Legal advice on unsatisfactory TT results

I posted on here a month or so back about my dissatisfaction with my abdominoplasty.  I posted pics as well.  Everyone on here pretty much agreed that I got screwed.  I was told it looked like I had a panniculectomy done instead of an abdominoplasty.  My surgeon went through my insurance again to try get them to pay for a revision.  I think that is grossly unfair and unethical on his part, due to the fact that my results were his downfall and not theirs.  Well, they denied me.  I tried to make an appointment with him and his office manager/nurse basically told me I'd have to pay $65 to be able to talk directly to him about this matter.  I think this is asinine that I would have to pay to talk to him about a procedure that he has done.  I've been told by people that I have a case against him...although none of them are legal experts, just have friends who are or know people in a similar situation.  Is there anyone out there with the knowledge of the legal system and whether or not this is something that can be pursued in court.  I do not think my insurance should have to pay for this again, but I think the surgeon should have to fix his work or pay for me to get it fixed elsewhere.    Plus in the pics you can see the dog ears.  He told me he would fix these, but we would wait and see what the insurance said as far as going back in and doing the revision.  NOW, he is saying that he can't do anything about the dog ears because the insurance won't pay for any more procedures.  As you can imagine, I am heartbroken and feel so horrible about my body. I did not go through all this to end up looking like I do below.  The pics of my results are below:

I think I mentioned this last month.  You need to go through your consent papers - the papers you signed before your surgery and find out what you agreed to have done.  If it says panniculectomy and not abdominoplasty then you don't have a case.  If your insurance says it pays only for a panniculectomy and you wanted an abdominoplasty and he didn't do it, then you don't have a case.  Make sure you signed consent forms for an Abdominoplasty. 

If you signed up for and you and/or your insurance company paid for an abdominoplasty and you got a panniculectomy you have a legal case - go find a medical malpractice attorney and let him handle the whole thing.  There's no point in dealing with this surgeon any longer.  Even if he agreed to do the work for free I would be hesitant. 

OMG  I am here to complain about my tummy tuck and then I see yours.  I am so sorry.  I cant even imagine what they did to you.  I would so hire the lawyer.  Good Luck

Hi Jennifer -

I'm so sorry and can certainly understand why you're upset.  I don't have any good legal advice for you.  I wish I did!

Have you tried seeing a different surgeon?  I know there would probably be a consultation fee, but at least you'd have another opinion and perhaps a better idea of what your options are.

There are some OUTSTANDING surgeons out there.  Looks to me like the one who did your surgery isn't one of them.

Good luck and don't give up hope.

~ BJ

Hmm, he can't fix your dog ears now that he won't be getting any more money?  What a creep.  He should fix them because he did a bad job.  Just go see an attorney and let him sort out if you have a case.  Most of them don't charge for the first consultation anyway.  They won't take it if they don't think they have a case.  (My late husband was an attorney.)  Also, make a formal complaint to whatever medical boards apply.  They don't like having that sort of thing on record. 

I'm so sorry about your results.  You don't deserve what he did, and I hope you go after him.  I wish you all the best.

I am astonished by your pictures.  I am so  sorry you are going through this.  I work as a paralegal and I can tell you that Medical Malpractice attorneys usually work on a % basis and do not charge for a consult.  You need to go see an attorney.

Gather all of your paperwork from your insurance company and the surgeon such as the consent papers etc and bring them with you.

I had a panniculectomy 3 weeks ago, my insurance paid for it, you can view my pictures on my profile.  Even if you had just a "panniculectomy" you shouldn't look like you do.  It doesn't look like he even attempted to pull down the skin from above.  Do you have any before pics??  I hope you do.

Don't waste any more time, start looking for an attorney and don't just necessarily go with the first one you meet, make sure you are comfortable with them.  I think it is far more important to try and win a settlement against this surgeon and have the work done by someone else.  I wouldn't let this guy near me with a scalpel ever again. 

Good luck and keep us posted.

was the dr a ps or just a surgeon? my surgery is next week, i am a little afraid after i seen your's! i defently would get some legal advice! i feel so bad for you, he should be ashame!

Hi Jennifer,

My cousin used to practice medical malpractice law and I was told that lawyers like that work on a % and you don't have to pay upfront.  PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, go find a lawyer!   As a PS patient and very close friend of a PS, that is not what you are suppose to look like!  GOOD LUCK and keep us all updated!  I am very sorry!

Ilyssa

you can get a TT out patient for about $5300, that is ps, anes., & facility fee.   you can get it wil the anchor for $7800.     if these are your post pictures, you might want to look into it, and save up the cash.  I went in for the second procedure i listed a week ago monday.  ps couldn't pull my muscles any tighter in the mid section area, so he did the simpler procedure on me and refunded the difference in his fee, nurse told me anes. &  facility would also be sending me refund checks.  my figures might be a little high. 

oh, and i am getting around peachy ......... had one drain and that was removed 3days after surgery.  had staples on belly button removed on tues a week after surgery.  other stiches will come out tuesday.

what they did was: mon- surgery, tues ps appt, fri ps appt, ps  tues ps appt, next tues ps appt........ seems like there was another appt in there somewhere.

but i am up doing whatever i want to.  i have been taking wall paper off the wall for the last three or four days.  not supposed to be driving though

Is this a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon?

If so I would try to talk to him on the phone and email him pictures.

If you do not succeed, you can always report him to the medical board and also American Society of Plastic Surgeons?