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Zoffiel's avatar
Zoffiel
Member
5 years ago

Non BC Vent.

Hi folks, excuse my for being a bit off topic but I am SO BLOODY PISSED OFF that I need to let off some steam and I think my tribe will get this.
I've had a crappy little 'thing' on my face for years and years, Neary two decades. A tiny sebaceous cyst that then became a small cluster of tiny lumps. Every now and then, one of these things would pop and a tiny hard lump of stuff would come out. A bit disgusting, but not too alarming. I've always been assured this was nothing to worry about, unless it changed. Oddly enough it would change when I was having chemo; it--along with the myriad of skin horribles those of you who grew up in the 60s and 70 would be familiar with--would disappear.
Anyway, 2020 has been such a delight that I was unsurprised when said thing started to look a bit manky. My very sensible GP, once I could get an appointment, told me the thing and I had to part company and as it was just below my eye she wouldnt do it. Which surgeon would I like to see? 
That's like asking which form of anthrax I'd prefer. Over the years, I've  churned through most of the locals and,for one reason or another, vowed never to go back to them. So I've made an appointment with a guy who's only been here a couple of years.
I disliked the smarmy narcissist on sight. He agreed the thing was a BCC, and it needed to go, so, after some persuasion on my behalf, he agreed to do it under a local.
I've got a little meditation trick that I use when undergoing any procedure I'm not pleased about, so I explained this too him and told him I didn't need to be reassured,asked how I was going or given a commentary about what he was doing. Please don't talk to me unless you need me to do something.
I should have got up and left when he huffed and did a condescending eye roll.
He was so fucking rough. The area wasn't properly numbed and within 30 seconds he has launched into this tirade about a tenant in a rental property. The problems he was having with a car dealer. On and On, one grievance after another while he is slicing a chunk off my dial.
I lay there motionless for about 15 minutes. I could feel him putting the stitches in and finally cracked it.
'Would you mind giving me your undivided attention for the rest of the procedure?'
You'd think I'd slapped him. I honestly think he'd forgotten I was conscious. More huffing and puffing before telling me he'd finished and stomping off.
The wound bled and bled. I had blood running down my face and neck and two black eyes by the time I staggered out to the car. The appointment to have the sutures out was in two weeks which is too long. Wouldn't change it, so by that time the stitches were imbedded and I'd had to take the filthy dressing off. I cried when I saw what he had done. What a mess.
I'm not a particularly vain woman, but I am not happy about looking like an extra in a Mad Max movie. He's sown the wound up unevenly, I have a really nasty pleat under my eye and what looks like a nipple on my cheek. Two stitch sinuses which won't heal. It's disfiguring and on my face. I've had some crap surgical outcomes in the past, but I've been able to put clothes over them.
I've gone back and asked if he was happy with the job and he told me to leave his offices. 
Why does it always have to be so hard? 
Sorry about the extended whinge.  I am really unhappy. Yes, I'll probably have to get some plastic surgery to fix it, or just live with it. All the while the fucker will keep slicing away at 1200 an hour.
  • @zoffiel I am so sorry this has happened to you.  It's absolutely shitty.  We may not be gorgeous young things any more but that doesn't give permission to not take care of us.  I bet he was willing to take the money.  But I can also understand that it all gets too much when you have to keep fighting.  I do think your GP is best first step but make sure you've got the best photos you can get because you may want to take this further when you have the energy.  I know that I don't have to say this really because you are a veteran at not taking crap quietly.
  • Unfair!
    Unprofessional!
    Unacceptable!

    Although battle weary I agree with others at least a discussion with the GP.

    Take care 

  • I googled the 2 surgeons my GP recommended I use and purely on what I read on their google reviews, didn’t go with the female.   Her reviews said she was impatient with her patients, often late and no bedside manner.  That was good enough for me to not use her! 

    Definitely google him and see what comes up.
  • @arpie I did google him. And I looked at his research papers which included one on facial surgery.
    The reviews--there are only 4 even though he has been working in the district for 7 years -- are certainly not representative of my experience and they are all 5 stars which I find suspicious in the extreme. Hind sight is 20/20, hey?
    He lists the sort of procedure I had and general cosmetic surgery as being one of his competencies though admittedly his main specialty is in another field. You'd think he could put a straight line of stitches in.
  • Geeezus @Zoffiel

    That's awful you poor thing.  I honestly don't know what to say.  How on earth can he just ask you to leave his office?  What an asshole.  Give us his name and we can all give him shit reviews. It's just one bloody thing after another isn't it?   :(

    xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
  • Makes you wonder if he wrote his own reviews ..... feel free to add YOURS, @Zoffiel - he deserves it!
  • Hi @Zoffiel,
    I agree with absolutely everyone. I’m seeing a psychologist now, main reason being PTSD due to my not so fantastic treatment before and after main surgery. I also had to start taking anti anxiety medication to deal with the whole thing. I’m still scared of surgery and don’t wanna go back to that hospital. And this was only due to the treatment, cos the result is ok. So through the whole thing I’ve also discovered that surgeons will not speak against each other, cos they pretty much can’t if they want to continue practising. It’s the same in a lot of fields unfortunately. I never spoke against other teachers, even when I knew they were terrible. I’m not proud of it, it’s just the way it was, but then again it wasn’t stuffing around people’s bodies and health. 
    You probably know of this, but patients can complain to AHPRA. I’m not sure of the procedure, but I’m hoping it’s not a long one. I’d definitely complain there. It’s tiring, for sure, but if we don’t complain these jerkwads will continue with this disgusting and completely unacceptable behaviour. 
    I agree with the ladies about also writing a google review. He has def left the existing ones on his own. And I think you should pm us his name so we can also make complaints against him. We can support each other too, cos it seems like there’s no other way. They have to stick together, but so can we 👌🏻. 
    Good luck, I hope you find someone to fix it properly, and find your fighting spirit again 🍀❤️
  • Hi @Zoffiel,How disgusting he definitely needs reporting. Sending hugs I am sure you need lots xx

  • Ah, I'd love to bombard him with poor reviews. I really would.
    I have a history of opening my mouth and my heart before I get my strategy together. It's a work in progress but I'm trying to always think things through before I start recruiting deputies and saddling up a posse. 
    If that happens now it wouldn't take much deductive process to figure out who was responsible. I made my displeasure crystal clear at the last appointment, and he has surely not had the time to disfigure too many others. Narrows the field a bit.

    Posting a withering assessment myself is fine; there is no lack of evidence. Co-opting others to pile on is a strategy which I can't, in my weirdly honorable fashion, endorse. It pains me, it really does, and I truly thank you all for your support.  I'd also prefer not to get roped into any legal wrangling which-- as we have seen recently--can happen if there is suspicious activity in the review space.
    Besides, it's against the forum rules to name and shame the money grubbing, careless, negligent, incompetent, self absorbed, self important fuckers.  Mxx