AtlSupreme
04-25-2002, 02:40 AM
I am a 31 year old woman who has had to have 5 surgeries, and still need at least one more... All of this is due to the first surgery and it's problems. So, here goes...
In the summer of 1997, I was 26, I had a complete tummy tuck, and liposuction of my hips, back, inner thighs, and outer thighs. The reason for this at such a young age is that I had a protruding belly and a horrific scar from my belly button to my pubic area that resulted from a c-section that was infected and had to close on it's own...from the inside out. I was also moderately overweight. I am 5'2" and weighed about 150.
I did not do my research correctly and chose a doctor who had ads everywhere, but I later found out that he was a thoracic surgeon doing plastic surgery! The surgery was a reasonable price, and he was optimistic. After the surgery I had excessive draining, and after the drains were removed I still had to go into his office every few days to get stuck with a syringe in my belly to suck out the build up of fluid. I developed scar tissue from that alone!
The results of that surgery was that my stomach was noticeably uneven, my pubic area now bulged even in my clothes, my hips (under my waist) now had a VERY square look to them, and my inner thighs looked pulled as though I were wearing thigh high stockings that were not pulled all the way up, and the tops of my inner thighs were hanging over... I was SOOO devastated. I refused to allow this doctor to touch me again.
About a year later I found a legit plastic surgeon who performed lipo on my whole body for the most part, and it seemed an improvement at first. But, he did some lipo on my backs of my legs under my butt, and he totally MOVED my butt line down! It looks like I have a lower butt that I did before, and it is very uncomfortable physically. He also worsened my inner thighs, and they actually had rolls like a baby has when wearing a diaper! He did make a few things better, but I just swapped one set of freakishness for another.
Yet another year goes by, and I go back to the second doctor to see if he can remedy the problems, and he did not charge me for his services. I paid for the operating room, et al. though. Anyway, the results were a little better, but still not what I want. I do not expect to look perfect or like a Barbie, but I want to look normal. The inner thighs got even worse, and he did not even fix the butt line at all...
In 1999, I had to have back surgery, and now I'm about to have a second back surgery, and it caused me to gain even more weight. I am now overweight, but not obese, and with the already abnormal looking thighs and butt, I feel like a freak.
Back to the surgeries... About another year passed and I went back to doctor 2 yet again to try to fix the inner thighs yet again. Still even worse. Now I have to have an inner thigh lift because I have rolls of skin between my legs.
About 6 months later I went back one more time, and this was only for scar revision from the original tummy tuck... I had a very sensitive spot that hurt to be touched even then and 4 years had passed... He revised the scar and made it even longer and now it stretches around my side! AND, the damn thing keloided again. Not his fault, but I'm back at square one with the pain that it causes.
Here I am needing at least one more surgery which will include an inner thigh lift and lipo. My upper abdomin protrudes from the weight gain, and I still need to get my butt line fixed to have my normal butt again... I also STILL have absolutely no feeling or sensation on my stomach from the tummy tuck.
All I want is to look normal, and if I had it all to do over again there is NO way in Hell I'd do it. :( I'm open to advice and maybe recommendations. But, please do not criticize me as I do that enough to myself. I live in Atlanta by the way...
In the summer of 1997, I was 26, I had a complete tummy tuck, and liposuction of my hips, back, inner thighs, and outer thighs. The reason for this at such a young age is that I had a protruding belly and a horrific scar from my belly button to my pubic area that resulted from a c-section that was infected and had to close on it's own...from the inside out. I was also moderately overweight. I am 5'2" and weighed about 150.
I did not do my research correctly and chose a doctor who had ads everywhere, but I later found out that he was a thoracic surgeon doing plastic surgery! The surgery was a reasonable price, and he was optimistic. After the surgery I had excessive draining, and after the drains were removed I still had to go into his office every few days to get stuck with a syringe in my belly to suck out the build up of fluid. I developed scar tissue from that alone!
The results of that surgery was that my stomach was noticeably uneven, my pubic area now bulged even in my clothes, my hips (under my waist) now had a VERY square look to them, and my inner thighs looked pulled as though I were wearing thigh high stockings that were not pulled all the way up, and the tops of my inner thighs were hanging over... I was SOOO devastated. I refused to allow this doctor to touch me again.
About a year later I found a legit plastic surgeon who performed lipo on my whole body for the most part, and it seemed an improvement at first. But, he did some lipo on my backs of my legs under my butt, and he totally MOVED my butt line down! It looks like I have a lower butt that I did before, and it is very uncomfortable physically. He also worsened my inner thighs, and they actually had rolls like a baby has when wearing a diaper! He did make a few things better, but I just swapped one set of freakishness for another.
Yet another year goes by, and I go back to the second doctor to see if he can remedy the problems, and he did not charge me for his services. I paid for the operating room, et al. though. Anyway, the results were a little better, but still not what I want. I do not expect to look perfect or like a Barbie, but I want to look normal. The inner thighs got even worse, and he did not even fix the butt line at all...
In 1999, I had to have back surgery, and now I'm about to have a second back surgery, and it caused me to gain even more weight. I am now overweight, but not obese, and with the already abnormal looking thighs and butt, I feel like a freak.
Back to the surgeries... About another year passed and I went back to doctor 2 yet again to try to fix the inner thighs yet again. Still even worse. Now I have to have an inner thigh lift because I have rolls of skin between my legs.
About 6 months later I went back one more time, and this was only for scar revision from the original tummy tuck... I had a very sensitive spot that hurt to be touched even then and 4 years had passed... He revised the scar and made it even longer and now it stretches around my side! AND, the damn thing keloided again. Not his fault, but I'm back at square one with the pain that it causes.
Here I am needing at least one more surgery which will include an inner thigh lift and lipo. My upper abdomin protrudes from the weight gain, and I still need to get my butt line fixed to have my normal butt again... I also STILL have absolutely no feeling or sensation on my stomach from the tummy tuck.
All I want is to look normal, and if I had it all to do over again there is NO way in Hell I'd do it. :( I'm open to advice and maybe recommendations. But, please do not criticize me as I do that enough to myself. I live in Atlanta by the way...
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FeelinPuney
04-25-2002, 03:41 PM
I feel so sorry for you I just don't know what to say.
I know how you feel about looking weird etc and scars
that don't look good. I had a surgery 6 years ago that
changed my life Breast Augmentation. First of all they
bottomed out then one deflated now I have 2 scars under
my breast that are about 3 inches long. I think I will have them removed due to complications everything. I am going to see a wonderful doctor her name is Dr Feng. If I were you I would see if she could help you. This woman is a perfectionist and they will even talk
to you over the phone and maybe you could send them pictures to see if they can improve your situation.
I know what you are talking about when you say you had 5 surgeries. I know myself I have had at least that many and it's not over either. I know it takes alot out of person to deal with the way you feel after something like this happens to you I got really depressed and still am. Please give Dr Feng a call and see what they can do. I will be seeing her in May.
So sorry to hear of all your troubles. Good luck.
[This message has been edited by moderator3 (edited 04-27-2002).]
I know how you feel about looking weird etc and scars
that don't look good. I had a surgery 6 years ago that
changed my life Breast Augmentation. First of all they
bottomed out then one deflated now I have 2 scars under
my breast that are about 3 inches long. I think I will have them removed due to complications everything. I am going to see a wonderful doctor her name is Dr Feng. If I were you I would see if she could help you. This woman is a perfectionist and they will even talk
to you over the phone and maybe you could send them pictures to see if they can improve your situation.
I know what you are talking about when you say you had 5 surgeries. I know myself I have had at least that many and it's not over either. I know it takes alot out of person to deal with the way you feel after something like this happens to you I got really depressed and still am. Please give Dr Feng a call and see what they can do. I will be seeing her in May.
So sorry to hear of all your troubles. Good luck.
[This message has been edited by moderator3 (edited 04-27-2002).]
AtlSupreme
04-27-2002, 04:42 AM
Thank you so much... I will contact her soon. Is she in Atlanta?
FeelinPuney
04-29-2002, 04:37 PM
She is in Cleveland OH. I live in Okla and I am going
to see her in May.
[Please stop posting commercial website links....final warning. Ta. Mod3]
[This message has been edited by moderator3 (edited 04-29-2002).]
to see her in May.
[Please stop posting commercial website links....final warning. Ta. Mod3]
[This message has been edited by moderator3 (edited 04-29-2002).]
VegasGirl
04-30-2002, 04:15 PM
I had lipo done at the Weiland Group here in Vegas, and they did a phenomenal job!! What your doctor(s) may not have told you is this...lipo is NOT a weight loss alternative, and if you ARE overweight, the results will be less than satisfying. Lipo is for someone of NORMAL weight, who can't quite lose some of the fat in some designated areas. I am 5'10" and 135 so I was a good candidate. But since your doctor let you do it anyway, and you are having all these problems, let me recommend my surgeon to you. If you can get to Vegas, he is ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!!!!
princesaaguamarina
05-03-2002, 11:55 PM
Oh my goodness, you poor thing! I had a tummy tuck too but not the experience you had. I was much older than when you had your first surgery, 50, and really did a ton of research before choosing the doctor I did. I was just amazed at how ANYONE with a doctor's degree can do cosmetic surgery, even a dentist!! (I hope anyone considering any plastic surgery will heed this warning!!:eek"). I am in the Atlanta area too. The great doctor I had was Dr. Gravier in Alpharetta. Let me know, ok?
princesaaguamarina
05-03-2002, 11:56 PM
oops... that should have been an :eeK: to the any-doc-can-do-plastic-surgery warning!
princesaaguamarina
05-03-2002, 11:58 PM
okay, let's try this annoying little thing again :eek: (sorry!)
Lucky7s
05-04-2002, 06:57 PM
You should consider going to a reconstructive plastic surgeons who specializes in correcting mistakes of regular plastic surgeons. Good luck to you.