Profiles Oral Facial Surgery Experts

David Wilkinson

5 months ago

My experience with Dr. Steven Sullivan and the staff at Profiles was a cascade of shocking incompetence. After two failed surgeries, they abandoned me with a disfigured jaw. Attempts to remediate were met with gaslighting and manipulation. Every detail here is documented by CT scans, emails, and the successful emergency surgery required to fix his work. Initial consultation (Nov 2023): Dr. Sullivan pitched himself. He used folksy baseball expressions and dismissed the surgeon I was previously consulting with ("oh... him."). I left with a good impression that faded in later appointments. The surgical planning was handled by a resident (Dr. Ripperger) who visibly struggled with the Dolphin planning software. Dr. Sullivan couldn't answer basic questions about their proposed plans. He assured me the surgical result would be "perfect, within tenths of a millimeter." Despite concerns, I continued based on a recommendation from Jo Graff, a biomedical engineer. First Surgery (Dec 2023): The jaw was cut at two locations to correct a 3mm malunion. The post-op CT scan confirmed the result: only 0.9mm of movement (instead of 3mm). Dr. Sullivan had placed a wire at my chin that levered the bone fragments back open, negating the surgery. In the follow-up at the practice, he congratulated himself on another "great success." It took several meetings before finally conceded the failure. At one point he claimed he couldn't read x-rays. Second Surgery (Jan 2024): During preparations for the corrective surgery, for which I had volunteered the hospital fees, a 3D-printed dental splint Dr. Ripperger placed on my teeth didn't fit. Dr. Sullivan, without checking the splint himself, erupted in an explosive and unprofessional tirade. The second surgery was a catastrophe. As I would later learn, new screws had been placed carelessly; my mandibular condyle was left severely misaligned, causing significant TMJ pain. My teeth didn't meet and I struggled to eat. Dr. Schramm, Head of the Maxillofacial department at Ulm military hospital, later described my jaw as "Swiss cheese" and refused to operate due to the high risk of infection. After the surgery, Dr. Sullivan again proclaimed success, dismissing my TMJ pain as "edema" (swelling) that would shortly resolve itself. Trusting him, and with a snowstorm approaching, I flew home to the UK, offering to return within 24hrs if needed, and sent a CT scan a few days later. Upon arriving home, I had looked in the mirror and realised something was wrong. That's when he abandoned me. He and his coordinator, Jordan Saras, stopped answering my messages and calls for weeks, including my request for an appointment. I was left to figure out, on my own, what was wrong, and how to fix it, with only days left before my bones would fuse incorrectly. It was only by sheer luck that I found Dr. Eren Pera, in Istanbul, who identified the issues and performed a single, successful surgery. When Dr. Sullivan learned his work had been corrected, he didn't apologize. Instead, he engaged in gaslighting and fabricated conversations with Dr. Pera. He refused a partial refund of the $27,000 I had paid, and threatened to sue me for defamation if I published a review. I sent an email addressed to the other partners in the practice, Dr. Paul S. Tiwana and Dr. Fabio G. Ritto, hoping they would encourage Sullivan to act ethically, to no effect. The practice delayed releasing my medical records until just before the legal deadline expired. Likely in an effort to discredit me, or limit liability, Profiles had my scans reviewed by two outside parties. I obtained their findings through a HIPAA request, and the reports confirmed the severely misaligned condyle. Caught, Dr. Sullivan's story changed. He abandoned his "it's just edema" claim and instead insisted in a final message that he had felt all along the issue would "resolve itself over time". A highly unlikely claim. The incompetence is documented on the scans; the lack of integrity is in the emails. Do not expect any doctor at this practice to adhere to a higher standard.

Salma Hesham

8 months ago

I had an excellent consultation appointment with Dr. Sullivan and his team. He was thorough and professional, and his assistant was very kind and attentive. The entire team made me feel comfortable and confident in my care. Highly recommend!

Bianca Pietersz

3 months ago

I was in and out with all 4 wisdom teeth removed. I was put under and the entire experience went by in a flash. Caring doctors and nurses and all around great experience.