Kriss

Review of The Avoca Clinic

I had been considering a mastopexy for years and w...

I had been considering a mastopexy for years and was recommended to go to Avoca. So in September I made contact to get info and in October I finally made my decision and booked my consultation, which due to availability was in November.

I booked the day off as I was travelling from Cork to Limerick. I was excited and nervous. A week before, they rang to say it was cancelled and it would be now pushed another month to December. I was let down but Zara was very nice and promised it wouldn't happen again as she knew the difficulty in me getting the appt and travelling to it.

Again I booked the day off and again, 3 days before, they rang to cancel. It was a different girl and she could only offer me another one in January. I d initially hoped to have it done or at least booked by the end of the year, so I said I'd leave it go. I'd been having consultations at other places which all went well, but I had been holding out for Avoca as my friend recommended it and they were one of the few places doing 3D imaging to show your possible results.

I was upset at being messed around, especially with a subject clients would be nervous for. So I sent a polite email to express my disappointment. Zara rang me back straight away and was able to get me a sooner date just before Xmas if I travelled up to Wicklow instead, so I took that. She apologised for the trouble but said it would be worth the wait.

It went ahead and I made the 3hr journey. I met Zara who was lovely and thanked me for taking the appt. The clinic itself is very nice and I was impressed by how specialised they are. After meeting with a lady to give me info and answer any initial questions, I met with Dr. Morrison. We had a brief chat and then he had a look at me to take measurements etc. But he simply said because I hadn't had kids yet I should wait until it's more drastic. He also said that with a lift I absolutely will not be able to breastfeed (whereas previous surgeons I met either said it was 50/50, or else more probable that I would be able to). I explained that, granted I was getting married the following year, but I didn t want to have kids straight away. So it could be 10yrs by the time I m finished having a family and I had already been unhappy for years. But he just said no this isn't for you and didn't bother taking measurements.
Zara was in the room and said maybe we should do the 3D imaging anyway. She took the pictures for it, but after she left he said there was no point.

The appt was over after giving me 5 mins of his time - having waited 3 months to meet him, travelling up for 3hrs that morning, and being promised a great consultation which included 3D images. I got into my car and cried before driving back down to Cork.

I should've stood up for myself and told him I understood the chance it might not hold through kids, but I wasn t there for the laugh and I was willing to take the chance and spend the money to be happy even if for a few years. To be fair I appreciated his honesty. And if he didn't want to do the procedure I m glad he wasn t the one to do it. But it was extremely one sided - just his immediate opinion on me having kids, and no room to consider how I felt.

I also think its funny that while the consultation is free, they take your card details incase you cancel last minute, to charge you for the wasted time (fair enough) - yet they have no problem wasting your time cancelling appt after appt and giving 5min consultations without measurements or imaging. I appreciate that their time is valuable but they should also appreciate the time of their clients.

[Following this I met with one more surgeon elsewhere. While he again explained the possible changes in results with having kids (breastfeeding generally not being affected given the technique used, which leaves the milk ducts intact), he also listened to me. He was very kind and understanding, but made sure I knew everything and this was what I wanted. I am now 1 week post op and absolutely delighted with my results. I wish I had done it sooner and hadn't wasted time with Avoca.]