Botched Top Surgery in Louisiana

[Jfrank]

Hey everyone!

I don't post much, but I have an issue that is really bothering me and would like some advice. I had my top surgery on February 20. I chose a surgeon based loosely on recommendations and heavily on insurance coverage. Since this surgeon had a few satisfied trans clients, was in network, and very trans friendly, I chose him.
However, the surgery was a mess from the first day. Firstly, the doctor AND the anesthesia team told my sister and I that the surgery would take approximately an hour and a half. Three and half hours later, I came out of surgery to a panicked sister. This was dismissed as being "typical time frame" for this type of surgery. I was sent home the same day, which I felt to be a bit soon for this type of surgery. When I got home I was in excruciating pain. I have already had a complete hysterectomy and didn't feel half as bad after that. Then came the bleeding. After the first night, I woke up to very deep purple bruising from my shoulders to my waistline. I was VERY dizzy and unable to even walk. I called the doctor who explained that this was normal. When I followed up in a week, the nipple bolsters came off to reveal black nipples. They were clearly necrotic. He said as long as I kept applying the antibiotic ointment, they had a chance to survive. I also had to keep my drains in for a little over 2 weeks due to all the fluid coming out.
It has now been almost 5 weeks and I look like a monster. My nipples have both died; only scar tissue remains. I have 2 HUGE, crooked incisions from the center of my chest (separated by an inch or so) all the way around to my back, a strange protrusion in the center of my chest, and now, the incision on the right side has opened back up in 3 different places and is oozing pus. Also, the right side of my chest has swollen and is tight, very different from the left side.
I am just at a loss right now. I am not one to sue anyone, but at this point, I don't know what my options are. I don't want him screwing me up again and now insurance will not cover a revision. Any insight is welcome 👍🏽

[Kylo]

Anything up to 4 hrs is normal for surgery time. I just had mine 3 weeks ago and they said anything from 2-4 hrs. My cousin was in for longer due to complications, I was out in 3. They estimate the time, but they sometimes have to deal with issues arising during the surgery like with my cousin and it takes longer.

Some degree of bruising is normal. I've got some on the left side.

They usually keep people in overnight to monitor their blood pressure and infection response though - being sent home same day doesn't sound right to me. It's fairly major surgery (if you have the DI). Dizziness can come from coming off the drugs they use during surgery, or strong painkillers like codeine. That's normal if they've dosed you up with something heavy.

Honestly I don't know what happens with nipple graft failure as mine were all right after the dressing came off, but the surgeon warned me it was a possibility should they not "take", in which case he recommended other options like 3D tattooing. That was in the consent forms I signed as a possible risk.

2 weeks drains sounds serious; mine were in for under 24 hrs and the fluid quit within that timeframe so I guess there was still a lot of internal healing to be done for you. Some fluid in the area after the incisions have healed is normal as well apparently - they will aspirate it or tell you to wait it out till it gets re-absorbed. If the incisions have opened back up call the surgeon, you don't want an infection and you want it stitched up again to prevent bigger, rougher scarring. 

If it helps, apparently most people have asymmetric chests at first, my left side took it worse than the right and has slightly more fluid on it although it's slowly returning to normal.

My surgeon warned me in advance that for the first couple of months it was going to look brutal, but I looked through his before after progression photographs of his other patients in his office to be aware of the process. It's looking about how I'd expect 3 weeks post. The scars are fairly long and it's going to take them a year or two to fade, but they've patched up all right. The bruising on one side is going to take a few weeks to fade. It never looks too nice to begin with, we all have to be patient it seems.

But if you've got an incision reopened, contact them about it asap. That will screw up your scars and is a health risk.
if they gave you surgical tape like they did me, stick that on it to keep the edges together in the meantime... you're meant to keep it on for some time post-op I'm told.

[Devlyn]

Big hug! Our surgeries are vastly different but I had some of the same healing issues including an incision that reopened. The uncertainty can be difficult to deal with.Try to remain optimistic, a positive outlook is important to recovery and moving forward.

Hugs, Devlyn

[dissipate]

Garramone gives free consults on revision. I think it's worth getting his opinion even if just to know what the problem might be and what can be done.