UpperEastSide
06-22-2003, 04:58 PM
I am looking for feedback from anyone who has had a tummy tuck and/or lipo from either of the above listed doctors. I have heard that they are both fabulous, but have hearth this more in the context of other surgical procedures.
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alisonr
12-10-2004, 10:32 AM
I just had a consultation with Pitman for lipo and have one scheduled with Matarasso next week. I was wondering which one you ended up choosing and how you made your decision. What was your experience like? Any advise you can give would be greatly appreciated!!!
nycgal24
12-14-2004, 10:53 PM
Hi there:
Both doctors are fabulous. In my opinion -- one shared by many -- Dr. Pitman is a very cold man with a total lack of bedside manner. That said, he is also a perfectionist and an absolutely brilliant doctor. Having had surgery with another doctor (with very good results), when I was ready for the next procedure I had planned, I made the decision that surgical expertise and the potential results were more important to me than the surgeon's personality -- or lack thereof. After an enormous weight loss and very necessary change of lifestyle, I needed and with careful planning was able to afford and take the time necessary for multiple procedures, including a tummy tuck, breast lift, arm lift, and liposuction. I had consultations with all of the "big names" in NYC; I wanted to be thorough and make sure I made the best and most informed decision given the huge investment I was about to make. I think I saw them all: Pitman, Matarasso, Reed, Baker etc.! That might sound silly to some of you, but in the big picture it seemed to me like the right thing to do. I initially passed on Dr. Pitman because of how unpleasant I found him. In fact, I left his office feeling completely put off and very uncomfortable. After going through surgery and recovery with another doctor, I felt confident enough in my ability to go through it again without the need for hand-holding. The bottom line is that if you can swallow paying a lot of money to have your procedure(s) with a doctor who will not spend any more time with you than necessary to do his job and will not "nurse" you through, then you will be very pleased with your decision. Dr. Pitman has a remarkable eye, he is the best in the field, and he is 100% perfectionist. I should also mention that the people whose job it is to coddle you -- the nurses at the hospital and hands-on staff -- are just as thorough in addition to being genuinely kind and very caring.
Good luck. I hope I was of some help. I will check back and am always happy to answer questions as best as I can, since I know what an important decision this is and how hungry I was for first-hand information.
:) :)
Both doctors are fabulous. In my opinion -- one shared by many -- Dr. Pitman is a very cold man with a total lack of bedside manner. That said, he is also a perfectionist and an absolutely brilliant doctor. Having had surgery with another doctor (with very good results), when I was ready for the next procedure I had planned, I made the decision that surgical expertise and the potential results were more important to me than the surgeon's personality -- or lack thereof. After an enormous weight loss and very necessary change of lifestyle, I needed and with careful planning was able to afford and take the time necessary for multiple procedures, including a tummy tuck, breast lift, arm lift, and liposuction. I had consultations with all of the "big names" in NYC; I wanted to be thorough and make sure I made the best and most informed decision given the huge investment I was about to make. I think I saw them all: Pitman, Matarasso, Reed, Baker etc.! That might sound silly to some of you, but in the big picture it seemed to me like the right thing to do. I initially passed on Dr. Pitman because of how unpleasant I found him. In fact, I left his office feeling completely put off and very uncomfortable. After going through surgery and recovery with another doctor, I felt confident enough in my ability to go through it again without the need for hand-holding. The bottom line is that if you can swallow paying a lot of money to have your procedure(s) with a doctor who will not spend any more time with you than necessary to do his job and will not "nurse" you through, then you will be very pleased with your decision. Dr. Pitman has a remarkable eye, he is the best in the field, and he is 100% perfectionist. I should also mention that the people whose job it is to coddle you -- the nurses at the hospital and hands-on staff -- are just as thorough in addition to being genuinely kind and very caring.
Good luck. I hope I was of some help. I will check back and am always happy to answer questions as best as I can, since I know what an important decision this is and how hungry I was for first-hand information.
:) :)
alisonr
12-15-2004, 05:25 PM
Thanks so much for your thoughtful response NYCgal24! Your comments were really helpful. I am going for lipo of thighs, hips and abs and having a hard time deciding between Pitman and Matarasso and like you, I think it is a big decision and important to be very thorough and make an informed decision. What did you think of Pitman vs. Matarasso specifically and why did you end up going with Pitman?
When did you have your procedurs done? How were the results? Any advise or experience you can offer would be greatly appreciated!
When did you have your procedurs done? How were the results? Any advise or experience you can offer would be greatly appreciated!
Stacycat
12-26-2004, 08:07 PM
I had a lower body lift with Dr. Pitman, and I'd concur with much of what NYCgal said. I'm delighted with my results, and I intend to have him do a breast lift (although I hear Dr. Hidalgo is best for breasts) and thigh lift because I trust him implicitly as a doctor.
Dr. Pitman is cautious and caring, although not emotional or warm in any way. I think I've seen him smile twice. But when I developed an infection a couple of days after surgery, he had me come to his office every other day for a week (one of the days was a Saturday).He sent me to an infectious disease specialist for an accurate diagnosis. I want to do my breasts, but he wants to wait an extra 12 weeks before doing that, to be certain the infection is healed.
The doctor who did my facelift/bleph/browlift was a very personable and charming guy (a la Dr. 90210, although he was a NYC surgeon too) and he did okay but I wouldn't go back to him. He didn't end up making as much of a difference for me as I'd wanted. Everyone in his office was very charming and pleasant but it didn't feel genuine.
Everything you get from Pitman is genuine.
Dr. Pitman is cautious and caring, although not emotional or warm in any way. I think I've seen him smile twice. But when I developed an infection a couple of days after surgery, he had me come to his office every other day for a week (one of the days was a Saturday).He sent me to an infectious disease specialist for an accurate diagnosis. I want to do my breasts, but he wants to wait an extra 12 weeks before doing that, to be certain the infection is healed.
The doctor who did my facelift/bleph/browlift was a very personable and charming guy (a la Dr. 90210, although he was a NYC surgeon too) and he did okay but I wouldn't go back to him. He didn't end up making as much of a difference for me as I'd wanted. Everyone in his office was very charming and pleasant but it didn't feel genuine.
Everything you get from Pitman is genuine.
trickdog
12-26-2004, 08:23 PM
Hi....
I have used Dr. Pitman in the past. He was amazing. Very good at his craft! And, he was pretty much the first Dr. to pioneer the small canula use with Lipo. I would expect that by now he would have some amazing new techniques up his sleeves. I would go back to him in a heartbeat. Also he is a very stand up person. He will not do anything that he does not feel right about...
Happy trails-
I have used Dr. Pitman in the past. He was amazing. Very good at his craft! And, he was pretty much the first Dr. to pioneer the small canula use with Lipo. I would expect that by now he would have some amazing new techniques up his sleeves. I would go back to him in a heartbeat. Also he is a very stand up person. He will not do anything that he does not feel right about...
Happy trails-
Stacycat
12-26-2004, 10:22 PM
What procedure(s) did you both have with Dr. Pitman? NYCgal, are you happy with your breast lift and arm lift? Did you get implants? I'd considered the arm lift and I think I'm probably going to skip it because of the nasty scar. How is your scar?
I like to wear sleeveless, halter tops, and I'm not sure that a scar up the inside of my arm is worth the remove of the excess skin that hangs. I, too, am having multiple body sculpting procedures with Dr. Pitman. I will have a thigh lift, but he want to wait at least 6 months before that, too.
His caring comes out in his attention to the details, and the patient's needs. Not in his personality.
I like to wear sleeveless, halter tops, and I'm not sure that a scar up the inside of my arm is worth the remove of the excess skin that hangs. I, too, am having multiple body sculpting procedures with Dr. Pitman. I will have a thigh lift, but he want to wait at least 6 months before that, too.
His caring comes out in his attention to the details, and the patient's needs. Not in his personality.
alisonr
01-05-2005, 10:42 AM
Thank you all for your responses and helpful advise! Your positive recomendations helped me reach a decision and i schedule lipo with Dr. Pitman in early february. I can wait and I will keep you posted on the results and my experience. Good luck with the rest of your proceedures!
nycgal24
01-17-2005, 02:24 AM
[QUOTE=Stacycat]What procedure(s) did you both have with Dr. Pitman? NYCgal, are you happy with your breast lift and arm lift? Did you get implants? I'd considered the arm lift and I think I'm probably going to skip it because of the nasty scar. How is your scar?
I like to wear sleeveless, halter tops, and I'm not sure that a scar up the inside of my arm is worth the remove of the excess skin that hangs. QUOTE]
Stacycat: Sorry it took me so long to respond -- I hope you read this. I am VERY pleased with the results of my breast lift. The scars have healed beautifully and my breasts look perky enough without looking unnatural. I cannot emphasize how the benefit (boobs not at belly button pointing downward) outweighs the drawback (minimal scars) . Now, as far as the arm lift, I would advise against having it done. If I had it to do over I would not have the procedure -- particularly since my arms were (are) quite heavy and could have been liposuctioned with probably an EQUALLY satisfactory result MINUS the scar. The scar is quite noticable and if you like to wear sleeveless shirts/tank tops I can say without a doubt that you'll feel self-conscious and it will be a source of unhappiness. I am not pleased that my arms -- though the lift was considered a success the first time -- need revising. I am not looking forward to it because I'm going to have the scar all over again and it was a very uncomfortable recovery. Considering all the procedures I had, this was one of the most unpleasant. Hope that helps.
I like to wear sleeveless, halter tops, and I'm not sure that a scar up the inside of my arm is worth the remove of the excess skin that hangs. QUOTE]
Stacycat: Sorry it took me so long to respond -- I hope you read this. I am VERY pleased with the results of my breast lift. The scars have healed beautifully and my breasts look perky enough without looking unnatural. I cannot emphasize how the benefit (boobs not at belly button pointing downward) outweighs the drawback (minimal scars) . Now, as far as the arm lift, I would advise against having it done. If I had it to do over I would not have the procedure -- particularly since my arms were (are) quite heavy and could have been liposuctioned with probably an EQUALLY satisfactory result MINUS the scar. The scar is quite noticable and if you like to wear sleeveless shirts/tank tops I can say without a doubt that you'll feel self-conscious and it will be a source of unhappiness. I am not pleased that my arms -- though the lift was considered a success the first time -- need revising. I am not looking forward to it because I'm going to have the scar all over again and it was a very uncomfortable recovery. Considering all the procedures I had, this was one of the most unpleasant. Hope that helps.
Stacycat
01-17-2005, 06:30 PM
Thanks for the reply! Have you used Dr. Pitman for any facial procedures? My breast lift is scheduled for February and I'm thinking of having a brow lift by him as well. Spinelli did my brow lift 2 years ago and I feel like it's drooping already.
nycgal24
01-17-2005, 10:41 PM
Nope, sorry I have not had any facial procedures. My mother used Sherrell Aston and loved what he did -- brow and lower eyelid -- actually, nine years and post-menopause later I think the quality of his work speaks for itself!