Consult with Dr. Zukowski

[LifeInNeon]

I'm going for a consult with Dr. Zukowski on Monday. :-D I'm excited because it's another step in the process and I feel stalled at the moment. But it will also mean having a number that may be disheartening. So, we'll see! I'll keep this updated as things go.

[Mahsa Tezani]

If you can go for it, then do it.

I wish I had that kind of money...

[LivingInGrey]

zomg I'm soooo jealous.

[Forever21Chic]

If you can go for it, then do it.

I wish I had that kind of money...

Dr. Z's prices aren't that bad actually, i got a quote from him for about 25K (with BA) but i'm shopping around to see what prices the other US FFS surgeons give me.

[JenJen2011]

How'd the consult go?

[LifeInNeon]

I didn't really want to reply further, but I think I ought to given the other topics being brought up in other threads.

Short version: The price was right ($25,000 for forehead, chin & jaw, lip lift, cheek fat injection(not implant), trach shave, rhinoplasty). But the surgeon wasn't. I didn't want the fat injection, lip lift, or trach shave so that would probably bring it down to about 21000-22000 in the end.

He bickered with me about several things I told him I didn't want until I gave in and let him keep going with the forceful upselling. He repeatedly stepped out to take calls or handle other business. (The one call I will excuse was from his daughter who was out of the country. I have traveled internationally, I know calls are a hassle.) The facilities I found troubling and lacking, the recovery area particularly so (It basically amounts to a bed against a wall in a back room). The photos of his work were pretty impressive, but the video testimonials left much to be desired, and I just felt I wouldn't get the quality I sought. He was fairly light on the details of what he would be doing; he focused a lot of attention on addressing concerns I didn't even have, as though he were talking not to me but to all of his past patients. The few questions I did have didn't get me anywhere and I was rarely allowed to finish a sentence.

Very, very negative experience overall.

[LivingInGrey]

That's to bad. But at least you have a number to go by for future prospects with other surgeons.

[Jeneva]

The facilities I found troubling and lacking, the recovery area particularly so (It basically amounts to a bed against a wall in a back room).

The recovery area was very small, but given I wasn't sure who I was half the time it didn't really bother me.  I was glad it was in the corner like that because I kept dozing off and if Lisa had appeared behind me I'd have seriously freaked out. 

IF you are still interested he CAN operate in a hospital so that may not be as big a road block as it seems (it is more $ of course).

The few questions I did have didn't get me anywhere and I was rarely allowed to finish a sentence.

Keep in mind I live in the south and most people around here don't get in a hurry and I also mean this in only the best way, but I suspect he really needs to take some ADHD meds at time.  Just like you, I did find that when I had a question I just had to wait until he wound down.  However I did get to ask everything I wanted each time I talked to him.  I also think that outside of the OR he is incapable of being still for more than a few moments.  Once good part about that was that it kept a smile on my face when he made his daily visit after surgery.

Overall now that my air flight swelling is back down, I am thrilled with his work.  But not everyone clicks with everyone else.  I feel that the comfort level with the surgeon is almost as important as the skill and equipment.  There are quite a few surgeons out there and like LivingInGrey said you now have a price to negotiate with. 

Sorry he blew you off.  Good luck finding the right surgeon to show the world the real you.

[juliekins]

I also had a consult with Z a number of years ago. I didn't like his approach. In fact, he insulted a feature of my face by asking, "how could you have lived that long with ____?" Thanks a lot, dude!

BTW, if you haven't read it already, he was served with a medical malpractice suit involving the death of one of his "alleged" patients this past July. She died allegedly of respitory distress and brain damage from oxygen deprivation. Outside paramedics had to be called to his clinic to try and resuscitate this poor woman.

Glad I chose another doctor!

[dejan160]

I also had a consult with Z a number of years ago. I didn't like his approach. In fact, he insulted a feature of my face by asking, "how could you have lived that long with ____?" Thanks a lot, dude!

BTW, if you haven't read it already, he was served with a medical malpractice suit involving the death of one of his "alleged" patients this past July. She died allegedly of respitory distress and brain damage from oxygen deprivation. Outside paramedics had to be called to his clinic to try and resuscitate this poor woman.

Glad I chose another doctor!

on his website it is clearly written that the clinic has 100% safety rate. Are you sure this has happened? I am totally happy with the work Dr Z did for me. I wanted a total change, I look totally different, and 100% feminine, even my close friends don't recognize me now. I kept my transition a secret and when I returned back from the USA I started a new life like a woman. Maybe he talks too much but that doesn't make him a bad doctor.

[Stephe]

http://wilmette.suntimes.com/news/9967617-418/suit-woman-dies-after-multiple-plastic-surgeries-in-one-day.html

Have no idea of the validity but this looks legit.

And I personally would NEVER go under general anesthesia outside of a hospital. It may be fairly safe now but it's not something to be casual about either.

My nose job price of $4800 included doing it in a hospital with their fees included. If something happened, I was already IN a hospital! Seems like the hospital + anesthesiologist was about $1800 of the price. I would never go under for hours in a clinic to save the $1000-$1500. Plus I would figure a hospital IS going to be a clean environment with less issues with infection. I have a high sensitivity to anti-biotics, they did my surgery using none and I had no issues. Most hospitals have special pricing for elective surgery and work you in during off hours. Please people lets be SAFE first and foremost!

[dejan160]

Hi Stephe,

Sounds shocking. 1800 $ is for the anesthesia and for the day hospital. On top of it all add about 2000$ per day for the hospital. And a nose job takes about 1- 1.5 hours. For 8 hours of anesthesia and the operating room the price is much higher. So of course you pay less if you have the surgery at his center. Anesthesia usually has no complications. Those situations happen to people who have preexisting conditions. In my opinion that is the anesthesiologist mistake for overlooking the patient general health. Genaral anesthesia is 100% safe for people who are healthy. From what I understood the patient didn't suffer any complications from the surgery but from the anesthetic.

[Stephe]

Hi Stephe,

Sounds shocking. 1800 $ is for the anesthesia and for the day hospital. On top of it all add about 2000$ per day for the hospital. And a nose job takes about 1- 1.5 hours. For 8 hours of anesthesia and the operating room the price is much higher. So of course you pay less if you have the surgery at his center. Anesthesia usually has no complications. Those situations happen to people who have preexisting conditions. In my opinion that is the anesthesiologist mistake for overlooking the patient general health. Genaral anesthesia is 100% safe for people who are healthy. From what I understood the patient didn't suffer any complications from the surgery but from the anesthetic.

Mine was a 3 hour surgery for that price and no, it's not 100% safe. A quick online search will show a LOT of people that have had complications and after effects. I felt bad for a month after mine from it and am perfectly healthy.

If this had been done in a hospital, they likely wouldn't have died. Another question is it really a good idea to have 8 hours of work done all at once? The longer you are under the more likely to have problems and the longer it takes to recover from it. Most of these procedures are not overlapping. I don't think anyone is saying the surgeon himself cause the death, it's that the surgery was done outside of a hospital that caused it.

I guess the point I was stressing is, I would NEVER go under general anesthesia outside of a hospital. YMMV

[dejan160]

I can see your point. It is always better to be safe. Of course the hospitals are much better equipped. I didn't mind having a 14 hours surgery at DR Z center. And I didn't have any complications from the surgery or from the anesthesia.
When I had my BA in Paris I couldn't start breathing after the GA and I had a panic attack when I started breathing. I totally freaked out. And it was less then 2 hours surgery carried in one of the best french hospitals. They kept me in the IC unit for hours after the surgery. In my case inability to move and to breath after the extubation was caused by overdose (the anesthesiologist was one of the best in Paris) and the panic attack was psychologically caused due to fear.

[JenJen2011]

Listen people. Choose who you feel most comfortable with, period. There are many surgeons out there that specialize in FFS. And remember, no surgeon is perfect or a miracle worker. Going in you should know all the risks involved and one of them is death, unfortunately. I went with Dr. Z and I couldn't be happier. The important thing is that we are happy with our own chosen surgeon and results. Good luck to all.

[helen2010]

I had full FFS with Dr Z in 2010   Couldn't be happier  He didn't over promise or hard sell   He was attentive and his availability pre op and support post op were fantastic   He is pragmatic  and will call it as it is so may not be every body's 'cup of tea" but he certainly worked for me

Helen

[RavenMoon]

Plus I would figure a hospital IS going to be a clean environment with less issues with infection.

Exactly the opposite is true! There are lots of sick people in hospitals, i.e., a lot more germs to catch. Hospital infections account for an estimated 100,000 deaths every year.

I know this is an old thread, but I wanted to point that out.

[amZo]

Exactly the opposite is true! There are lots of sick people in hospitals, i.e., a lot more germs to catch. Hospital infections account for an estimated 100,000 deaths every year.

I know this is an old thread, but I wanted to point that out.

This is a good point you raised. Plus, I notice a lot of people die in hospitals, so I try to avoid them at all costs... 

I'm leaning toward Dr. Z for my ffs. I haven't had a consult with him yet, so I appreciate the heads up LifeInNeon regarding his tendency to be somewhat dismissive (it's an old thread, hope you're still here?). His results are impressive and I like his endoscopic approach. Regarding his tendency to 'upsell', I think it's a good idea to get several opinions from ffs surgeons. We may only want this or that procedure, but affecting one part of the face affects other parts of the face. We should want their thoughts on what they believe are desired procedures. His results are very impressive, I'd like to see the before and after pics of more clients, I'm curious how typical the one's he post are. I'd be happy with half the result of what he shows. He seems to do really good chin work as well as good forehead work.

I had an ffs consult with a surgeon down the road where I live, his demeanor was similar, I think it comes with the territory. 

[Jamie D]

LifeInNeon hasn't been active here since early 2012, but she does have an active tumblr blog.

http://life-in-neon.tumblr.com/

[Chinwork_soon]

I had a phone consultation with dr Z since im an international patient. He did not oversell, however he kept telling me that i would look better if he did this or did that which is kind of like sweet talking you into procedures you didnt want. Whenever i would say " but i think so n so is ok on my face" he would respond back like " yes i know, but it would be better if...." anyway i gave up and let him do all the talking and two days later he sent me a reasonable quote for forehead contouring with brow ridge shaving, forehead lift, nose, chin implant and lower jaw tapering.

I told him i will think about it and respond later, then he said that the prices are not guaranteed i need to decide no later than 10 days. after 10 days i respond back that i will only want to go for the brow lift and lower jaw tapering because i dont feel like i need all the other procedures.

this was 6 months ago, till this day i contacted the office maybe 5 times but no one responds to me at all. So i guess if you decline a big part of the package he's not interested in you anymore? i dunno but that was my experience.