cblulu

I am sharing my experience with Dr. Eugene Cherny, plastic surgeon in Des Moines, IA. I am still wheeling from the negative experience I had with him and feel it important to share with others my concern.

I canceled my surgery yesterday, scheduled for the following week after consulting two other reputable surgeons who have validated these concerns.

In hind sight, after visitng with Dr. Cherny, I realized he did not spend any time with me to discuss the breast augmentation procedure, the outcome or postcare during the consultation. When I came back the following day with more questions, I was told to schedule another appointment with the doctor to discuss my concerns.

I told the nurse that I wasn't sure what to ask, instead I would appreciate a blow-by-blow of the procedure and care. I was told that the doctor didn't have time to do such a thing, I was to come up with specific questions and schedule an appointment to discuss them. I began researching on the web for questions to ask, not knowing what I didn't know.


Next, I received a call from the institution where I was to have the surgery. They informed me that I was fourth that morning (I was told I was to be first) and that the doctor was starting at 6am- the clinic normally didn't open this early and they were not sure why he was starting at that time.

I became concerned after talking to the out-patient surgical clinic and called to talk to Dr. Cherny's nurse. When I brought the matter up, she became super-sensitive about this information. The nurse informed me she was too busy to talk, that she would contact me either at the end of the day or the next and put me into her voicemail before I could say anymore.

I called two surgeons next and spoke to their nurses. They confirmed that this was unusually behavoir. Based on their feedback and my already existing concerns, I called Dr. Cherny's office to cancel my appointment. Instead of canceling my appointment, the receptionist told me his Physician Assistant wanted to talk to me. The women started on a pleasant tone, telling me that she was calling me because the nurse was too busy. I began to discuss my concerns with the PA and she told me that this interfacing was all very normal.

I explained to the PA that I needed an elective surgeon to spend more time with me as a patient than a non-elective surgeon. I felt that plastic surgery needed to reflect the patient's requests and time needed to be spent to understand those needs. More importantly, expectations needed to be set. Instead, Dr. Cherny's office treated his patients as those at the Mayo clinic- A very Herd-Like environment- Dr. Cherny will give you only the information necessary at that time, otherwise don't expect it from us.

Another thing that concerned me greatly was their approach to diagnose. Instead of recommending the most appropriate solution, the doctor gave me three choices. The women who put together the surgery quote asked me what I wanted to do! Between the two of us, we were to decide me fate! I told her I wasn't sure, I knew I wanted an S-facelift but was not sure if the TCA or Dermabrasion was most approrpriate. Confused, she called for the doctor and asked him point blank what to recommend, he gave us another ambiguous reply. I asked the woman why he didn't give me a more concrete answer, and I was told he did this so I could select according to the cost vs. the appropriateness.


The icing on top of the cake was the outcome. After I canceled my appointment with Dr. Cherny, I got another call back from his nurse, telling me that I was being terminated as a patient- obviously she had not bothered to talk to the PA or look at the schedule.

And today I received my canceled check with a note telling me that I was being terminated due to "increasing animosity on my part" from the COO of Heartland Surgery.

Ladies and Gentlemen considering Dr. Cherny, this is a frightening statement to come from the COO of Heartland Surgery. If a patient can not ask questions, express doubt or concern in an electoral surgical environment, shouldn't Dr. Cherny's staff be paying the patient to undergo the surgery?