Scarred for Life

I am 60 years old and had a lower neck lift with jowl liposuction coupled with CO2 laser resurfacing. I have waited a year before writing this review, giving time for healing and recovery. From the beginning the red flags were there. I did quite a bit of research before choosing Ridgway, interviewing more than one candidate. The mistake I made was confusing eccentricity and narcissism for a perfectionist. Ridgway talks incessantly about himself, his accolades and shows old pictures of his work but no new ones. By the time he’s done talking he’s quite frustrated if you ask questions or ask to see more current photos and will be condescending while at the same time telling you he’s only there for you. Doctors should be quiet and listen to clients, address questions and concerns with respect and patience. Keep that in mind and trust your gut if you’re feeling belittled or not heard. From his reviews and area of expertise I still felt I was making the right choice and moved forward despite these red flags.
Surgery went ‘as planned’ and I was released, still intoxicated with anesthesia, to my husband who had not been briefed on after care and was unprepared for the condition I was handed to him. Ridgway’s staff handed him an aftercare bag without checking it and once we were back in the hotel he applied what he thought was the correct lotion but I happened to see it was tretinoin and the correct lotion had not been supplied. Dr. Ridgway had to make an emergency visit to my hotel bringing the correct lotion. This comes down to staff training, while friendly, Ridgway's staff turnover is extremely high, and the staff is undertrained and inexperienced. Big Red flag. Ask about staff and take stock if it’s a healthy or toxic atmosphere.From the first day, there were two pools of blood behind my left ear that were concerning, I took updated pictures and sent messages to Ridgway and his staff almost daily. Consistently told ‘everything is normal’. After a week, these pools were not better and it was time to start applying heat packs, which I did. I was very concerned these blood pools were not normal but I was told to “stick to the plan” from Dr. Ridgway and so continued to follow instructions to the letter, no one is more invested in the results than yourself, so I was exact in my follow thru. After one day of heat, the photos I sent Ridgway made him tell me stop applying heat to the area, the skin was dying and no blood was circulating to the area. He wanted me to come in the following day, which I did, he called in sick that day. His nurses cleaned up the wound and confirmed they had not seen anything this bad before. Ridgway prescribed Silvadene cream and another topical cream used for burn victims. It was a long and complicated process for the next couple of weeks with the skin finally regenerating and scarring. When I went in for my follow up, Ridgway seemed humbled, admitted this is not what I should have experienced and that he wanted to fix it. I was relieved he felt it was fixable and taking accountability. I received a quote for the follow up surgery and went back for my 6 month follow up taking up the conversation again about reconstructive surgery. Ridgway once again said he would be able to fix the scarring. Oddly I received a new quote now charging me (at discount) for the surgery whereas the first quote did not charge me except for facility fee. I questioned this new quote and was told the damage was my fault and my failure to follow post op after care instructions and that the first quote was not legit as his staff person had sent it out without his authorization. I was stunned that Dr. Ridgway was now not only blaming me for the damage and scarring but also his staff for quoting me what we all understood to be his liability. Needless to say I did not go through with a follow up procedure, having lost all confidence and respect for James Ridgway. I have gone to other surgeons for 2nd/3rd opinions which are unanimous that the scar is too large and severe and cannot be covered or restored to normal.