Botched. Blepharoplasty

Provider Review

• 21 Dec 2017

Worst Experience ever. I had an upperlid surgery with Dr, Richard Weiss (ophthalmologist) who did not use traditional incision methods (a scalpel like plastic surgeons do) instead, Dr Weiss literally burns the skin open using a catheterizer. He claims that this technique stops the bleeding. Yes, it stops the bleeding during the surgery, but it is a third degree burn and that part of my eyelid looks melted, like burn victims get. (plasticy, no skin like look) I also gave me very thick hypertrophic scars right away. I chose this doctor based on heavy advertising along with "positive reviews" and the pictures and testimonials he posts everywhere. I had some reservations when I watched his own website video demo where he misses the first attempt and re- opens this man's eyelid after the closure was done, cuts him again, and re-stiches that patient yet again. somehow, I went ahead and I had my surgery on November 22. I had my stiches removed November 29. Three days later, on Saturday,- I woke up and saw that both of my eyelids had separated at the incision!! (This is called "dehiscence") Yes, I could see the pink/white skin/ fat under, and a yellow thick substance on the edges, (I'll post a picture of this) I was in panic. I called the Dr Weiss "call center" many- times to have him paged. He never returned the calls. Instead, in the afternoon, his receptionist (who also doubles as a medical assistant during surgery) called me back and said, "Sorry, but the doctor is out of town. She told me to call "Gavin Eye institute" I called. The placed was closed, it was Saturday. . Later, she called me and told me to get help at an emergency at a hospital!! (in Santa Ana/City of Orange. I did. After 6 hours waiting in the crowded, emergency room lobby,I was interviewed by an older general doctor, who asked me who my eye doctor was who did that. When I told him it was Dr. Weiss, he mentioned that he knew who Dr Weiss was as he treats his patients when they are sent here. (UCI - City of Orange) This senior doctor paged yet another "more junior doctor" as he felt that my case was not "life threatening" I waited 2 more hours in the parking lot until night time, as the emergency room was too full) The junior doctor showed up, and he openly told me he was only an "intern", practicing general medicine and that he had never done a repair on a blepharoplasty before... I started crying. It was late at night, dark, I had exposed open eyelids- and I was very scared, I did not know what to do, who to ask help from, I felt I had to let this practicing intern help me in any way possible. So, I let him. I went home around midnight, and took a sleeping pill. On Sunday morning I woke up and noticed that the stiches (the intern placed on my eyelids) come undone during the night! (I called Dr Weiss again!! No answer. I calmly took medical tape and held the skin together) Dr Weiss finally called me that Sunday in the afternoon. I told him he was negligent and as a doctor, that he should have disclosed that he does not have medical back up at all, and that I would be on my own if I needed medical care. He apologized profusely and promised me to rectify his process. But he also told me that he would be on vacation, yet another week, but that he would try to find me a doctor that I can go to on Monday. No. He never gave me a doctors name or a phone number as he promised) Dr Weiss also asked me to stop taking cellphone pictures of my eyes, because he said: the pictures "were detrimental to my eyelids" ( yeah...) At that point, I knew I had to go to a Certified plastic surgeon that Monday. (At my own cost) and I did. (I'll post my invoice) The plastic surgeon did not have any openings for me that day, but I begged and he took me in. The plastic surgeon told me that there is nothing that he (or anybody) could do now, for 6-12 months. He confirmed that my olive type skin was burnt by not using a scalpel, that I had experienced dehiscence, that my wound "healed while open" , forming hypertrophic scars, that the incision lines were way off from my natural crease) And that The lack of prompt medical attention when the incisions opened, caused the complications I did visit Dr Weiss' office when he returned from his vacation. Just to show him what he has done cosmetically and medically. He examined me and said, "The results are beautiful!" I asked him why is my incision on my left eye, half an inch above my natural crease ?!!! (yes! 1/2 an inch off!!) He responded: "You signed a 5-page legal release- I do not guarantee any results" h not saying. “You will be fine. It will get better....” I asked Dr Weiss one more question: How will you fix this? He replied this: "I can offer you a free Botox".(I did not accept his absurd offer) I know time may heal my scars. But emotionally, I'm in pain , I literally have nightmares at night, and during the day, when I look in the mirror, I get very sad. I had to change my hairstyle to cover my eyes and I don't get too close to people as they can see my scars even with my eyes wide open