Considering Dr Dimaggio!

[clawdeenwolf]

I've been researching FFS for years now and I always thought I'd go to Dr O, but he was always out of my price range. I've considered Dr. Z, Dr, S, ect...just about every FFS surgeon in the USA! But since I have a type 3 forehead, I learned I need someone who also specializes in craniofacial surgery because apparently Dr Z and Dr S just won't give me the result I desire.

Then I learned about Dr DM. He seems like he is a craniofacial surgeon and apparently gives aggressive results with foreheads, but I'm scared that if I do go to him, what happens if he somehow botches my surgery? Does he do revisions? I recently learned about  Dr Deschamps-Braly and while I'd LOVE to go to him, my budget is about $30k for FFS and I'd probably not get very far if that's all I paid since he can charge over $50k I believe.

I'm also wondering if any former patients of his are truly indeed happy with their results?

I'm so stressed out over this!

[mmmmm]

Not only he seems like a craniofacial surgeon, he went through craniofacial fellowship at University of Washington, so he is craniofacial surgeon.

Im very happy with my result.

[Paula1]

I can only talk from experience seeing some Dr Di Maggio post-ops in the USA when I have been there.

They looked not only great but were also very happy with their results.

My shortlist for the extensive reconstructive surgery that I had on my forehead in April were Facial Team in Spain or Dr Di Maggio.

The prices that many surgeons charge in the USA and here in the UK for any surgery is crazy now and not always the best by a long chalk.

US$50K to my mind is way too expensive and he is continuing Dr O's policy of charging a small fortune for FFS.

Back in 2003, I was quoted a similar price by Dr O and then a year later a similar price again for a face lift. I simply thought at the time. Well that's not affordable !!! 

If I was a US citizen and did not want to fly to Europe, then I would be heading south to Argentina for sure as one of my friends in New Mexico did.

Good luck ... 

Hugs

Paula

[clawdeenwolf]

Thank you both for your replies.

I believe Dr Dimaggio can be as aggressive as Dr O. My only concern is I read another transwoman's experience with him and she said she needed a revision from a FFS surgeon in the USA and that everything ended up costing her even more.

That's why I'm rather weary, but it seems there are lots of happy patients as well.

[mmmmm]

I know whose experience you mean (transwoman from ->-bleeped-<- that had revision with dr. Spiegel). She didnt need to have revision with another surgeon, she chose to not leave US again and have a revision with another surgeon. In her case it wasnt surgeons fault, as the cause of complication was apparently bonepaste reabsorption (which happens to some % of patients due to reaction of their body). All reputable surgeons stand behind their work, and will in most cases offer to do revisions free of charge, but you may (or may not) be required to pay the fee for anesthesiologist, fee for operating theater and other hospital fees. 

[Valentina]

hi clawdeenwolf!

I'm just two weeks post-op with MDM, recovering in Buenos Aires. I'm super happy, he is very aggressive though. Unfortunately I needed such a radical approach. Still very swollen but overall ok.

I had a type III forehead reconstruction, rhinoplasty, complete deep layer facelift, chin and jaw work, literally everything. MDM could explain me exactly what he wanted to do and how. The staff around him and the hospital here in BA are excellent.

I had some healing issues with other surgeries before. I told him that I'm a bad healer and he did everything to avoid complications. They occurred in form of heavy hematomas creating huge swelling but MDM was able to control everything. That showed me that I'm in good hands. It's still too early to give a full report. But I think MDM is a good FFS-surgeon, but he's not the only one of course. I speak some spanish so I didn't have language issues, but as I heard they are also fluent in english and other languages.

Each person is individual. So stay in touch with your preferred surgeon(s) and try to feel if you are confortable with his methods, environment and attitude. Best of luck. And if more information needed just ask...

for other MDM experiences: Jannicke gave an excellent report about her experience with MDM which helped me a lot.

[fabriziatommasi]

hi clawdeenwolf!

I'm just two weeks post-op with MDM, recovering in Buenos Aires. I'm super happy, he is very aggressive though. Unfortunately I needed such a radical approach. Still very swollen but overall ok.

I had a type III forehead reconstruction, rhinoplasty, complete deep layer facelift, chin and jaw work, literally everything. MDM could explain me exactly what he wanted to do and how. The staff around him and the hospital here in BA are excellent.

I had some healing issues with other surgeries before. I told him that I'm a bad healer and he did everything to avoid complications. They occurred in form of heavy hematomas creating huge swelling but MDM was able to control everything. That showed me that I'm in good hands. It's still too early to give a full report. But I think MDM is a good FFS-surgeon, but he's not the only one of course. I speak some spanish so I didn't have language issues, but as I heard they are also fluent in english and other languages.

Each person is individual. So stay in touch with your preferred surgeon(s) and try to feel if you are confortable with his methods, environment and attitude. Best of luck. And if more information needed just ask...

for other MDM experiences: Jannicke gave an excellent report about her experience with MDM which helped me a lot.

hello valentine,
how you found with scars and nose be natural ( in the sense not to slip ? )
I also add it to the front of accomplices to LOWER the nasal bridge and go better with the work of backward front , even you did nose+front  when the first surgery step in front ?

we may feel privately? thank's

[Valentina]

hello valentine,
how you found with scars and nose be natural ( in the sense not to slip ? )
I also add it to the front of accomplices to LOWER the nasal bridge and go better with the work of backward front , even you did nose+front  when the first surgery step in front ?

we may feel privately? thank's

Sorry for the confusion. The first surgery was the lower portion. Second step front and nose. MDM set back the nose to a new nasion (where the nose starts) point, about 1-2cm inwards (difficult to give a better value because of swelling), so no slipping. I got rid of huge orbital rims, so speaking of the nose, he narrowed the bridge at the beginning, rotating the tip minimally upwards and shortening the columella. I have a very wide face, so too much narrowing would have been quite unnatural. So generally speaking I had more of a nose refinement than a drastic change, but I have to respect my overall face geometry to have a natural looking result. The scars so far are nice, he did a wonderful scar revision from my earlier lip lift (scar is now pretty invisible). But it's too early to say something definitive about scar development. I'm not a good healer and always in danger for keloids, but it seems that there is nowhere too much pulling on a scar. It can be risky behind/around the ears when too much skin is cut away. But everything seems to be ok

[fabriziatommasi]

Sorry for the confusion. The first surgery was the lower portion. Second step front and nose. MDM set back the nose to a new nasion (where the nose starts) point, about 1-2cm inwards (difficult to give a better value because of swelling), so no slipping. I got rid of huge orbital rims, so speaking of the nose, he narrowed the bridge at the beginning, rotating the tip minimally upwards and shortening the columella. I have a very wide face, so too much narrowing would have been quite unnatural. So generally speaking I had more of a nose refinement than a drastic change, but I have to respect my overall face geometry to have a natural looking result. The scars so far are nice, he did a wonderful scar revision from my earlier lip lift (scar is now pretty invisible). But it's too early to say something definitive about scar development. I'm not a good healer and always in danger for keloids, but it seems that there is nowhere too much pulling on a scar. It can be risky behind/around the ears when too much skin is cut away. But everything seems to be ok

thank's  Valentina....

[fabriziatommasi]

@valentina... si sono italiana. Ho letto il tuo messaggio privato ma non posso risponderti privatamente(non ho opzione) se vuoi posso darti skype o qualche altro contatto tipo email.sei anche te italiana? stavo valutanto di maggio e volevo chiederti delle cose,purtoppo dr o andato in pensione e non posso permettermelo