Other women raise concerns over same medic
My wounds started to open up right after the dressing came off and I was taken to a clinic to sort it It eventually drove my boyfriend and I apart and we split up. I ended up on anti-depressants
A WOMAN has been “scarred for life” after undergoing plastic surgery at the hands of a cosmetic doctor.
Tracey Foley suffered a raft of serious complications after having breast surgery in Stirling which was meant to boost her confidence.
The 29-year-old, from Glasgow, has since required various corrective procedures following the operation carried out by Dr Dana Vasilescu.
Furious Tracey complained to the General Medical Council, which launched an inquiry.
It has since said the surgeon’s conduct fell below the expected standard – with an independent doctor establishing Dr Vasilescu inserted implants that were too big into the wrong part of the chest.
The official probe deemed the steps were instrumental in the post-surgery complications Tracey subsequently endured.
Yet Tracey has been unable to take legal action against Dr Vasilescu, who has now returned to her native city of Bucharest, where she continues to see patients.
Lawyers have told her it is unlikely she would be able to bring a successful action as Dr Vasilescu has no realisable assets to pursue here in Scotland.
The doctor was self- employed, but marketed by Transform, a leading cosmetic surgery provider in the UK.
There is no suggestion that Transform has acted inappropriately.
Tracey, who hoped the £ 6000 uplift would boost her confidence, said: “Dr Vasilescu wasn’t meant to be doing the operation but the plastic surgeon I was to get pulled out due to a family emergency two days before.
“I thought, ‘ it’s the same company so the surgeons will be of the same standard’, and arranged a meet with Dr Vasilescu.
“But I didn’t take to her at all and found her cold and distant.
“I had decided with the previous consultant that my operation was only meant to be a lift with small implants added.
“But she persuaded me to get them much bigger – I took her word for it but it turned out to be a mistake.”
Mum-of-one Tracey claims that when her dressing was removed, she was disappointed with the result.
“I’ve been left scarred for life,” she claims. “I’ve got slits over my breasts and holes on my nipples and have been told they will never heal.
“My wounds started to open up right after the dressing came off and I was taken to a clinic in Stirling to sort it.”
Tracey saw another surgeon who told her the implants inserted by Dr Vasilescu were far too big and would have to be removed.
“I’ve been undergoing various corrective procedures in Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle,” she added. “The implants have been removed and smaller ones put in their place.
“Transform has paid for the operations.
“I also developed necrosis because of the operation – a flesh rotting condition.
“My nipples were also moved and put back on in a non-symmetrical way.
“They are better than what they were, but it will never be back to normal.”
Tracey says the aftermath of the operation caused the collapse of her relationship and nearly her new career, working as a pipe fitter with BAE Systems in Glasgow. She said: “My boyfriend of a year was very supportive but I just couldn’t cope – it eventually drove us apart and we split up. I ended up on anti-depressants.
“My work also suffered as it’s very physical and I was unable to do it.
“Fortunately they’ve stuck by me and have helped get me help, including counselling.”
Tracey complained to the GMC about her surgery and an inquiry was subsequently carried out for the body by Atul Khanna, a consultant plastic surgeon based in England.
The independent consultant determined that Dr Vasilescu’s surgery was below the standard expected of a plastic surgeon.
The opinion was based on Dr Vasilescu’s use of “significantly larger implants” than those recommended for use by another surgeon who saw Tracey pre-op.
Mr Khanna also said Dr Vasilescu’s decision to “insert the implants in the sub mammary plane” also contributed to the “post-operative problems” Tracey suffered.
The sub mammary plane is the area between breast tissue and muscle on the breast.
While implants are often put
there, in cases like Tracey’s, it should have been put in an area between the muscle and ribs called the “sub muscular” plane, the expert said.
Despite the findings, Tracey has been unable to get legal recourse.
Last week, she received a letter from her solicitors Digby Brown saying they could not pursue a case against Dr Vasilescu because they have no idea of where they could get a hold of her assets should the case be successful.
The letter added Dr Vasilescu’s insurers were “not prepared to be of any assistance”.
Fearing she’ll never get proper financial redress, Tracey added: “It’s incredibly frustrating.”
A number of other women claim to have suffered complications after undergoing breast surgery at the hands of the same doctor, who carried out medical procedures for leading private medical company, Transform Cosmetic Surger y Group throughout much of 2015.
The company – which has clinics in Glasgow and Edinburgh and charges thousands for cosmetic procedures – insists its patients get the “highest standard of medical care”.
When the women tried to launch legal action against Transform, they were reminded Dr Vasilescu was an independent contractor and that they will need to sue her personally instead.
Last night, Manchester- based Transform – which last year had a turnover of £ 16 million – confirmed Dr Vasilescu had left the firm but refused to say why.
A spokesman underlined its commitment to providing “high quality care” and said it offered revision procedures free of charge should a surgeon recommend it.
Another patient left disappointed with the outcome of surgery carried out by Dr Vasilescu feels there should be more protection for patients.
Stacey Allen, 32, a mum-of-two from Lisburn in Northern Ireland, saw the doctor to have a breast reduction and uplift, but was immediately disappointed with the results.
“I found Dr Vasilescu very cold from when I first met her,” she said. “She didn’t listen to what I said or wanted in the consultancy.
“When they took the dressing off following the surgery I just broke down crying. I ended up with infections and scars.”
Stacey was told she required corrective surgery but“all the travel was taking such a toll” she ended up asking her local NHS board in Ireland to take over her treatment.
“I’m being treated by them now,” she said. “The last surgeon I saw said he believed I would need to get a double breast mastectomy to correct it. It’s unreal.
“There are four or five girls who all had the same operations and had problems with Dr Vasilescu. “We’ve become very close. “We are trying to support each other through this and pursuing legal channels. We want justice.
“My legal action is ongoing but I know other girls have been told they can’t win.
“There should be more protection for patients like us.”
The womens’ fears are supported by claims from a nurse who used to work with Dr Vasilescu.
The nurse’s concerns about Dr Vasilescu’s work were so great, she claims she raised them with senior Transform staff.
“I raised my fears with the management about Dana,” she claims.
“It wasn’t just boob jobs either – I remember issues with an eye patient too.
“You can expect to see some complications with surgery procedures like this, but the sheer numbers with Dana stood out.
“From around 40 operations I assisted her with, about 25 had complications.
“Her former patients were still presenting themselves with issues when I left last June.”
Last night, a spokesman for Transform said: “In the rare event that a patient may be unhappy with the results of their procedure, we ensure that they are offered a free of charge follow up consultation, and a free of charge revision procedure, if recommended by a surgeon.
“These policies and procedures demonstrate Transform’s commitment to high quality continuity of care.”
Dr Vasilescu’s case appeared before an interim orders tribunal at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service on August 8 last year following a GMC investigation. The hearing looked at whether the surgeon’s registration should be restricted while allegations about her conduct were resolved.
Dr Vasilescu was handed an interim suspension before finally being erased from the register on February 10 this year.
A spokeswoman for the MPTS said the surgeon had been erased by the GMC for “administrative reasons”. She can no longer work in the UK as a result.
Dr Vasilescu did not wish to comment to The Sunday Post.