Dr. Timothy P Zajonc, MD

If Dr. Zajonc tells you need surgery, don't trust him. Get a second opinion. After you read what happened to me, you will understand why you should not trust Dr. Zajonc if he tells you need surgery. I fell on April 3 and broke my nose. My nose began to bleed profusely on the left side because I am on a potent blood thinner. Because I am a plastic surgeon who in my younger days, treated many patients with broken noses, I attempted to pack my nose to control the bleeding. I could not stop the bleeding so I went to the hospital emergency department (ED) where an inflatable tamponade device was inserted into my nose to stop the bleeding. The X-ray showed minimal displacement of my nasal bone. The ED referred me to Ear Nose and Throat Associates if I had continued bleeding. On Monday April 6, I saw Dr. Abkes at Ear Nose and Throat Associates. He changed the packing and told me it would dissolve and to return if I had any problems. He told me the bone was minimally displaced and… therefore I did not need any surgery. He did not give me a return appointment, but told me to return if I had any problems. On Friday, April 10, I began to bleed from the other, non-broken, side of my nose. I went back to Ear, Nose and Throat Associates. Instead of seeing Dr. Abkes, I saw Dr. Zajonc. Dr. controlled the bleeding from the non-broken side of my nose. He told me that my nose was a "mess" and that he would have to put me to sleep to fix my broken nose. He scheduled me for surgery for closed reduction of my broken nose at Mountain Empire Surgery Center for Monday April 13. He ordered an emergency check of my blood potassium level because I am on a strong diuretic. I got the emergency potassium level done right after my office visit. It was normal. When I got home from having the blood drawn for the potassium test, I began to question why Dr. Zajonc scheduled closed reduction of my nasal bone, since Dr. Abkes did not recommend surgery for my broken nose. In my younger days as a plastic surgeon, I had treated many patients with broken noses. It was my recollection that there was no need to operate for a minimally displaced nasal bone. Since minimally displaced nasal bones do not create a cosmetic defect and do not affect breathing, they do not require surgery. Within hours of seeing Dr. Zajonc, I called Ear, Nose and Throat Associates and cancelled the surgery. Then, I got a third opinion from a different ear, nose and throat specialist for Monday. Instead of having surgery on Monday, April 13, I got a third opinion, and the surgeon confirmed that I did not need surgery for my broken nose. Without the surgery Dr. Zajonc wanted to perform on me, my nose looks just like it did before the injury and my nasal breathing is unchanged. I did not need surgery to repair my minimally displaced nasal bone. Because of my plastic surgery training, I was savvy enough to not trust Dr. Zajonc when he told me my nose was a "mess" and that I needed surgery to repair mye broken nose. I took the time to write this review in the hope that it might spare future patients of Dr. Zajonc from having unnecessary surgery. As an addendum to this review, you should know that before a surgeon operates on a patient, he has a duty to obtain informed consent from his patient. Part of informed consent is to explain to the patient, the risks, benefits and alternatives to the procedure, including not performing the procedure.

I was scared to death! Dr. Z took time to answer all my questions, explained what would take place. Very personable and actually listened to my concerns. Highly recommended!

Tim Zajonc is one of the very best physicians we have ever seen! He has done surgery on everyone in our family - 85 year old down to 18 month old. He takes the time needed to help every patient (so often he is running a little behind appointment time). Answers all my questions and gets back to me each time I call. This is a great office with a wonderful staff to support the doctors. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS GROUP!!

Dr Zajonc is treating me and my husband. My husbands issue has been resolved after 2 appts. Dr Zajonc recommenced I see a specialist at Vanderbilt and I have. After being sick for over 10 years I finally have a diagnosis. I am grateful for his expertise and the referral to The Voice Center at Vanderbilt. He did explain what he believed it to be but the testing had to be done by a Dr of Speech Pathology. I’d like to add at no appt did we feel rushed and everything was explained very well. I felt Dr Zajonc was really listening to me and asking lots of questions.

He always greets you with a smile and is kind and caring. He sets the example for how all doctors should act. Thank you Dr. Zajonc!

very knowledgeable, kind, patient caring.

i had surgery with him and he helped me alot thanks doctor