Dennis Bucko, MD

I have been researching plastic surgeons for several months now for facial rejuvenation. It’s not a decision to jump into and you really need to do your research. I have consulted 7 to date and Dr. Bucko was by far my worst experience. The women that recommend I have a consult him had warned me that he could be rude. He almost seems to resent the fact that you want surgery. He was curt, rude and condescending. He also recommended a procedure where a big section of your scalp is removed to pull you entire forehead up. (Transcoronal brow lift) l I have high set eyebrows naturally and several of other doctors I saw said no I shouldn’t have a brow lift due to my high eyebrows, simply upper eyelid surgery to address the extra skin at the upper lid. The surgeons that did recommend brow lift said a very slight lift. He wanted to pull it up so tight that it pulled the eyelid skin up! I would have had eyebrows in the middle of my forehead! During the consult he seemed very well educated and had a great sense of facial symmetry, bone structure and procedures, that is why it was so shocking when he recommended this procedure in the manner in which he did. His assistant, although she was a really lovely person and I would not want to ever say anything bad about her honestly looked frozen, he had cut the muscles in her forehead and pulled the skin up so there was no longer movement in the upper part of her face. She even showed me she could not really move her forehead which I guess is what she wanted to avoid lines in the future? She really was lovely and I feel bad saying anything, but I was looking at his work. I was looking for a much more natural look. I have seen 3 other surgeons since my consult with him and they were shocked at his recommendation. He also said, and I quote loosely, «I know what everyone wants. To not have to pay for it, to have no recovery time or pain and for it to last forever, well your not going to get that» Seriously, I think he needs to take a vacation or retire!

My wife’s mother was visiting from Germany when she had a terrible accident in our yard. In addition to having two front teeth knocked out, she had a large cut across her lip and face. I was concerned about having a specialist attend to this injury due to the prominent location and visibility. Dr. Dennis Bucko was amazing! He met us at the emergency room of the hospital and he was able to put my mother-​in-​law at ease, even though she speaks very little English. She required 15 stitches and he had to go inside to where the muscle was also cut. I am so grateful that he was able to help us with this injury. I’m sure the ER doctor would have been competent and professional, but this required a cosmetic surgeon.

I recently had rhinoplasty and chin implant recently done by Dr. Bucko. He knew and did exaclty what I wanted. He is amazing, he really talked with me about every little detail I needed to know. Dr. Bucko and his staff are great. Their head coordinator Patty called me on a Saturday to check up how I was doing 2 days after my surgery. Everything about Dr. Bucko and his office staff are incredible. I’m so happy with my results, thank you!

I am so thrilled that I found Dr Bucko. He and his staff are awsome. I went into his office feeling like a frumpy old lady; had a breast reduction and tummy tuck. Now thanks to Dr. Bucko and his fabulous team, I have my SEXY back. I would recommend him to all my family and friends looking for a body tune up.

My experiences at Belladerma have been extremely positive. Dr. Bucko is a talented and seasoned cosmetic surgeon who strives to achieve a natural looking surgical result. He is straight forward about what he can and will do to improve a patients’ appearance and exercises good judgement. His staff is very competent and professional and work well as a team to support Dr. Bucko’s efforts.
DMH

Dr. Bucko and his staff are wonderful! When I had my breast augmentation surgery, I expected to be down for 4 or 5 days with moderate to severe pain. I had the surgery on Wednesday, and felt good enough for a light shopping trip on Saturday. I was back at work on Monday with no issues. The combination of a pain pill and a muscle relaxer for discomfort worked wonders. I never experienced any major pain. I can honestly say the only discomfort was moderate.
One step in the process that I found very helpful was the kit that Dr. Bucko’s office sent me home with. Several weeks prior to my surgery, they provided a few different implant size options in a kit, and allowed me to take them home to try on for size. It really gave me the opportunity to try them in different types of clothing and decide what would be most appropriate to suit my size goals. My main goal was to add proportion. I believe I was able to achieve exactly what I had hoped for in large part due to this kit.
6 years post-​op, I am still thrilled with my result. The decision to undergo breast augmentation should not be taken lightly, and the choice of surgeon is key to a successful result. That and following doctor’s orders pre and post op. I completely trust Dr. Bucko and his staff and would freely recommend his office to anyone consider in breast augmentation.
I’d like to add that I recently went back to Dr. Bucko to discuss the possibility of cool sculpting for an area of my body that I’m not pleased with (my thighs). Dr. Bucko spent about a ½ hour discussing the option with me and after reviewing the areas I was concerned with, he very honestly indicated that he did not believe I would achieve the type of results I was hoping for with this procedure. While I was disappointed that the procedure would not help me, I was very happy that Dr. Bucko was so honest and forthcoming. Thank you Dr. Bucko for setting realistic expectations and not allowing me to pursue something that had no real hope of success. Again, another example of why I trust Dr. Bucko so much.

I am a couple of weeks post surgery (TT) and so wanted to post a review while things are still fresh in my mind. Dr. Bucko was recommended to me by a friend who said she regretted not having used him for her own surgery. She felt he offered a more contemplative and individualized approach. I had an initial consultation and this was certainly the case. He spent more time discussing what I wanted from surgery and at no time did I feel I was getting a «one size fits all» service. I particularly appreciated not getting the «I could also fix this» suggestion which annoyed me greatly when I spoke to other doctors about having surgery. So after seeing other surgeons (including one who managed to do a consult without actually touching me!) I settled on Dr. Bucko. My second consult was more detailed and I asked plenty of questions which he and his staff happily answered. Prior to the surgery I was given
explicit instructions regarding drugs, pre surgery diet, recovery expectations, etc. and so I was completely relaxed and confident that he would do a great job. On the day of surgery as he met me in the operating room, he decided on a few last minute adjustments — which I think is a good sign that he is always considering how to get the best result for his patient and isn’t «set» on delivering a procedure that is standard. Post operative care has been fantastic — I saw him about twice a week for two weeks and will next see him in a month. He takes great care to make sure your recovery goes smoothly and I cannot speak too highly about his support staff. Liza nursed me through the removal of stitches and drains and Patti provided me with great insight. On a scale of one to ten — definitely a ten. I will go back to Dr. Bucko in a heartbeat if I want to have something else done. I have total confidence in his work and the work of his staff. As for my own procedure, two weeks post op I can see the new me emerging and am thrilled with the results which have exceeded my expectations. Fantastic A+ all around.

Wow: 1000% results and Zero regrets!
Dr Dennis Bucko and his amazing support team have made my body transformation from a 10 year obsession to a dream come true and a reality!
Anybody who is hesitating on taking the next step really needs to walk into Dr. Dennis Bucko’s office. Not only is Dr. Bucko amazing but the whole staff is amazing.
This is truly a life changer and I we can’t thank his team enough.
Thank you again,

Dr. Bucko did breast augmentation on me and I saw several doctors before deciding on him. He was by far the most thorough at the consultation. He did quite a few measurements which none of the other doctors did. I’m only a couple weeks post op but the results are perfect. The staff is also very professional, friendly and very thorough! There is a lot of competition in San Diego, but Dr. Bucko is at the very top and he was more affordable than many.

I wanted to write this post about Dr. Dennis Bucko to repudiate any negative comments that might have appeared on this site. I recently underwent a «Belladerma Lift» from Dr. Bucko, and couldn’t be happier with the results. About 22 years ago, he did some cosmetic surgery for my son, who was 16 at the time. My son was very pleased with the outcome, which still looks great today. So, when I decided to get the «Belladerma Lift», I chose Dr. Bucko. Over the past several years, I have had some Belladerma peels at his office, and while he never did any work on me, I was impressed with his competent and friendly staff, and I was sure he would do great job at a reasonable price.
During my initial consultation with him, I felt a little intimidated by his questions, but in no way did he seem arrogant. He simply wanted to make sure that I understood surgery of this type does not always turn out perfectly, and that I was to be aware of potential problems.
My surgery was on August 9, 2012. It’s now three months later and I have had so many complements about the way I look. I personally feel years younger. During this time period, Dr. Bucko has followed me closely with scheduled appointments. He has always been there for me, and has always answered any questions I might have post-​op. Thanks to him, I got everything I wanted, plus more, a caring Dr. whose door to me has never been closed.

After reading the negative/​disturbing reviews for Dr. Bucko, I felt compelled to write about my experience with him. I have been a patient of Dr. Bucko’s for several years and have had surgery twice (face lift, chin/​neck lift and a tummy tuck). Not only is Dr. Bucko the most compassionate and kind doctor I have ever been to, but I also ended up with a fabulous result! He is absolutely nothing like those other reviewers say he is.
Dr. Bucko spent so much time with me to make sure he really understood what I wanted. He asked me lots of questions, went over everything in great detail and was always incredibly patient with me. Not once did I ever feel rushed. He was always willing to take as much time as needed to answer my questions and discuss my concerns. This extra care, compassion and concern was also extended to me after my surgeries. Dr. Bucko wants you to be pleased with your result and he will do whatever he can to make sure that you are.
Dr. Bucko’s office staff are just as amazing as he is. Patty and Tyja were incredibly helpful to me both before and after my surgeries and Katy, who I adore, has helped me to maintain my fabulous results with regular facials and an occasional chemical peel.
For me, Dr. Bucko was a wise choice. I’m only wishing that I had found him sooner since my previous experience with other San Diego plastic surgeons was not very positive!!.

I decided to join their ‘frequent customer’ rewards program — Belladerma Beauty Benefits — because the $ 50 fee included a free facial, a $ 150 value! I am SO glad I did. I rarely take the time to sit and write reviews, but after my facial with Katy today, I had to.
This was my first facial, and Katy customized it to my dry, slightly red skin. I didn’t feel like I was picking from a menu of arbitrary products — who needs to put chocolate/​wine/​weird random stuff on their face to feel like they got their money’s worth? Katy was kind, efficient (I didn’t feel like I was just getting a face massage — frankly I don’t have time for that) and really took the time to discuss what was best for my skin. Now, my face is absolutely glowing. I am so pleased and will absolutely be returning for more treatments!

Dr Bucko is outstanding! I have never had such a great experience getting Botox. I get the injections every 6 – 8 month and never get any «funny expressions» on my forehead.
Recently I’ve got my smile lines fixed as well. The results are fantastic! He is like a magician mixed with an artist. He defiantly has an eye for what he does.
The staff is so nice, friendly and professional. It is a true pleasure going there. I cannot recommend him enough!

Love Katie and the staff. The facials are always great and perfectly match for my needs. I’ve had botox done and laser hair removel. Highly recommend.

Dr. Bucko is awesome. He is caring, thoughtful and attentive. His work is perfect, he does not over prescribe or over do, but he made me look so young and natural. Cannot recommend him enough!

Stay away from this guy. He is arrogant, rude and dishonest. He preformed a full face & brow lift on me. I went back for a correction on a spot he had missed under my chin. He was going to open the left side of my face, go down the side of my face and suction some fat from under my chin area that he missed on the first procedure and tighten the skin at the incision area. When I came out of surgery both sides of my face were opened, he had lipo suctioned both sides of my CHEEKS, leaving both sides of my face botched up.(he never addressed the spot under my chin) I was put under by the anesthesiologist prior to Dr Bucko seeing me or marking the area on my face that he was supposed to correct. Mind you, I had gone back into his office after the first procedure, told him about my area of concern, he told me how he would fix it. BTW, there is another charge even if it is for a correction. Patti his office coordinator told me I could be awake for the procedure, or put under she advised my being put under. STAY AWAY, HE WILL MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE AN IDIOT, AS OTHERS STATE IN THEIR REVIEWS.
At the time of the correction procedure, I was so naïve that I didn’t realize there was a problem. I thought he saw something that he thought needed TWEAKING. Also, you are very swollen so you can’t really see the final outcome for weeks. He actually never touched the area that I went in to have corrected under my chin. I finally went back in to see him after years of unhappiness, and urging from another esteemed surgeon. Because he hadn’t remembered me, he was pointing out what a bad job I had on my facial procedure. I had not given his office my first name, but rather by the nickname I use, so they did not know I was a prior patient. When I pointed out that HE WAS INDEED THE DOCTOR THAT DID SUCH A BAD JOB, HE ENDED THE MEETING, HE WAS VERY ANGRY THAT HE HAD BEEN CAUGHT OFF GUARD.
IS THIS THE DOCTOR YOU WANT CUTTING YOUR FACE OPEN???

I’m 48 years old and I’ve been seeing Dr. Bucko since I was 25 years old. He has been my physician for more than 2 decades and I am truly thankful for him. I cannot thank him enough for his artistry, his professionalism and his humanity. I wish more surgeons had his ethics and his eye, because no one ever suspects that I have had any work on… if you see me you can ask me, I’ll tell you everything!

After the death of my Uncle and grandmother, my mother was feeling pretty bad. I wanted to cheer her up and decided to get her some botox. I live in Seattle, she lives in SD. I called Dr. Bucko’s office and bought her a package so all she had to do was show up and leave feeling like a star. NOT!!! She called me a few hours after her injections and was very sad about the way he treated her. She said he was very impatient with her and acted like a total jerk. This was the first time she ever had the botox experience, and was terrified, esp after the lack of empathy. Thanks Dr. Bucko for treating my mother like someone who didn’t deserve to be in your presence.
All the way from Seattle…

I couldn’t live without Dr Bucko’s Belladerma Peels. I started them in my early 30’s and when people stop me on the street (no joke) and ask what i use on my skin, I tell them about the Belladerma Peel. It’s a must if you want young and glowing skin.

I initially went to Dr. Bucko’s office to get my lips plumped up. I pretty much have no upper lip which I think makes me look like an unhappy old lady and I’ve noticed vertical lines creeping in from my days of smoking… boo-​hoo! I debated the cost vs. my unhappiness when I saw my reflection and vanity won out, really a no-​brainer there! The nurse, Deb, did a wonderful job and gave me the mouth I wish I was born with. I walked out looking like a fish but by the 2^nd day the swelling was down and I looked ok, nothing «trout-​pout «about it. As I said, God didn’t give me lips in the first place so it doesn’t look like I had a filler, I just look like someone with «normal» lips» which is perfect. I ‘ll be honest– the injections were very painful and next time I will opt for the nerve block rather than the numbing gel which did nothing for me.
While there, I talked to one of the girls in the office and learned about a peel called the «belladerma peel” — sign me up! My skin’s been looking dull for ages and I had been trying all kinds of products, just trying to get my face to glow, have good looking skin. I booked an appt. with Brianna and was so pleased with the results. My skin stung a bit as she applied the layers of product to my face but it was tolerable. There’s a little fan focused on your face so it’s not that bad, and Brianna was really nice, explaining everything she was doing and making sure I was comfortable. The results– after a few days my face started to seriously peel and a few days after that I glowed– beautiful! I met some friends for dinner and received so many compliments «You’ve never looked better», blah, blah, blah… Dr. Bucko’s office is my secret! I think the peel was around $ 100– definitely worth every penny. Ladies, there is nothing out there that I can recommend you do more than this. Eat well, exercise, and get this peel!