Readers Respond: Have You Been a Victim of Bad Plastic Surgery?

Responses: 10

Please note that doctors' names and/or website links will not be published. Share Your Story

bad tummy tuck

I had experience a bad tummy tuck and got two bad holes in my stomach. I have to pack them every day 3 times a day. Can someone please tell me what to do? My stomach is very hard. I had my surgery done in July.

—Guest serena

bad surgery

I can only say that after my rhytidectomy, my life pretty much ended. My doctor didn't have enough talent and didnt understand the nuances of the human face. He tried to make me look like I was 21 when I was 50. He pullled too much tissue away from my face. The irony is I wanted my jowels removed and they ended returning 4 months after surgery. I lost my relationship with my son, I'm broke financially, lost a job because of depression and anxiety related to my obvious appearance concerns. The surgery took place in California by a reconstructive surgeon [surgeon's name removed]. I had no idea [he] didnt have enough experience. Plastic surgery needs to be regulated to protect the public. I was a victim of his lack of experience in this particular procedure and his negligence in not disclosing to me all the particulars involved. In public, the stares and grimacing by others is difficult to bear. Did I pay him for that? Now I'm disabled.

—Guest zack

Suicide

My firend recently commited suicide after having an really bad nosejob.I cry for her every day. There was nothing wrong with her nose from the beginning. It was a little bigger than average, yes but it fit her face. After rhinoplasty she got very apparent dents on her tip a scooped out bridge but not really a smaller nose just a strange looking nose... and she was devastated! Her parents tried too calm her down but she jumped in front of a train one year ago. The surgeon said that it sometimes heals wrong and that he didn't do anything wrong and she should be happy with the outcome. I hate that botcher who destroyed my friends face.

—Guest Jojo

Tummy Tuck

My friend had surgery from [surgeon's name removed] in New York. He left a scar nearly one inch thick and the belly button one inch off-center. Soon after he tried to offer a payment with out involving lawyers. After 14 months the judgement went in her favor for 1.5 million.

—Guest Tummy

My mother's breast implant diaster

I didn't know my mom had breast implants until when i was in high school, something went wrong and she had to have them removed. But when they removed them, she sort of lost one breast. She had a bra with padding to make up for it. She never talked about it, it was kept a secret from us, but we knew. I still don't know all the details, however, I remember as a child, the entire thing freaked me out. It upset me that she felt like she needed implants, it upset me that in the end they made her look worse, it upset me that she kept it secret from us, even when things went wrong. It was a mess. If your a mom getting plastic surgery, TALK TO YOUR KIDS. They know, and it's worse when you don't sit down and explain things.

—Guest Abby

Known complications...

My friend had a tummy tuck after giving birth to her twins. She wound up with a hole in her abdomen and loads of antibiotics and recovery time. It was a known issue, but she feels like since it was a cosmetic issue perhaps she should have skipped it.

—Guest Robin

Lifestyle Lift Nightmare

I had the lifestyle lift Jan 14th 2008. Its been a nightmare. Approximately 3 months after surgery my jowls sagged again. I have jagged scars in front of my ears, an uncontrollable itching and lumps behind my ears. It looks like my ears are sewn to the side of my face. I had a lifestyle lift manager tell me there was absolutly no change and a doctor from the same practice tell me there was minimal change and I would get a refund. As of today, NO REFUND, and what they did to me can be fixed but will cost much more money that I dont have at this time. -- taken from user comments, About.com plastic surgery Lifestyle Lift blog - user Diane, October 13, 2008

—Guest Diane

14 years of a mis-shaped nose

When I was 15 I had a nose job. My original nose was wide and had a bump on the top. I was very excited that my parents were getting it fixed before I started high school. I had always been teased about have a big nose. After the surgery I waited to see what it would look like. They tell you to wait because it has to heal. After about eight months and all the swelling was down It was smaller than before. But, now it was like the bump had just moved further down my nose. It was very narrow, and the tip now was obviously assymetrical. You know how two sides should try to mirror each other. It's like where the tip of my nose comes down to touch above my mouth is two left sides instead of a left side and a right side. Its like a it hooks to the same side. The curve on each nostril doesn't mirror, it's the same. I see it in every picture and everytime I look in the mirror. No ones nose is symmetrical, but this is way off. They wanted me to pay again to fix it. My parents wouldnt.

—agiagi

Terrible Face Lift

I haven't had any surgery (yet), but I have a friend who had a face lift that just looks all wrong. In my opinion, they pulled it way too tight, and his wrinkles all seem like they're in the wrong place now, if that makes any sense. I think he must have had a nose job too and maybe something done to his chin (although he didn't admit to it), because there's a very strange and obvious dent in his nose and another on the side of his chin. Honestly, I think the face lift made him look older and kind of weird. It makes me sad for him, and scared to have surgery myself (although I actually really want to, and I know some people have great results).

—delawaresquare

Bad Boob Job

I had my breast augmentation in 1989, and wasn't happy from day one. The implants were just way too high. The doctor said they would drop but they never did. When I lifted my arm, the implants completely disappeared into my armpit while the nipples stayed in place on my chest - NOT attractive. As time went on, it only got worse. My nipples descended slowly southward, and the implants stayed locked in place, so I ended up with nipples BELOW these giant implants sitting up high on my chest. When I finally scraped together enough courage (and money) to get them fixed in 2003, my new surgeon said my crease should have been lowered in my first surgery to accommodate the implant. Revision surgery was harder (and more expensive) than my first time, but well worth it. My breasts finally don't look like they are trying to strangle me!

—gypsygirl1970