I began my search for a surgeon who could remove my breast implants due to me having symptoms possibly pertaining to them. I had my first appointment with Dr. Gal and was given lots of information to which I did further research to ensure I was making the best decision pertaining to the capsules surrounding my implants.
Anyone who shows symptoms of this unverified "breast implant illness" are to remove both the implant and the entire capsule.
So I go into my second appointment with Dr. Gal and explain that I do want the explant + FULL capsulectomy. She then says a few times that "if it is not safe, I will leave it be". Now as a non medical personnel, I am trusting the doctor I am having do surgery on me to do what I have made expected. I am paying for a full capsulectomy, so of course she is going to get it all, right?
Fast forward to surgery day..
I wake up from my surgery to the words, "the doctor didn't get all of the capsule-- she deemed it unsafe".
The amount of disappointment, anger, sadness, regret that I felt post op was intense.
Post op I did more research..
*There is a HUGE difference between a plastic surgeon, and a board certified plastic surgeon. ( Dr. Gal is not board certified)
*If a surgeon is EVER hesitant that they cannot get ALL of the capsule, run.
*A board certified plastic surgeon CAN and DOES get all of the capsule even with it being stuck to the chest wall, because they have the level of skill to do so.
I was left with 10 percent capsule in my right breast, and 30 percent in my left breast.
I now have to go to another doctor, a board certified in plastics + reconstructive to have this fixed. I have to pay many more thousands of dollars to have this fixed. I have to put my body through more trauma so soon after this surgery to have it fixed. I should be recovering, and getting my life back that I had prior to getting implants in, in the first place, but I cannot.
What do I think should have been done? Well when Dr. Gal heard me adamantly say in my second appointment, after I had done further research-- that it was just as important to remove the capsule as it was the implant, she should have told me to find another doctor. She should have explained that she was not skilled enough to get all of the capsule. She should have given me the chance to see a doctor with the level of skill that I needed-- a board certified plastic surgeon.
Since having this surgery I have in many ways explained my incredible disappointment with the fact that the entire capsule wasn't removed even though I paid many thousands of dollars to have the entirety removed. I have explained many times that I am going to seek out a more qualified board certified plastic surgeon to fix this mistake.
I finished my last appointment with Dr. Gal and was hoping to get some kind of closure, apology, acknowledgment, reimbursement even to pay for the surgery that I now need to have to fix this mistake-- and nothing. I was given the round a bout about how "their intention was to remove the entire capsule". Okay, but you didn't remove it all? So why did I pay for a full capsulectomy yet didn't get what I paid for? Why do I have to find someone properly skilled to fix this lack of skill on your part?
I hate this, I am a person who hates complaining. But this is not okay.
I went in hoping to get my life back, get rid of these symptoms that I believe to my core are caused by the implants-- and now it's turning into a $12,000 investment that I shouldn't have had to make due to their malpractice.
I would have appreciated more accountability on Dr. Gals part. I would have appreciated her charging me only for a partial capsulectomy instead of a full capsulectomy. Since she only removed partial.
The new doctor I am going through to have the rest of the capsule removed with is very confident that he can get what was left by Dr. Gal-- and with that I am hopeful that I will get my life back.
Fast forward-- I am now 3 weeks post op from my SECOND surgery with a board certified in plastics + reconstruction-- Dr. Roni Prucz-- incredible doctor-- amazing bedside manner, amazing level of skill and knowledge. He was able to successfully remove the rest of the capsule tissue that Dr. Gal left behind.
Dr. Prucz shared his concern with the previous surgery-- one being that Dr. Gal had left ALOT of capsule on my muscle which to him was odd because that's the easiest place to get it from -- and I was told she only left it on my chest wall-- that's why it was deemed "unsafe". Dr. Prucz also expressed concern pertaining to the amount of time Dr. Gal had me under for-- he said he could have done completely reconstructed breast in that time.
Nevertheless, I am thankful for this outcome with Dr. Prucz.
I have since this second surgery reached out to Peoria Cosmetic in regards to my genuine disappointment, with no response. read more