UPDATED CONTENT
I want to add that I do life coaching sometimes combined with going with the client to the surgery planned. Based on my personal experience and staying at hospitals and clinics for sometimes a longer time I do have extensive first-hand experience when it comes to surgery and results - and that is why there is a selection of surgeons I highly advise and those I recommend to stay away from. This concludes that for me there is no "best surgeon/ best hospital". For me there is a range of surgeons/hospitals that one can choose from - so as opposed to Dr. v.d. Ven's claim that I am working for or are affiliated with Facialteam - this claim is false. They performed my FFS, yes - that is my personal FFS experience and one of the reasons why I recommend them - but even in this post I list alternatives that I believe to be some of the best FFS surgeon choices possible.
The following happened in November/ December 2019 to a patient I met at Kamol Hospital Bangkok and I was an eyewitness for the whole incident.
This patient went to Kamol for a Sigma-Queen GCS/SRS and was looking for FFS revision options of her previous FFS from May 2018 which was performed at 2Pass Belgium by Dr. v. d. Ven. She wasn‘t quite happy with the rhinoplasty and was looking into other procedures to further feminize her face.
Before discussing options a 3D x-ray was performed to properly evaluate the status quo. Instead of visualizing the reattached sinus plate an uneven-surface bone cement filling was exposed and visible instead - thus giving proof to the fact that this patient had no type III forehead reconstruction - as she had believed - but a type IV forehead reconstruction got performed on her instead without her knowledge or consent.
The type IV forehead reconstruction greatly differs from a type III reconstruction. The type IV reconstruction includes the total removal of the mucous lining of the frontal sinus and the complete filling of the sinus cavity with bone cement.
The patient, residing in Switzerland, had absolutely no knowledge of this fact.
She was wondering why ever since her FFS with 2Pass/ v.d. Ven it was impossible for her to use her head voice - now easily explained by the fact that the sinus resonance space wasn‘t available anymore. In addition to this fact she also started having problems with situations involving pressure changes such as flight descends/ ascends and quickly changing weather conditions involving drastic pressure changes - yet she never related those problems to her FFS since she believed herself to have received a type III forehead reconstruction, which leaves the frontal sinus completely intact and functional.
Regular medical knowledge still has no further insight into what the frontal sinus is good for/ needed for besides the two elements mentioned here.
Put onto the spot Dr. v.d. Ven claimed that " the frontal sinus has no function at all and can be obliterated."
The surgeon performed a surgical step that the patient neither agreed to nor authorized him to do and the type IV procedure was not explained to the patient.
The 2Pass website explains the type III and type IV forehead reconstruction types here:
https://2pass.clinic/en/ffs/procedures/brow-bone-reduction
(Please scroll down to the appropriate term).
A thorough evaluation of the patient‘s invoice revealed, that on the procedure list column on the left-hand side of the invoice it says: type III forehead reconstruction.
The column on the right-hand side which notes "Material" (needed) it says hydroset/ Stryker bone cement.
Besides that this can so easily be read over by regular patients - it seems to me it is set up to lure the patient into something that doesn‘t exist: a type III forehead reconstruction where bone cement is being used.
The only viable explanation for this mix up of terms, meaning, and content is intentional fraud by the surgeon.
The Belgian ministry of health already got informed of this incident - measures are being taken at the moment. Dr. v.d. Ven quickly set up a lawyer to deal with the client intended to shut her up from spreading the details of this case - threatening her with legal action should she publish details.
The 2Pass client now aims for compensation and/ or solatium - which the surgeons asked his lawyer to interpret as blackmail.
The response received by the Belgian Ministry of Health contained the following information:
-
Dr. v.d. Ven is registered in Belgium as a doctor for oral cavity and jaw which is generally labeled dentist.
2)
The Royal Belgian Society of Plastic Surgeons (RBSPS) doesn‘t have a member/ registration by the name of Dr. v.d. Ven.
3)
2Pass Clinic is registered to the name of Dr. v.d. Ven‘s significant other: Ellen Defrancq, who is a registered member of the Royal Belgian Society of Plastic Surgeons (RBSPS).
Dr. v.d. Ven rejects any kind of liability or having made a mistake on his behalf denying any form of compensation/ solatium although he performed a surgical procedure that was neither properly explained, authorized, and agreed to by this patient.
Based on the responses received by Dr. v.d. Ven it is highly probable that quite a number of patients were operated that way since he stated he "has performed this kind of surgery for years." So there is quite a big chance that patients who went to 2Pass/ v.d. Ven were operated with a type IV forehead reconstruction but were explained, made believe, and promised a type III forehead reconstruction and for that reason now have a fully dysfunctional sinus and maybe even are confronted with further health problems than the ones that this patient suffers from.
Type IV forehead reconstruction is a much simpler, faster, less complication prone, and cheaper procedure, requiring less technique, skill and routine than a type III forehead reconstruction - so I guess it‘s safe to say that this was done especially when financial concessions were made - as it was the case with the patient dealing with this situation now.
The response letters of the surgeon are available on PM request - they draw a pretty clear picture.
Should there be other patients dealing with the same issue they can contact me via PM so maybe a class-action lawsuit might be filed.
In case you wonder if this applies to you - a 3D-CT scan or a 3d x-ray will reveal the result of your forehead reconstruction and if a type III or type IV reconstruction procedure got performed. Dr. v. d. Ven states that these scans are completely unnecessary - at the same time using them for his trachea shave procedure. Since these scans reveal the true craftsmanship of the surgeon - and the true results of the bone work done I leave it up to you to interpret this surgeon‘s statement.
True top surgeons like Facialteam, Dr. Spiegel, Dr. Kaushik or Dr. Keojempa see this as a necessity and also it‘s a huge help in explaining why which procedures are deemed useful and it will visually show you what will be done - and the post-op scans reveal what was done.
Had Dr. v. d. Ven stuck to the original plan and nomenclature used on the invoice/ price quote there would have been no reason for complaint since the targeted passing effect of the surgery was achieved but by using inadequate procedures the patient would have never agreed to had she known.
Now there is because the surgeon performed an unauthorized procedure with negative consequences at the physical level using terminology that enables this kind of intentional fraud.
I am always ready to forward the respective emails and invoices via PM that verify the statements made in this post.
D. v.d. Ven responded to this post here:
Turning my post into a v.d. Ven/2Pass vs. competitor war instead of proving his claims and statements in terms of the patient‘s issues and the current situation is a low-ball effort to discredit what was written.
The first email written to Dr. v.d. Ven on November 23rd 2019 is this email (it's in German - so please use a translator - basically it says that the patient is deeply disappointed and is asking for a way to solve her problems. ONLY AFTER Dr. v.d. Ven responded he will not be willing to provide a solution/ compensation/ solatium did the process escalate - opposed to what Dr. v.d. Ven writes in his post:
*********************************************************************************
Sehr geehrter Herr Dr. Van de Ven
Ich möchte damit beginnen meine masslose Entäuschung hinsichtlich meiner Stirnrekonstruktion im Rahmen der von Ihnen durchgeführten FFS im Mai 2018 zum Ausdruck zu bringen. Ich habe nun den Eindruck, dass ich von Ihnen gezielt in die Irre geführt wurde, was die Stirnrekonstruktion betrifft.
Der Begriff Stirnrekonstruktion Typ 3 ist für gewöhnlich mit einer Rückverlegung des vorderen Sinusbereiches mit einem Abnehmen, dem Bearbeiten des Stirngebietes und einem Wiederanbringen der Sinusplatte reserviert.
Eine aktuelle 3D - Aufnahme meines Schädels zeigt ein vollständiges Ausfüllen meines gesamten vorderen Sinuses mit einem Werkstoff, vermutlich Knochenzement.
In keiner Phase der Konsultationen mit Ihnen, war von einer kompletten Entfernung der Sinusschleimhaut und das Auffüllen des gesamten Sinusbereiches je die Rede.
Niemals hätte ich einem solchen Vorgehen zugestimmt und ich habe den Eindruck dass ich von gezielt manipuliert wurde, in dem mir entscheidende Details bei der Beratung vorenthalten wurden!
Seit der FFS bei Ihnen ist es mir durch den fehlenden Resonanzraum unmöglich meine bis dahin vorhandene Kopfstimme einzusetzen. Vom Verlust eines entscheidenen Elements meines nasalen Funktionssystems ganz zu Schweigen.
Ich erwarte von Ihnen umgehend einen Vorschlag zur finanziellen Kompensation der durch diesen Sachverhalt verursachten Umstände, die auch eine potentielle Schmerzensgeldforderung berücksichtigt
Anderfalls behalte ich mir vor juristische Schritte einzuleiten und gleichzeitig auch mit meiner Situation medienwirksam an die Öffentlichkeit zu gehen.
Zudem ziehe ich mein Einverständnis zur Nutzung meines Videoerfahrungsberichtes zurück und verlange eine Löschung des Videos!
Freundliche Grüsse
***********************************************************************************
Dr. v.d.V en replied to this email on November 26th 2019 - again this text is in German - so please use a translator to verify my summary - which is:
Dear Mrs XXXXXXX,
For years I have been filling up the frontal sinuses with bone cement. During the initial consultation and at the day before surgery I explain this to all of my patients and that the frontal sinus will be filled up with bone cement. Your proclaimed profession is master of crafts and I had no idea that sinus resonance would be so important to you. Had I known I would have told you since the resonance can change performing a type III forehead reconstruction.
Besides the frontal sinus has no function whatsoever.
I deeply regret that your frontal sinus resonance has changed. I can't assess the consequences this will have for you. Unfortunately this procedure is irreversible. We cannot reconstruct the frontal sinus the way it was.
But you should know that your forehead couldn't have been turned into a female forehead like you have now without a type III forehead reconstruction.
I hope these facts will help you see the situation in a different light. It was necessary (the way it got done)
**********************************************************************************
Sehr geehrte Fr. XXXXXXXX
Seit Jahren schon werden die Stirnhöhlen von mir aufgefüllt mit Knochenzement.
Während der ersten Beratung UND am Tag vor der OP erkläre ich ALLE meiner Patientinnen das Prozädere und daß die Stirnhöhle mit Knochenzement aufgefüllt wird.
Als Beruf hatten Sie Handwerksmeisterin eingegeben. Deswegen war es mir nicht bekannt daß Ihre Stirnresonanz Ihnen so besonders wichtig ist. Hätte ich dies gewusst ich hätte Sie darauf aufmerksam gemacht daß die Resonanz sich ändern kann bei einem Type 3 Stirnrekontouring.
Im Übrigen hat die Stirnhöhle keine Funktion.
Es tut mir sehr Leid daß die Resonanz Ihrer Stirn sich geändert hat. Welche Folgen daß für Sie hat kann ich nicht einschätzen. Dies ist leider nicht umkehrbar. Wir können die Stirnhöhle nicht rekonstruieren wie sie war.
Sie sollten aber wissen daß Ihre Stirn nie so weiblich geworden wäre ohne ein Type 3 Stirnrekontouring.
Ich hoffe daß dieses Wissen Ihnen helfen wird die Änderung mit anderen Augen zu sehen. Sie war notwendig.
Liebe Grüße,
Dr Bart van de Ven
**********************************************************************************
Dr. v.d. Ven totally misses the point and also admits that he filled up the sinuses - WHICH HE NOW CLAIMS HE NEVER DID.
BESIDES: It's true that a type III forehead reconstruction was necessary - but it can be done without filling the sinuses as he did - and the client never got informed about that since to her a type III was the one procedure he explained as type III on his website - which the premier league surgeons all perform - but instead he performed what is type IV on his website.
The last email that was sent to Dr. v.d. Ven/2Pass before publishing this post also included the option for a proper form of compensation/ solatium for the patient AGAIN - which was never replied to.
On 21.01.2020 I got this message into my Reddit mailbox:
********************************************************************************
Dear Mona,
In the emails we received was mentioned an actual 3D scan of the skull was made in Thailand. An X-ray is not a 3D scan indeed.
We didn‘t get a request of the patient to make a 3D scan (based on the emails we supposed she had one). The only request we have had is money or else… But we are more than happy to arrange for a 3D CT scan for our patient. Our patient coordinator is going to schedule one with her. Don‘t hesitate to contact us for information in the future so we can discuss matters like these rather than enter a war neither of us wishes to be involved in. Our door is open!
Best regards, 2pass Clinic
********************************************************************************
I asked Dr.v.d. Ven to confirm his statements by making and publishing a 3D-CT Scan which could prove what the status quo really is.
Why Dr. v.d.V en didn‘t come up with this idea himself remains his secret.
This email was sent to him on 20.01.2020:
********************************************************************************
Dear 2Pass Team, dear Dr. v.d. Ven,
I posted this message on Reddit today:
Since the patient and Dr. v.d. Ven were communicating from the beginning of December there was no agreement reached - that is why I published my posts.
Dr. v.d. Ven could have easily solved the situation by inviting the client to Belgium and have a 3D CT-Scan performed to clarify the situation.
Since that didn't happen our conclusions were believed to be correct.
I do hereby invite Dr. v.d. Ven to do this since a 3D-CT-Scan for his patient which will reveal what is underneath and if a type III reconstruction was actually done as he claims. Judging from the 3D X-ray image done at Kamol hospital (no 3D-CT san) this seemed quite unlikely.
Should this turn out to be true I will be ready to apologize for wrong conclusions made based on the 3D X-ray received.
But as said before - Dr. v. d. Ven could have cleared the air before all this was coming and he turned it into a competitor vs. 2Pass/v.d. Ven war - which was never the intention - and that is why most of the comments here are void - since that is not the issue.
Mona Maier
********************************************************************************
On 21.01.2020 I got this message from 2Pass in my Reddit inbox:
********************************************************************************
from 2pass_Clinic via /r/Transgender_Surgeries sent 7 days ago
Dear Mona,
In the emails we received was mentioned an actual 3D scan of the skull was made in Thailand. An X-ray is not a 3D scan indeed.
We didn‘t get a request of the patient to make a 3D scan (based on the emails we supposed she had one). The only request we have had is money or else… But we are more than happy to arrange for a 3D CT scan for our patient. Our patient coordinator is going to schedule one with her. Don‘t hesitate to contact us for information in the future so we can discuss matters like these rather than enter a war neither of us wishes to be involved in. Our door is open!
Best regards, 2pass Clinic
********************************************************************************
It seems though that Dr. v.d. Ven closed his doors and wasn‘t worth giving a chance to explain himself - since I got an email from his lawyer today 28.01.2020 saying this:
********************************************************************************
By email: [ lebenscoaching.mona.maier@posteo.de ](mailto: lebenscoaching.mona.maier@posteo.de )
Subject: Dr. B. van de Ven |Ms Maier,
NOTICE TO CEASE AND DESIST
We write you as the lawyers of Dr. Bart van de Ven and 2pass Clinic.
Our Ref. 00054083/17/10/10/9/SL Your Ref. Date 27 January 2020
Our clients refer (non-exhaustively) to your letter on behalf of Ms XXXXXX of 23 December 2019 as well as to the following online publications:
- https://www.reddit.com/r/Transgender_Surgeries/comments/emp72a/alert_experience_forehead_r econstruction_2pass_vd/ (see Annex 1);
- https://www.srs-in-thailand-begleitung.com/blank-i997o (see Annex 2).
The letter as well as the online publications, the contents of which are entirely disputed, are nothing more than a collection of deliberately false and misleading accusations and statements, damaging the good names and reputations of our clients.
Our clients have already extensively demonstrated this in their online response, the content of which should be deemed to be reiterated here (see Annex 3).
It is misleading and unacceptable that you use your position in the community to commercially aid (COMPETITOR), without giving transparency in that respect. It is all the more reprehensible that you attempt to do this by putting our clients in a bad light, based on blatantly incorrect statements that are, as you are well aware, without any merit whatsoever.
Your erroneous behaviour not only qualifies as a criminal offence (slander and defamation), but also as unfair competition and unfair trade practices.
It causes substantial damage to our clients, for which you are entirely liable.
You are hereby put on notice on behalf of our clients to immediately and permanently cease and desist from your defamatory accusations. The relevant online publications should be removed and no other such accusations are to be made public in any other way.
Non-compliance with this notice after 31 January 2020 will necessitate further legal actions.
Sincerely,
Sam Ledent Geert De Buyzer
Contact
[ geert.de.buyzer@schoups.be ](mailto: geert.de.buyzer@schoups.be ) [ sam.ledent@schoups.be ](mailto: sam.ledent@schoups.be ) File handled at Antwerp office
********************************************************************************
Think about if this is the way you want to be treated by your surgeon when something goes wrong or if an issue arises.
Trying to silence me that way is a poor idea and in vain.
Find my 3D scans below:
These are the kinds of 3D-CT Scans every world class surgeon I work with or I recommend will create and the surgery results will look very similar to mine.
This is the scan of Dr. v.d. Ven's patient:
As soon as a proper 3D CT-Scan is available it will be posted here.
The following images are taken from Dr. Keojempa's website - please scroll down until you see them - and also watch his video on type III reconstruction which is further up:
https://www.drkeojampa.com/facial-feminization-surgery-los-angeles-california/
all 27 comments