POSTED UNDER Brazilian Butt Lift REVIEWS
Almost died from an infection after this surgery
ORIGINAL POST
DR PANTOJA ALMOST KILLED ME. I got Brachioplasty...
$5,466
Dr. Pantoja almost killed me.
I got Brachioplasty and BBL with him on April 3, 2018. Immediately after I started feeling very ill with high fever. I stayed at Dollhouse Recovery. Any girl who stayed there at that time can vouch for my health. I had to sit with ice packs all over my body I was so sick. I begged the workers at Dollhouse to call Dr Pantoja the night before I was to leave. His wife translated and said the 39.7 degree fever was normal and I was fine. The next morning I saw him and he took my drains and staples out and said I was fine, that my armpits were beginning to open up a bit but that I was fine. That evening I used every ounce of life I had and got on that flight home to Canada because I knew I needed proper medical care. As soon as I landed I was wheelchaired to an ambulance and went straight to the hospital. I spent 3 weeks in intensive care in hospital. I had gone Septic. I was dying. The infection was taking over my body and was extremely resistant to antibiotics. On April 12, 2018 I died for 4 minutes, but the doctors brought me back.I had 4+ polymorphs, 2+ gram positive cocci, 1+ rare gram bacilli, Heavy Growth of Enterococcus, Heavy growth of E. Coli. My BBL was fully infected. My arms were swelling and seeping infection out the armpits. They rushed me into emergency surgery and opened up my arms and debrided them and left them open for a week. They put a slice at the top of my buttocks and pushed out all the infected fat (from my left cheek only). It would come out like a waterfall, every day, for 2 weeks straight. Imagine my pain, my turmoil? My left buttcheek is now deformed with a large lump and dent. The plastic surgeon here finally closed my arms back up with staples. I look like Frankenstein.Dr Pantoja took my life away on April 12th. thanks to the doctors here they brought me back to life.The surgeons here said that he used dirty tools and even the smallest amount of a dirty tool can cause this.I asked Dr. Pantoja for a refund. He has refused.I beg you do not go to this doctor. He could care less if you live or die!!!! I have all my proof in medical records. Ladies, if you want proof message me and I will send my medical records, do not go to him!!!! There are plenty of other good safe doctors out there - Dont use Dr. Pantoja!!! If you have surgery scheduled, I beg you cancel it!!!!!
I got Brachioplasty and BBL with him on April 3, 2018. Immediately after I started feeling very ill with high fever. I stayed at Dollhouse Recovery. Any girl who stayed there at that time can vouch for my health. I had to sit with ice packs all over my body I was so sick. I begged the workers at Dollhouse to call Dr Pantoja the night before I was to leave. His wife translated and said the 39.7 degree fever was normal and I was fine. The next morning I saw him and he took my drains and staples out and said I was fine, that my armpits were beginning to open up a bit but that I was fine. That evening I used every ounce of life I had and got on that flight home to Canada because I knew I needed proper medical care. As soon as I landed I was wheelchaired to an ambulance and went straight to the hospital. I spent 3 weeks in intensive care in hospital. I had gone Septic. I was dying. The infection was taking over my body and was extremely resistant to antibiotics. On April 12, 2018 I died for 4 minutes, but the doctors brought me back.I had 4+ polymorphs, 2+ gram positive cocci, 1+ rare gram bacilli, Heavy Growth of Enterococcus, Heavy growth of E. Coli. My BBL was fully infected. My arms were swelling and seeping infection out the armpits. They rushed me into emergency surgery and opened up my arms and debrided them and left them open for a week. They put a slice at the top of my buttocks and pushed out all the infected fat (from my left cheek only). It would come out like a waterfall, every day, for 2 weeks straight. Imagine my pain, my turmoil? My left buttcheek is now deformed with a large lump and dent. The plastic surgeon here finally closed my arms back up with staples. I look like Frankenstein.Dr Pantoja took my life away on April 12th. thanks to the doctors here they brought me back to life.The surgeons here said that he used dirty tools and even the smallest amount of a dirty tool can cause this.I asked Dr. Pantoja for a refund. He has refused.I beg you do not go to this doctor. He could care less if you live or die!!!! I have all my proof in medical records. Ladies, if you want proof message me and I will send my medical records, do not go to him!!!! There are plenty of other good safe doctors out there - Dont use Dr. Pantoja!!! If you have surgery scheduled, I beg you cancel it!!!!!
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Replies (83)
May 11, 2018
Thank you for the information. I have to rethink going to him now; I already put a deposit down, but is it worth risking my life.
May 12, 2018
I just know there are other excellent doctors in Tijuana - my roommates at Dollhouse all looked so good and I just looked awful. They all went mostly with Baltic or Campos. I just want people to know, that if something ever happened to you, this is how Dr. Pantoja would act - like you are nothing to him once he got your money, was all friendly and did the surgery. I would rather be with a doctor that doesn't put on this "friendly act", him and Nadia, then with one that is just there to just give me a safe and successful surgery with great results.
May 12, 2018
I’m so sorry this happened to you and will be keeping you in my prayers for a speedy healing love! How do you feel now ?
May 14, 2018
I am working really hard at recovery every day! I cant wait for the day I can fully extend my arms and do things like wash my hair and drive again. Feeling a lot of depression because of the Frankenstein arms and the big dent in my butt. Maybe next year I can save up and try for some revisions but right now I'm good on surgeries. I had to have 3 more after Pantoja's so that's 4 surgeries in one month :( it was a lot.
May 14, 2018
Sweetie, i know it’s hard now but please take it Day by day. You are still a beautiful woman. Try and focus on things to distract you and allow you to heal. Music, nature, etc. Keep the faith and know God is by your side. The human body is amazing in its capability to heal. I promise.
September 22, 2018
I am so sorry to hear this happened to you. I was considering this doctor but now because of your review I will look for a different one. Do you have the full names of the Dr. Campos and Dr. Baltic? I’d like to look them up.
May 14, 2018
Sucks to see but I’m just fine, everyone is genetically built differently and instead of going for someone livelihood or liscense. It’s unsettling having surgery but you never go in without thinking what complications with come good or bad. I wouldn’t sit done only look at good reviews and good pictures, without seeing the bad reviews and bad pictures knowing I could have come out worse. Sorry Dr. Pantoja love you and will always still recommend you !
May 19, 2018
Go away. You sound utterly ridiculous defending someone that you CANNOT vouch for their consistency. Be grateful that you had ok results and move along with your condescension. This her story not yours Fyre.
Foreign Mill, thank you for having the courage to share. May your mind and spirit be given strength to help you heal quickly as the mind is a powerful thing. All the best❤️
Foreign Mill, thank you for having the courage to share. May your mind and spirit be given strength to help you heal quickly as the mind is a powerful thing. All the best❤️
May 19, 2018
omg just stop, I know you are defending her but can’t you clearly see what that doctor has done? she’s writing her review to save other people, no offense but I have a kid to live for and a doctor like that isn’t worth the risk. just honestly stop
May 19, 2018
May 19, 2018
Lynn brook probably should stop looking for a doctor and look after your kid if you’re so worried..
May 19, 2018
fyre for the record if you don’t have the balls to say on here done try to dm me. you sound ghetto and ignorant in your dm too
May 19, 2018
May 19, 2018
Wow to wake up so early on Saturday Lynn and being so rude maybe you should get a consultation so you can have a actual surgery, and getting a Eff’in life your consistently happy with. Xo
May 30, 2018
I work in the medical field and I need you to stop with your ignorant comments. How dare you blame the patient for this? Care does not end at the operating room. For her to go septic right after the procedure is because dirty tools were used. The bacteria they found in her are only found in hospitals. The doctor was negligent. Just because you got lucky doesn’t mean anything. Just because he made you look good also means nothing. What matters is did you take care of your patient and pick up on the red flags? NO he failed to do that. He might have done great work, but when things go wrong will he know what to do? Does he know how to switch from COSMETIC doctor to MEDICAL dr? No, obviously he doesn’t. What you need to do is praise the lord that you didn’t have life threatening complications, because clearly he wouldn’t address it if you did. You sound very uneducated and ignorant. I would advise you to please educate yourself on these matters before attempting to discredit someone else. In the meantime, work on your miserable attitude and gain some compassion. You can get all the surgery you want, but who’s gonna fix your evil heart?
May 14, 2018
Everyone know the dangers when they sign those papers, unfortunately this happened but you know the dangers. My outcome was carefully thought out over for over a year and I wouldn’t blame my doctor for a cosmetic surgery I wanted and not needed. I changed my whole life to have surgery, so my immune system can handle it. No ones else take accountability for themselves but blame a doctor doing what you paid them to do..
May 14, 2018
Nobody paid the doctor to use dirty tools (as proven by the infectious coordinators and surgeons here) and to give me 3 infectious diseases and go septic and die for 4 minutes on April 12th. No, I didn't not pay the doctor to do that to me. I think maybe fyre_0325 you should focus on your excellent results and happiness with Dr. Pantoja on your own page and spread love and positivity there. This is my own review. Not yours. God speed.
May 14, 2018
Sorry but even though you sign those papers, a good and competent doctor doesn’t leave you hanging like that when you are suffering from serious complications.
May 14, 2018
Unfortunately he’s still is deemed competent. Just had surgery with him less then 3 months ago, unfortunately this girl got screwed. I honestly can only blame myself that’s all I was saying. @purplesiren all your comments are full of insults and are unnecessary.
May 16, 2018
Fyre why are you even defending a man you don't even know? How do you know his medical integrity? It could have been his staff who didn't clean the tools properly for all we know. What is GLARING here is that when foreign_mill shared with him that she was feeling extremely ill, he should have done a full check and ushered her to the ER in MX for further care. This woman went SEPTIC! NOT TO BE PLAYED WITH! My husband went septic after an emergency tooth pull. Instead of the doc giving him pain killers and antibiotic to clear any issues, he just pulled it. My husband called me and I met him immediately after. It wasn't 20 min after the pull that he developed an extremely high fever and was shaking uncontrollably. Straight to the ER we went. He was septic and required several rounds of strong antibiotic and a hospital stay. Doc said be prepared for ICU.... thank God he didn't spiral down further. I am thankful foreign_mill is ALIVE to tell her story. Yes, we all enter at our own risk - but dirty tools and post-op neglect are uncalled for no matter who does your surgery.
May 16, 2018
Wow, thank you rebirth73, your comment made me cry. Sometimes a little compassion goes a long way. I'm just trying to share my story, just mine, everyone has their own review to share their own. I was sitting here yesterday remembering when my vitals started bottoming and looked at my mom crying and said mom please I don't want to die and was begging the nurses please don't let me die. And I did, for 4 minutes. That exact day and those events keep going through my mind over and over again. Everything going white, all my pain leaving my body, a feeling of total bliss. It really is like other people describe when they leave and come back. I guess that's a part of the PTSD. I just appreciate that you understand going septic is not to play with. You have a matter of hours to get the strongest antibiotic you can into you. And for me, they found I was allergic to the best one (unbeknownst) to me, which was vancomycyn. Which caused me to get red man syndrome and that's when I started bottoming out and my vital plateaued. The doctor said I needed to be on the "big guns" he called it lol, and 4 times a day It was pushed through my IV. The antibiotics were so powerful they had to switch my iv sites atleast 12 times because my veins could not handle it, leaving my veins flattened and my hands sunk in. Wow, it was an experience, but I am here to share it!! God bless you!
May 16, 2018
You are a living, walking testimony foreign_mill. Its an honor to even hear your story. I was so hurt when I saw your pictures. My heart is heavy still. But GOD! Yes, I know I shouldn't be ranting about God on here, but you have such a beautiful spirit. I know you wanted to match your body with it (wink, wink), but you are an overcomer. I can't imagine your mom's pain when you cried and told her you didn't want to die. I think your spirit knew what was happening and you just verbalized it. I know all to well about beating a death sentence. I survived breast cancer and I also survived medical neglect during the birth of my last son. I almost bled out. I was shaking uncontrollably and blue in the lips and face. My husband was a complete mess. Emergency surgery and 3 blood transfusions later, I am here with my 2 year old son and ALIVE! I did my research on the best OBGYNs in Philadelphia and vicinity, but if someone is neglectful (in this case the nurse and not the doc - I kept telling her something is wrong, I am in severe pain even after 5 epidurals which she never discouraged - and all she did was try to move me in different positions for comfort, never checking baby position) on the docs team, the doc still carries full responsibility. My doc went into immediate action and saved my life! Your doc's team may have been liable for the neglect - but he took no responsibility. We thank my OBGYN till this day. He asked me if I was ever aware of anything in the room during surgery and I said I heard everything in the room. He got quiet for a moment and then deeply apologized. He said is was chaotic and that he wished I had not heard the chaos. He didn't understand why the team was so out of order that day and to forgive him. We did. I know my mother's prayers and my husbands prayers kept me. If it wasn't for the swift action of my doctor, I know I wouldn't be here. I am praying for your emotional, spiritual and physical recovery foreign_mill. My heart is with you! Please keep a journal and continue to share your story. Much love and God bless you all the more!
May 16, 2018
Rebirth I am so proud of you! Look what you’ve been through and still are such a caring and loving person. Thank you for coming onto a random page to give a girl some support. The kindness of strangers is beautiful. It’s amazing, you KNOW when something is wrong with your body. You ALWAYS need to act on that, you knew something was wrong with your labor, and I knew something was wrong with my surgery. It’s getting those to listen and hear your concerns!!! I’m naturally a quiet person and don’t like to hassle anyone, and I need to learn to stand up when I know somethings wrong! How wonderful, we’re both here to live this beautiful thing called life. Xo
May 14, 2018
Yes air does in infect open wounds, that’s why you bandage it. Father died from cancer, due to a open chest surgery which air helped the cancer spread. Your comment are open for comments, so I can comment on something that has something to do with a doctor your basically bashing due to you being unhappy with your results.
May 14, 2018
Wishing you the upmost happiness in your life fyre_0325. I hope god delivers all that is great for you and yours. I sure am happy to be alive, its a wonderful thing and I thank god for it everyday. Focus on your review and page, you have lots of great things to share. God bless.
May 14, 2018
Honestly wish you the best too. It’s just my two scent, which this is a platform for opinions and debates so don’t be so offended.
May 14, 2018
The clinic is supposed to ensure the facility is sterile as possible and not use dirty tools. And again a good doctor doesn’t leave their patient in critical condition.
May 14, 2018
No they don’t, they’re honestly not liable for anything. When you actually have a cosmetic procedure done, and actually fill out paperwork please return with input.
May 14, 2018
Umm no. Unless they don’t have malpractice insurance which is common in some parts of the world, they are indeed liable and at the very minimum should provide an adequate level of post op care. I signed documents for my doc in Toronto my sx is in October—but basically the paperwork listed all possible complications but on the paper it also had mentioned ALL contact numbers in case of emergency touch wood. It was also stated that he has hospital privileges and if any complications occur again touch wood then he would fix it himself free of charge. This is a sign of a good surgeon. Not someone who just wants to take your money and see ya later but someone who is there for you every step of the way. This surgery is a lot more complex than other ones. It requires a lot of patience but most importantly lots of follow up with your doc.
May 14, 2018
Yes they did very same things at Dr. Pantoja office. Since I didn’t have surgery already and with doctor at hand, you’re not speaking to me something I don’t already know.
UPDATED FROM foreign_mill
1 month post
Update on me....
Hey everyone. It has been 15 days since I have been out of hospital. Everyday is still filled with great pain in my arms and left buttock (where the infected fat was pushed out). My arms are taking so long to close up - keep in mind its been a month and a half since I had surgery with Dr. Pantoja and I am still trying to keep my arms together. The doctors here said I am lucky that I didn't lose my arms. Can you believe that??? Dr. Pantoja could have made me lose my arms......... my arms...... I am so disgusted. I want to start sharing some emails back and forth with Nadia....so you can see how they took zero responsiblitiy for what happened to me, and just blew me off....like I didn't almost die. Like I'm not still dealing with this. Like my mental health is a complete disaster right now. When you work so hard to save money up for something, months and months it took me - and all the excitement you have before surgery to be a "new you". And then you come and start dying, filled with infection, spend almost a month in hospital, lose your job, lose your mental health, starting from scratch. And the man wont even offer a refund. That's why I am pushing this so hard.....this isn't fair. This isn't right. I know I need to move on, but I am not even no where healed. I have to attend wound care sessions every other day where they change the dressings on my arms and its so painful. I cant drive because I can barely use my arms. He has taken so much happiness and normalness away from my life.
Replies (20)
May 12, 2018
He should be sued, So sad that his practice gets away with this
May 14, 2018
I had surgery with him just fine over here. She should get more testing done first.
May 14, 2018
You can dm an email address and I will send my medical records so you can see all the "testing" I have had done while I spent 3 weeks in intesive care with very capable surgeons, infectious disease coordinators and internal medicine.
May 30, 2018
I believe what you said is true. Sepsis is no joke and it takes a competent medical provider to spot the signs. The first one being your temperature and lack of energy! If he had checked your heart rate, I’m almost positive it would’ve been fast. Another sign of sepsis!!! The fact that you got on that plane and didn’t die right there is a miracle. Your doctor was negligent. And anyone can perform surgery and get good reviews because nothing went wrong. But a good doctor is the one that knows what to do when things don’t go as planned. A good doctor is cautious when his patient is telling him she feels horrible. To send you out the door in that condition tells me he didn’t want to deal with it. Maybe he knew and didn’t care. Maybe his medical knowledge is limited and didn’t even think to check for sepsis. I knew what was wrong before you even said you were septic. Just from you describing how you felt afterwards. Imagine how incompetent or careless he has to be if he can’t recognize that while you’re in front of him?
May 30, 2018
May 30, 2018
Also, ladies please pay attention to these doctors. This guy is NOT a plastic surgeon. He is a core aesthetic, which means he did a course for a few weeks and got CERTIFIED! Try to get your surgery from an actual plastic surgeron that went through MONTHS of training and spealizes in this surgery. Did you know a dermatologist can do a bbl, lipo, etc? Would you want them to do your surgery? Most of them are unable to handle things when the surgery goes WRONG because they have not been trained! You are playing Russian roulette when you pick these doctors.
January 22, 2019
Did you post your review and pics to his page? He has all of these 4+ star reviews living his best life, like he didn't almost take your life. Please share with his page if RS allows as your experience should not be taken lightly. He should be held accountable. I understand that there are certain waivers that must be executed before the procedure can be done, however, no refund and no accountability is unacceptable.. Hope you are ok.
May 14, 2018
May 17, 2018
Omg so sorry this happen to u Hun ...he messed up my tummy tuck scare bad too all crooked n bad belly button
May 17, 2018
@madeintj I read your post about dr pantoja it seems like you were happy with your results and I think you gave him a good review. What has change? And also you should go back in there to give him a one star, because people need to know he messed up your body....
UPDATED FROM foreign_mill
1 month post
Update as of May 28 2018
Still going to wound care every other day, my left arm is still open and requires more debriding due to complications from the infection. I am 2 months post op and still dealing with open wounds.
Replies (19)
June 7, 2018
I am so sorry you have to Beth through this...there’s a TV show called Botched, do you wanna apply for reconstruction with them? My prayers are with you.
And while complications can occur in any surgery, your surgeon should always be there post op to make sure you are healing properly! By her sharing her review she’s shown many girls how this so called doctor behaves after surgery. And how do you know she did not do her research?
Just because you had a favourable outcome doesn’t mean you should undermine another persons experience. Seriously that’s very low of you!
I was completely septic with infection running through my body and died for 4 minutes on April 12th. With zero help, responsibility, or thoughtfulness from Dr Pantoja and his team.
Mexico isn’t Canada so please don’t compare the two. She was so excited to have surgery, she could’ve work out. Now that’s being rude, can you comprehend the differences or will you spill out more slashdab opinions for me to read?