Patient Stories

Jerri

• Homemaker
• 36
• Female
• Excess Skin Removal, Lower Body Lift, Thigh Lift and Hip Contouring

I met my plastic surgeon through my gastric bypass surgeon. After losing my weight I had nothing but loose skin hanging. He did three procedures.

The first one was to remove skin that had fallen from my thighs; it was in May of 2004. Then the second surgery was in November of 2004. It was a lower body lift. He removed thirty pounds of skin from my mid-section. Then, the last one was in April of this year. He did a thigh lift and hip contouring. He removed twelve pounds of skin off my thighs. The recovery was normal time.

I am very satisified because I started out weighing 488 pounds the day of my gastric bypass. I now weigh 176 pounds, so my total weight loss is 312 pounds. My plastic surgeon and his nurse are the sweetest, most caring people in the world. I would recommend them to anyone.

Annie

• Teacher
• 41
• Female
• Abdominoplasty

It was necessary for me to have a hernia repair. Since I’d lost 183 lbs. in the previous 14 months (gastric by-pass surgery) it was suggested by several doctors that I seriously consider having abdominoplasty back-to-back with my hernia repair for a better healing outcome.

I was frightened and a bit hesitant. I didn’t want others to know about what I was considering. So, I quietly began doing research on plastic surgeons in my area. After much research I discovered that the plastic surgeon I found to be the best in this area also happened to be the very doctor all my other physicians had recommended.

After meeting with my doctor and discussing my case, all my questions were answered and my fears mitigated. He was kind, sincere, forthright, and above all, professional and caring. A date was set for my surgeries and I waited.

The day arrived and I was surprisingly calm. My doctor came into pre-op and marked my body and reassured me that I would look great after surgery. His gentleness and sincere desire to help me achieve the body look I wanted (but hesitated to believe possible) made entering surgery a happy and exciting moment.

My doctor’s skill took the pounds of excess skin away and left me with a flat, beautiful stomach. I even got a cute new skin-grafted belly button! Now, he said I’d look great but great is not the word to describe my outcome - PHENOMENAL is more like it! He contoured my body from a chunky size 12 to a svelte 4/6! I was buying clothing sizes 4/6 just 6 weeks post surgery! My figure is unbelievable! Before surgery I weighed 157 and after I weighed 141!

If anyone in my lifetime had told me my stomach and hips could look as they do I would have told them they were crazy. But what I never dreamed possible is VERY REAL thanks to a surgeon who is a Michelangelo of plastic surgery.

My post-operative pain levels were normal. I was not surprised by any of the pain or by the drains that were in place. My doctor had been very clear about what to expect and he was very real. My pain was controlled at first with a pain pump and then by medication taken orally. Swelling was normal and I wore a binder from breast to thigh for 6 weeks a minimum of 12 hours per day (I just kept mine on because I felt more comfortable in it). As directed, I paper taped my incision site for weeks post operatively.

I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the new figure I have and look forward to continuing to work with my doctor to achieve even greater results by having a breast lift with implants and possibly a thigh/butt lift.

Due to the expertise of an incredibly gifted surgeon, I have already achieved that which for me seemed an impossible dream. I have gained an entirely new respect for plastic surgery and surgeons and I would recommend my doctor to anyone seeking plastic surgery.

Do your homework. Check out any physician you are considering for your surgical needs. And above all, be realistic! Your plastic surgeon is a human being practicing a skill s/he is continuing to perfect. Should you choose well, you may enjoy an outcome similar to mine.