Surgery was smooth, just wish there was more communication

I am from Salt Lake City, UT and began my search for an amazing, but also within my budget, plastic surgeon fall of 2022. I was planning on a “mommy makeover” (breast reduction, lipo, and tummy tuck). I reached out to a handful of top rated surgeons local to me but they all were booked over 6 months out for just consultations, nearly 18 months out for surgery and almost double the price I had in mind. I then realized it would be more affordable and less of a wait to go to a surgeon in a neighboring states. This is when I found Dr Richards, with nearly a 5 star rating and many photos of his amazing work. After being quoted a much more reasonable price, I booked with them for the following fall, giving me plenty time to save. They quickly did my quote by email sfter seeing my photos, and then I received a call from dr Richards the next evening to go over what exactly we will do. I was caught off guard when the phone call was under 5 minutes long, but didn’t think too far into it as I knew most the consulting would happen in person prior to my surgery time. The month prior to my surgery, my coordinator called me for payment and to inform me my information packets and paperwork would be mailed that week. I asked for reassurance that the morning of my surgery, I would have a final consultation with dr richards to ensure my desired results would be discussed and understood, and my anxiety’s put to ease. As all local patients get this with a separate appointment prior to surgery day. She assured me that yes, I would have adequate time with dr richards for this consultation and for all final questions day of. I show up at 7am the day of my surgery, the first patient of the day, feeling normal nerves, but that I was in good hands. Nurse greets me, gets my weight, urine test, IV, before pictures etc. Then the anesthesiologist comes in to go over some paperwork. By now it’s 7:45, dr richards walks in with the anesthesiologist still speaking with me, kind of signaling to him to speed things up, then walks out. I ask the nurse what time my surgery will start so I can let me husband know what time to pick me up, to my surprise she says 8:00. It’s now 7:50. Anesthesiologist walks out, dr richards comes in, very little greeting, has me stand up, undress, and immediately starts drawing out my surgery on me. After drawing for a few minutes he goes, “what size do you want”, continues drawing. I don’t know medical terminology so I said “I’m currently about a DD, I want to be a C. At least 1/4 removed.” Pretty much no response from him, just still drawing quickly. He finishes drawing and says “alright, they’ll come grab you and bring you to the operation room any minute now” Starts to remove his gloves and head to the door, and says “any last questions?” I’m caught off guard and feeling slight whiplash and say “ummm,” He interrupts, starts opening the door and says “It’ll be good. You’ll do great!” And walks out. I had expressed to my husband and family/friends leading up to the surgery that the part I was most nervous for was not being happy with my breast results. As there’s much more variables to breasts than tummy tucks. For as long as I remember, I have hated how big my breasts were. Making me look bigger overall, not being able to wear swimsuits or certain tops without them bulging out. So that anxiety after this less than 15 minute “consult” was sky rocketed. But I still felt confident that he is very experienced and knows what he is doing and what will look best, despite being quick and I’m personable. Next thing I know, I’m woken up from my surgery and as I’m being pushed out of the operation room to the rest area, the operation area is being quickly sprayed down and the next patient is being wheeled in literally immediately after me. I peek down at my breasts and though I knew they’d be very swollen, I still figured I’d be able to see a slight size difference. None at all. Looked the same as I had gone in but with a prettier shape. I’m in the rest area maybe 30 minutes, when my nurse then dressed me, assists me down the hall to the bathroom where dr Richards, his wife and daughter are visiting, standing in the way, disregarding us trying to get through when I can barely balance with a walker and blood is running down my drain incisions. They scooch over, and without acknowledging me, dr richards says to my husband “we kept plenty of volume in the breasts. Should be great!” Right after the bathroom I’m being wheeled to my car and am told Dr richards will call me that evening to check in. 10:30pm rolls around and I finally silence my phone assuming he’s forgotten to call. Next morning comes, still not a call or text from him. Finally texts me Saturday at 10pm, no call. Just an “this is Dr richards. all good?” I tell him I’m feeling as expected pain wise, but am concerned my breasts aren’t small enough and ask how much they’ll go down after the swelling is gone. He asks if I’ve seen them unwrapped. I say yes I have. He ignores that and asks about my drains. I tell him. He Says “perfect”. I ask again about the sizing and swelling, no response. For a surgery I have saved up for, for a year, looked forward to for a few years, and is permanent, I am extremely disappointed with his lack of patient care, support and communication. I would not recommend him to anyone solely for those reasons. This isn’t a hair highlight, or a house cleaning, or a dental crown. However when I have had those services done, I was consulted more and followed up more than I was with this $20,000 body altering, massive surgery. I get surgeons are beyond busy, that was very, very evident with how back to back booked he was. And I’m sure doing something so intense all day everyday starts to feel like it’s no big deal and like a routine walk in the park . But it is an extremely nerve wracking, life altering, huge expense for your patients. I would highly consider calling your patients when you say you will, not just a text, and giving your out of state patients, whom you’ve never met before, a real, thorough, personable consultation prior to heading to operate on them. An extra 15 minutes would’ve made all the difference. As a business owner myself, leaving reviews are a very last resort for me as I know how important they are for business. But I gave you, and both of your coordinator’s opportunities to hear out my concerns and left feeling more disregarded and unheard on all 3 conversations.