EDS
07-16-2001, 10:33 PM
I am considering a facelift and blepharoplasty. Has anyone had any experiences (good or bad) with these Plastic Surgeons?
Mark Constantian of Nashua NH
Bruce Topol of Manchester NH
Robert S. Feins of Manchester NH
Peter Pacik of Manchester NH
David Bryan (Lahey Clinic) Burlington MA
George P. Chatson North Andover MA
EDS
[This message has been edited by EDS (edited 07-16-2001).]
[This message has been edited by EDS (edited 07-16-2001).]
[This message has been edited by EDS (edited 07-17-2001).]
Mark Constantian of Nashua NH
Bruce Topol of Manchester NH
Robert S. Feins of Manchester NH
Peter Pacik of Manchester NH
David Bryan (Lahey Clinic) Burlington MA
George P. Chatson North Andover MA
EDS
[This message has been edited by EDS (edited 07-16-2001).]
[This message has been edited by EDS (edited 07-16-2001).]
[This message has been edited by EDS (edited 07-17-2001).]
Sponsor
Dawn
07-17-2001, 12:24 AM
Hi EDS...I'm about to have a lower FL by Dr. Mark Constantian in a few days! (I'm now scared to death.) He is an excellent surgeon, though, and highly respected by his professional peers. When I was researching, I went on several consultations, and two of the other doctors actually mentioned Dr. Constantion and said what an excellent doctor he is!
I also saw two of the names you mention, Pacik and Feins. Pacik tried talking me into work I didn't want (lipo of the neck without muscle tightening), and spent an hour telling me he couldn't make up his mind what to do with me. That seemed bizarre to me, when the doctor himself is confused. Also, Pacik's staff was more interested in selling me skin care items than in anything else, and when I asked to see the surgi-site, I couldn't! He left me in his office to look at pictures while he went to see other patients, and the pictures he showed me of former patients were all very old..nothing more recent than a few years ago, including his mother. His consultation was a waste of $125.
I saw Feins, and he spent not much more than 5, maybe 10 minutes with me, answered no questions, and then said he would show me to his skin care specialist to discuss Retinol for under-eye treatment. Instead, he took me to the accounting office and left me there to pay, and then the accountant left me standing in the hall with no idea how to get out. I never got any definitive advice from Feins, his only comment was "you'll make an excellent candidate for surgery" (when in fact, he had asked me no medical history or anything, all he had done was pull at my facial skin quickly), I was never shown any photos or given any details other than "I use such-and-such hospital, and we can schedule you for a lower FL next month". I never did get to see the clinician. For that I paid $90 (or maybe it was $110). All in all, I was not impressed with either Pacik or Feins, and would never have had nearly enough confidence in either to have gone back to them for more advice, let alone surgery.
On the other hand, Dr. Constantian was wonderful with his consultation, and spent a good deal of time discussing what MY expectations were, how he could best achieve the results I wanted, etc. He discussed in detail the procedure, what he would like to accomplish for me, and had great photos which we discussed. His staff was also the friendliest and most efficient by far, which also tells me something. His consultation fee is higher ($155-250, depending on what surgery you're looking for...mine cost $155), and is not credited toward the surgery, as the others are..but he's only a little bit higher for the surgery than the others. Oh..by the way...Dr. Constantian was just named one of the top Plastic Surgeons I believe. One drawback is that the wait for a surgery date once you decide to use him is much longer than the others...Pack and Feins could have done it within 3 or 4 weeks, but I made my appointment with Constantian months ago (I think it was early April, and I'm just this week going to have it done, as this was the first date available). Although that's a long wait, it also tells me that he has many more patients than the other two I mentioned.
My pick would definitely, without a doubt, be Dr. Constantian of the three on your list that I consulted with (don't know the other names you mentioned). Just my opinion, mind you.
Keep in mind that you might want to wait for an update from me, though...since the procedure has yet to be done...hahaha! I'll post when I can after it's been done, as I believe Didgy was also interested to hear how it goes.
Just my opinion, obviously...but thought I'd post in detail, since when I was asking about NH surgeons, on here as well as other boards, I didn't get one response!!
I also saw two of the names you mention, Pacik and Feins. Pacik tried talking me into work I didn't want (lipo of the neck without muscle tightening), and spent an hour telling me he couldn't make up his mind what to do with me. That seemed bizarre to me, when the doctor himself is confused. Also, Pacik's staff was more interested in selling me skin care items than in anything else, and when I asked to see the surgi-site, I couldn't! He left me in his office to look at pictures while he went to see other patients, and the pictures he showed me of former patients were all very old..nothing more recent than a few years ago, including his mother. His consultation was a waste of $125.
I saw Feins, and he spent not much more than 5, maybe 10 minutes with me, answered no questions, and then said he would show me to his skin care specialist to discuss Retinol for under-eye treatment. Instead, he took me to the accounting office and left me there to pay, and then the accountant left me standing in the hall with no idea how to get out. I never got any definitive advice from Feins, his only comment was "you'll make an excellent candidate for surgery" (when in fact, he had asked me no medical history or anything, all he had done was pull at my facial skin quickly), I was never shown any photos or given any details other than "I use such-and-such hospital, and we can schedule you for a lower FL next month". I never did get to see the clinician. For that I paid $90 (or maybe it was $110). All in all, I was not impressed with either Pacik or Feins, and would never have had nearly enough confidence in either to have gone back to them for more advice, let alone surgery.
On the other hand, Dr. Constantian was wonderful with his consultation, and spent a good deal of time discussing what MY expectations were, how he could best achieve the results I wanted, etc. He discussed in detail the procedure, what he would like to accomplish for me, and had great photos which we discussed. His staff was also the friendliest and most efficient by far, which also tells me something. His consultation fee is higher ($155-250, depending on what surgery you're looking for...mine cost $155), and is not credited toward the surgery, as the others are..but he's only a little bit higher for the surgery than the others. Oh..by the way...Dr. Constantian was just named one of the top Plastic Surgeons I believe. One drawback is that the wait for a surgery date once you decide to use him is much longer than the others...Pack and Feins could have done it within 3 or 4 weeks, but I made my appointment with Constantian months ago (I think it was early April, and I'm just this week going to have it done, as this was the first date available). Although that's a long wait, it also tells me that he has many more patients than the other two I mentioned.
My pick would definitely, without a doubt, be Dr. Constantian of the three on your list that I consulted with (don't know the other names you mentioned). Just my opinion, mind you.
Keep in mind that you might want to wait for an update from me, though...since the procedure has yet to be done...hahaha! I'll post when I can after it's been done, as I believe Didgy was also interested to hear how it goes.
Just my opinion, obviously...but thought I'd post in detail, since when I was asking about NH surgeons, on here as well as other boards, I didn't get one response!!
EDS
07-17-2001, 09:31 AM
Hi Dawn
THANK YOU ever so much for your reply. I have an appointment with Dr. Contanstian on August 16th, he was my first choice and you saved me time and money. I saw another plastic surgeon a few weeks ago his fee was $85.00. I will add him to my list. He may be a good surgeon but he hardly spent any time with me. he took photos of my face and put it on the computer to altar the flaws but they didn't look any different. He said it was because of the lighting. He left me in the office and had someone come in a speak to me about cost. I wasn't impressed with him.
I will check the site to see how your doing with your upcoming surgery
Good Luck
EDS
THANK YOU ever so much for your reply. I have an appointment with Dr. Contanstian on August 16th, he was my first choice and you saved me time and money. I saw another plastic surgeon a few weeks ago his fee was $85.00. I will add him to my list. He may be a good surgeon but he hardly spent any time with me. he took photos of my face and put it on the computer to altar the flaws but they didn't look any different. He said it was because of the lighting. He left me in the office and had someone come in a speak to me about cost. I wasn't impressed with him.
I will check the site to see how your doing with your upcoming surgery
Good Luck
EDS
Dawn
07-17-2001, 11:29 PM
Hi EDS...you're welcome. Remember that any doctor that doesn't spend enough time with you should send a red flag up. I know I felt that with Feins especially, and Pacik because he seemed so unsure what procedure to do (and even what the outcome would be). I've also read, on other boards, postings from others who have gone with surgeons that don't spend enough time before surgery seeming to be the ones that they can't get answers from, or cooperation from, AFTER the surgery if there's a problem. Just a thought. Oh, and one other thing I should add...Dr. Constantian does not do the computer imaging thing. Or, if he does, he didn't do it with me for some reason. I didn't really care, since I've read on other boards that those things aren't all that reliable for outcome anyway. He did take the "before" pics, but not the day of consultation. He makes another 10-minute appointment to do that a few weeks later, probably because he wants to make sure what procedure you actually want done. He also makes a third appointment with you for the week of the procedure to go over last minute details and to give the scripts that have to be filled before surgery. I do have faith in him...now all I have to do is keep repeating that over and over again to myself for the next few days, lol!! Thanks for the good luck wishes...I'll post after it's done.
EDS
07-18-2001, 12:26 AM
Hi Dawn
I was happy to hear that Dr. Constantian didn't use computer imaging.
Are those 10 minute appointments with Dr. Constantian
included in the price of the initial consultation?
EDS
I was happy to hear that Dr. Constantian didn't use computer imaging.
Are those 10 minute appointments with Dr. Constantian
included in the price of the initial consultation?
EDS
Dawn
07-18-2001, 02:40 AM
Hi EDS. The initial consultation consists of a lengthy discussion about what you wish to achieve through surgery, and how he feels he can best help you...shows Many pictures, etc; has you speak with one of the staff about available dates should you decide to go ahead with it, etc. I believe the way the rest of it works is that once you put down a deposit to reserve the surgery date chosen (mine was $500, which I gave that very same day because I was so sure it was Dr. C that I wanted to do it)...Then they tell you they will contact you with dates to come in for photos, etc. Within the week I received a letter with my appt. for "before photos", which was scheduled about 3 weeks later. After that appt., about 3 or 4 weeks prior to surgery, I received a package from them with my instructions for pre-op lab work...how to pay in advance for the hospital and anesthesia; what medicines and foods to avoid; instructions for all the incidentals. Since I paid my deposit the same day as the appointment, I can't be certain whether the photos are part of the consultation fee or not. I have a feeling they aren't, since mine were taken after deciding to have it done and paying the deposit. But then, if you don't decide to go with him, why have the photos taken anyway? Maybe that's their thinking... who knows.
EDS
07-18-2001, 10:18 AM
Hi Dawn...Thanks again for your reply. I just wondered because his fee was slightly higher than the other surgeon I saw earlier. I know your surgery is coming up soon so I'll be waiting to hear from you after the surgery...Good Luck.....EDS
[This message has been edited by EDS (edited 07-18-2001).]
[This message has been edited by EDS (edited 07-18-2001).]

