TORONTO -- A young woman's desire to have "perky breasts" through breast augmentation became the worst experience of her life, a hearing was told yesterday.
"After the surgery, my chest was hurting. I kept fainting and my (left) breast kept getting larger," the patient, who can't be named because of a publication ban, told a disciplinary hearing at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
One breast swelled up three times the size of the other.
The hearing is investigating Dr. Behnaz Yazdanfar, who the college claims failed to maintain professional standards with 28 patients between 2005 and '07, including Krista Stryland who died after a liposuction surgery.
The woman called Yazdanfar's clinic and was told the swelling was normal, and to come in to have the breast drained.
She instead went to a hospital emergency room.
"I'd rather die in hospital than die in her hands ... The same way the other girl died," said the woman, who paid $7,350 for the surgery after her breasts became saggy from gaining and losing weight.
A York police officer went to Yazdanfar to have his overdeveloped male breasts reduced by liposuction.
"I found the clinic on the Internet and saw some before-and-after photos and the testimonials," said the officer, who paid $10,388 to reduce his breasts.
He said Yazdanfar never discussed how much of his breasts would be removed nor did she discuss any health risks there could be with the surgery.
"They had to stop the surgery because I was bleeding, which was a health concern," the officer said.
The College claims Yazdanfar routinely didn't obtain informed consent from her patients.
KEVIN.CONNOR@SUNMEDIA.CA
