Worst Experience with a Doctor in 58 Years! - Vero Beach, FL

One of the worst experiences I have ever had with a Doctor (or basically people in general). Needed to have breast implants removed & replaced. Over time one had drooped down & appeared significantly larger than the other. Was told at consult no problem to replace & make symmetrical. Was also told a lift was not necessary. The morning of my procedure (also had a tummy tuck scheduled) I needed to confirm with Dr. Durkin the size of implants he was putting in (I was hoping to downsize); he then told me there was no way he could make symmetrical without a lift and he explained the complications if I did have a lift; my nipple could die due to lack of blood flow because my implant was over the muscle. None of this was discussed during my consult & I certainly would NOT have scheduled the procedure if he could not make the symmetrical! The only reason I was having the procedure (aside from replacing saline back to silicone) was to have them made symmetrical! We got into a heated discussion where Dr. Durkin left the room & came back & told me he looked at my file & believed he could get the breasts to appear symmetrical - not perfect but close. I responded, "So NOW you looked at my file". The entire experience was a nightmare. The procedure was performed & I will say the breasts did appear fairly symmetrical. However shortly after the procedure I ended up with a terrible staph infection & the implant had to be removed immediately when I went into the office to show him the pain & swelling I was experiencing. I immediately asked, "So do I now have to pay all over again for this procedure?" He told me, "No, only the cost of the implant" - $800. Later on it came to be that not only did he want to charge me the $800 but also anesthesiologist fees (which O.K, I get it) AND O.R. fees (which the O.R. is in HIS OFFICE) for a total of $3,800!!! So basically that means $3,000 for Anesthesiologist & O.R. fees? And that he was doing me a "favor & not charging for his services"! I already received a quote from another plastic surgeon in town for less - $3,500! So clearly Dr. Durkin was doing me NO FAVOR! Charging MORE than another Dr. (Dr. Sarbak - very well known for his great work and respected) who had nothing to do with my previous surgery. I actually had gone to Dr. Sarbak for a quote because I really did not want to ever again have deal with Dr. Durkin. But I thought if Dr. Durkin would keep his costs low to once again perform this same procedure (for which of course I would have to go through additional pain and suffering) since money was tight I would (against my better judgment of him as a professional & as a person) allow him to perform the procedure. Needless to say I left my last consult with Dr. Durkin an extremely unhappy patient! I now have to wait until after the New Year to put in a replacement implant (to replace the infected) when I will have a little more money to cover the costs, which I will have Dr. Sarbak perform the surgery (now costing me an additional $3500 over the $5500 Dr. Durkin charged); in the meantime am walking around with one breast with an implant TWICE the size of the other without an implant. I have had several procedures performed in the past by various Doctors & they went well; the Doctors were all professional & wonderful! This was a horrifying experience - one I hope none of you will have to go through with this Doctor. BTW, Dr. Durkin knew I was going on a cruise with my family & said I would be O.K. to do any activities I wanted as my cruise was 3 weeks after my procedures. I have come to find out (from other Doctors) that there is no way that is true especially in relation to the tummy tuck. But I believed Dr. Durkin & also decided to have the procedure performed PRIOR to my cruise because he told me he couldn't give me the same "deal" after my cruise. Part of the deal was to pay him in CASH! Needless to say, my family cruise was ruined as I could not partake in any of the physical activities I had planned (including not being able to go in the water).