I WAS BOTCHED NOT ONCE BUT TWICE BY DR. FIORILLO…read more
I'm writing this with the hope of saving someone else from the emotional and physical nightmare I've endured through this practice.
I had my first breast augmentation done by Dr. Michael Fiorillo at Reflections Medical in Pearl River, NY in August 2023. I flew in from California because my aunt and her friends had gone to him without any issue. I paid $10,000 for what I expected would be a straightforward procedure under the muscle. Within 6 weeks, I noticed a shadow under my nipple and a strange "double chin" effect on my breast (pictures below). I contacted the office, and I was told it was "normal" and to wait a few more weeks. At the 3-month mark, it was still there. Dr. Fiorillo casually said I had "bottomed out a little" and suggested a fat transfer not acknowledging it as anything serious.
A few more months passed after that, and the implants had completely bottomed out, with a large unnatural gap between my actual breast and the implant. So, in August 2024, I returned to him for a revision surgery as I believed maybe it had to do with an event that happened to me after the surgery, not questioning his practice. This time we wanted to add a Galaflex Mesh (a $2,000 internal support) and larger implants, totaling over $6,000 more out of pocket.
Unfortunately, history repeated itself. By the 5-6 week mark, the exact same deformity began to appear. I called the office immediately. A nurse (who later Dr. Fiorillo dismissed as "new") told me it was normal for "tubular breasts" - a diagnosis I was never told I had.
When I finally got on the phone with Dr. Fiorillo, he rushed me, dismissed my concerns, and wouldn't let me explain anything. I was shocked by how little empathy or accountability he showed. When that conversation ended, I had completed lost trust in him. I shortly sought out two separate second opinions from breast augmentation revision specialists. Both told me I had a classic "double bubble"complication.. something Dr. Fiorillo never once mentioned.
According to both doctors:
- The new fold that was created was placed too low.
- The implants were resting on my abdominal wall (not the proper location).
- The Galaflex mesh was a useless expensive "bandaid" that did nothing to correct the surgical error.
- My chest muscle are visibly protruding, explaining the persistent shadow - its a band of my muscle cutting into the implants, making them push onto my abdominal wall.
- The revision to undo this damage will now cost me $16,000-$18,000 as they have to undo all the damage Dr. Fiorillo has done.
When I brought all of this to Dr. Fiorillo's attention at my 3 month follow up, he said he stood by his work and that he still thought he did a nice job (please look at the pictures below - his comment is laughable). He offered me a $4,000 refund, but only if I signed an NDA. Mind you, I had already spent $16,000+ on him. I refused to be silenced, especially for the little money he wanted to refund to me. Patients deserve transparency and the truth.
This process has been traumatizing - not just financially, but emotionally. I feel completely disfigured, disappointed, and dismissed. I went to Dr. Fiorillo hoping to feel more confident in my body, and I'm now left needing a third surgery and emotionally drained from this ordeal. From a surgery that should have been just $10,000 until my ten year mark is now going to cost me over $30,000.
Please do your research. Get multiple consultations. Don't be swayed by flashy marketing or years in practice or by someone that has been on TV. I wouldn't wish this experience on anyone.
You can see my pictures from both surgeries from 2023 and 2024 below: