a huge hypochondriac and thought one of my incisions was infected. I emailed Amanda and she contacted Dr H and they responded to me within minutes. It was really nice!
UPDATED FROM JBD3
2 months post
2.5 months post op
JBD3January 31, 2016
I spoke with Dr. Hochstein regarding my concerns of the tenting of my breasts. He stated that not only is it too early to determine the outcome but he also stated he cannot be held responsible for how my breasts look in bras, bathing suits, etc. I also sent him photographs on multiple occasions and he stated that everything looks as it should. I have to live with a uniboob, Dr. Hochstein gave me a uniboob.
Replies (4)
January 31, 2016
I think you're too early postop to be sure your tenting is permanent. If I wear you I'd cease wearing any regular bras and get one of those seperater bras they use to treat true uniboob or read online about how to do a bandage inbetween your breasts to compress the area. A quick Google search brought up information for me. You are still healing and can probably help correct this at this early stage.
January 31, 2016
I found a doctor's answer on realself to the same situation and he said "You may at this point consider compression with a 2" ace bandage crossed over your chest between your breasts with 4x4's putting compression on the area. It may not help, but wouldn't hurt to try to speed things up."
January 31, 2016
Here's a whole thread on the topic. Make sure you scroll all the way down for all the information on making a spacer etc. Most of the doctors say this is usually temporary https://www.realself.com/question/breast-implants-breast-augmentation-tenting
January 31, 2016
Here's the Thongbra you need to get and wear for a couple of months http://www.thongbra.com/purchaseathongbra.htm
February 1, 2016
What an [RS bleep], I'm sorry your having to go through all this and have had such a bad experience.
Anyway, you deserved to be treated in a manner that made you feel cared about. It was inappropriate for him to be discussing cabinetry with his wife in earshot while you waited. I'm sure that made you feel like just a number to him. However, when it comes down to it, the very most important factor is your results and if your results are as good as you say they are, who cares about his bedside manner? Honestly, I don't at all. I have researched and researched and meet with doctors from California to Florida and a few places in between. None of the other doctors I have met with are doing tummy tucks as beautifully as Dr. Hochstein. His belly buttons and scar shapes are my very favorite. He could be a complete [RS bleep] and as long as my tummy tuck came out well I could care less. It would be wonderful to have a doctor who is skilled AND has a glowing personality, but I've never found the combo lol!
It sounds like you are very happy with the results and I hope you continue to be. I also hope writing this review was cathartic and made you feel better so you can let it all go and focus on recover! Happy Healing!
I apologize that you may have felt that I was rude. I checked your medical chart and I think you were looking at your blood pressure levels not the heart rate.
Hope you are recovering well at home.