rant - QLD plastic surgeon a bit rude + updates

[mostro]

after booking and waiting more than two months for an appointment with Dr William Cockburn (at the Wesley), i went in for the consultation. i had a Dr's referral and everything and was wanting to book a surgery time.

during the examination his phone rang and he took a little PDA phone out from under his desk and had a chat with someone about audio equipment, then he proceeded to text someone while asking me questions.

he took a look at my chest and said i definitely have gynecomastia with glandular enlargement, but it was a mild case and that i should wait a few more years (i'm 22 and had gyno as long as i remember), and i told him i still wanted to get it done but he persisted and said i shouldn't do the surgery "because it might look worse afterwards"

i know he's probably more busy with reconstructive surgery than anything cosmetic, but he made me feel as if he was just trying to get me out of his office because he wanted to phone someone... so after two months of waiting, he basically charged me $160 to tell me i had gyno, a fact that i'm obviously very aware of.

[Punta]

Sorry to hear about that. I am assuming you are in Brisbane so I can recommend a surgeon close to you.

Dr Peter WIDDOWSON in Southport, Gold Coast, is awesome. My consultation was 45 mins with him, he couldn't do enough for me. He is expensive, $4500 surgeons fee only, but worth every penny. The aftercare also is second to none which is included. I had 5 x 30min  lymphatic treatments with his staff post op (like a massage to the chest) to speed recovery. Overall, happy with the results 2 months post op.

Good luck...

[mostro]

thanks for the suggestion punta - from your other thread, your doctor sounds a lot more professional and empathetic compared to Dr Cockburn. however i'm unable to make it down to the coast - i live by myself and was hoping to find a doctor within taxi range of where i live because i'd feel embarassed if i got my mates to drive me around for cosmetic surgery.

i originally booked in to see Dr Cockburn because he used to be president of the ASPS, and that stood out in his credentials. thinking about what he said, there may be some wisdom in waiting a few more years, but at the same time i feel like i'd be losing some of the best years of my life (i'm still in my early 20s) so i'm getting back on track and booking another couple of consultations.

one is with Ashbury http://www.ashburycosmetic.com.au/male-breast-reduction.html - pros are that they seem to get a lot of gyno patients (one of their most popular procedures for men) as opposed to the half-a-dozen a year that other surgeons seem to get. the technique described on their website is the one i'm after (infra-areola/drains/garment), and they are less expensive. cons are that i'll probably get Dr Chen who doesn't have as much credentials as a plastic surgeon.

the other is with Dr Phil Richardson http://www.brisbaneplasticsurgery.com/html/breast.html#gynaecomastia - he is nearby, with MBBS Hons(1st class), FRACS, ASPS, ASAPS and specialises in breast surgery while also doing reconstructive surgery at a children's hospital. i'd be happy to get the surgery done by him though the gyno info on his website seems minimal and it sounds like i'd have to wear some sort of bandage instead of vest.

[The_G0rn]

mostro,

Have you considered either of the following (Brisbane) plastic surgeons:

http://www.davidcampbell.com.au/
http://www.paulbelt.com.au/

I know nothing about them myself, other than they are in Brisbane and have gyno listed as a procedure on their websites.

Also, whats so special about the compression vest?  Can't you just order one online if you really want/need one?  Comments anyone?

[Jojojojo]

Hi Mostro

I would stay away from Ashbury cosmetic centre. I have been there twice before for my Gyne. Only had Lipo done and I am not satisfied. I dont know much about Dr Chen tho, but still I personally would not go back to them.

I have had a consulation with DR Paul Belt and soon I am having my surgery with him this Friday. He had done three procedures in the last 6 months, all with gland excision and lipo. I was booked in to have a consultaion with Dr Philip Richardson, but overlooked him after consultaion with Dr Paul Belt.
I am hoping that my surgery will be a success.

[mostro]

i remember the names david campbell and paul belt, i probably had a look at them but opted to have a consultation with dr richardson first because he was closer to where i live.

jojojojo - you should be in recovery by now i hope it all went well. i just had a look at paul belt's website and noticed that him and phil richardson are at the same place - Level 1, 38 Misterton St, though they are in different rooms.

which dr did you get at ashbury? i got a phone call on Friday afternoon from a secretary confirming an appointment with a dr fitzgerald i think she said. he isn't listed in the website's key personnel section. how was the scar after your previous gyno surgery with them?

[mostro]

i went in to the ashbury clinic at windsor yesterday for a consultation with Dr Pearl Fitzgerald - she said that they only do lipo there and not glandular excision and if i wanted to do gland aswell, i'd have to get referred elsewhere by my GP (i didn't tell her i'd already gone and done that).

so, next appointment is with phil richardson at the end of this month.

[Jojojojo]

Hi Mostro

Well I ahve been late to come back to this website. Yes I have recovered from my surgery and I would say Dr Paul Belt is good.
I would rate my case as moderate, I have always been very largely built in and around my chest area, so I knew that I would never be flat as thats the way I am really built, but Dr Paul has done a good job and I feel comfortable after the surgery.
Also at the moment I am still swollen and bruised a bit, but everyday it gets better and I think it will take upto 3 moths to see the final results of the surgery.
The surgery was under general anesthesia at the greenslopes private hospital. The most annoying part was the wait time. I opted to stay overnight tho it was not compulsary as Dr Paul wanted me to stay. Drains were in for 3 days, not much bleeding tho. On monday I had the drains removed(did not pain at all). Initial Swelling can make you feel dissapointed, but it only gets better everyday after that. As I said I am still swollen and bruised, but seems to get better everyday.

I had my surgery on the 5th of october, and its been 10 days so far. Also this compression vest is kinda tight, but gives me great relief as without it I feel very bruised and swollen pain.
Also I had both lipo and gland removed, Dr paul told me that he did lipo a lot and the operation took about 2  1/2 hours to complete. After surgery while I was in recovery it did not hurt much and even I was in pretty good shape and condition after having general anaesthia. I lead a very active life and thats why I think I healed without much discomfort.

Anyone with questions, most welcome.
No pics yet as they are with the doc on his computer

cheers

Jojojojo

[brisguy1]

hey jojojo
glad to hear it went well. how much did he charge you all up?

[Jojojojo]

Hi Mostro

The charges were sr Paul Belts fee   3000 $
Anaesthiest fee    513  $.   (They take part in gap payment, so the remaining 430 $ paid by medicare and medibank)

My health fund excess fee  250 $ for day surgery.

I should get back about 700 $ back from the fees I have paid to Dr Paul Belt after lodging my two way claim forms to medicare and my private health fund.

So I have paid from my pockets (2300 + 250 + 513 = 3063 AU$)

At the moment its been exactly 2 weeks after surgery. I must say I still have a very bruised feeling and still swollen (mainly due to Lipo done), also everyday the chest looks a bit different, so I have to be patient for atleast 3 months to know how the final appearence will be.

I have to go back to meet the Dr on the 20th of Nov, by then I hope most of the swelling will be gone and I can have a good picture of my results.

cheers

Jojojojo

[mostro]

thanks for the info, i look forward to hearing how things are going after another month - since they're in the same building, if i don't like anything about phil richardson, i can just go next door and book an appointment with paul belt.

did you take a week off work? were you able to move your arms around fairly reasonably after a week?

[Jojojojo]

I was driving after 5 days, but I would advise not to do it atleast for a week(in my case, I had no choice for personal reasons).
No you cant move your hands freely, specially upward or pick up any large weights. It can be uncomfortable in the first week and there is also the risk of ripping the stiches or causing internal bleeding. I had to sleep in one position only (on my back) and that was the only irritating thingh for me.
You will be most comfortable in 2 weeks time, as now I am living just very normally, but now and then when I go to extremes, I am reminded I had surgery done.
There is still swelling and a little bit of a bruised feeling. But everyday it gets better and looks better too. When I go back to meet the dr on the 20th of Nov, I hope I will be mostly healed by then, tho I know it can take from 3 to 6 months to keep experiencing changes.

[mostro]

ah, thanks for the info... did you need to go outside much while you had the pressure dressing on? i may need to go to the shops etc while i'm recovering...

i originally wanted to have the surgery done while the weather was still cool but things tend to get delayed a bit...

anyhow, i went to see Phil Richardson at the pacific day surgery clinic and the combined waiting room for all the doctors was huge... i went in to see him and he started explaining all the details and risks of the surgery etc and he seems to know his stuff. i'm part asian and he said that asians have a slightly higher risk of developing keloid scars. i'm also on a medication called roaccutane, which can help in the healing process, however it also adds to the risk of excess healing (keloids again) so if i were to book a surgery day, it would have to be at least a month after i finish the medication (which is soon).

he also got a phone call, which he originally ignored but i told him to take it - he talked to someone about organising structural changes to the clinic. anyhow when i was on the phone, i noticed a large pile of breast implants on his desk, and he had over half a dozen certifications hung up side by side across an entire wall, so that was slightly reassuring that he's got a bit of experience around the breasts etc.

anyhow, he had his assistant print out some info and a quote, and it's as follows:

Dr Richardson's fee : $2000 with $690 back from medicare and health fund (gap of $1310.45)
Day surgery fee: Excess payable on admission (I assume this will be around $250 as Jojojojo said)
Anesthetist's fee: $750 with $167 back from MB & HF (gap of $583)
so the total i expect to pay is around $2150, which is a fair bit less than i expected (i did have a Dr's referral that said i had a history of low testosterone, so not sure if that was factored in somewhere - there was a 31527 x2 mentioned somewhere on the quote)

i'm going to take a week to plan things out, then phone in and book an appointment.

[Jojojojo]

Mostro, I did not need to go out at all after surgery for the first 3 days, as I had the drains one. So do all your shopping in advance for a week's supply, also I have a helping wife that makes it even easier.
Looks like you feel comfortable with Dr Richardson. Yes if you have an asian inheritance then their can be a scar on the skin, as I am also partly asian, the doc did specify that to me. But the incision he made is right under the nipple and not on the skin and so hopefully I will heal without anyone noticing any scar.
My update is that everyday there is an imrovement, Its been almost 1 month now, I am still swollen on my right side and a bit on my left side. I will suggest Dr Paul Belt is good and knows his stuff.
But if you feel your doc is good then go for it. I think all surgeons explain risks as mine did too.