what do I do about my doctor not taking enough fat from my stomach during lipo?

By Dusty1234 on 12 Apr 2011

I had lipo done one month ago. I have harding areas, but I also have fat left in the upper abdomonal area. Before the surgery I was told he could make my stomach flat. Now he is saying that he couldn't take all the fat and my stomach still looks good. I am 5'8 and 140. My point is I can understand not taking out ALL the fat, but he left to much. I can grab two handfuls. I should not be able to grab fist fulls of fat after paying to have the fat removed. He just keeps saying I look good and he has seen women with larger stomachs. This is not the point and shame on him for making me feel like I should be gratful for my size. I went to him to remove the fat, not to tell me afterwards be grateful that I am still small. I know the hardness in the lower abs will go away, but the fat will not. Can I expect a refund? What are my legal options since he says I look better than my before, but not much?

Comments (13)

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clivehamilton7 12 Sep 2011

You should tell him that it's not the result you want to have. You may also want to undergo a treatment again, if possible.

jhon 23 Aug 2011

I think you do lots of swimming. It will really help full for your fat. After one month you surely loss 10 kg. of your weight..And take good diet as well. Regards, Dr. Cliff Merchant

worried worried 29 Jul 2011

Hi, I just had pure lipsculpture , 1 week ago, on my upper and lower abs. I did the resourch and found a great doc but what I'm wondering about..has anyone experienced extreme hardness and inflamation..extreme! I cry and wondered why I did this.....will The hardess go away..I'm still so numb...

italiangirl 9 May 2011

I have the same problem Dusty1234.

I pai for flanks, he marked me before, but didnt touched there.

I dont know what to do!!!

Sacramento6138 31 May 2011

He will do a revision on you I am sure. I think most all doctors do if you are not happy with the results. Mine did on my flanks, she took one look and said we need to get you back in. I wish you the best. Complain like crazy if you have too.

Cindy in Valrico 6 May 2011

WOW - I really think the doctors reputation and credentials are extremely important. However, I would get the revision if I was not satisfied!Considering the cost!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! not covered by insurance

Riverp 15 Apr 2011

I will be curious to see what people have to write about this too. I just had it done 3 weeks ago. My most important area was my upper flanks (not the bra roll) but the muffin top. I can still see it. When I go in, everyone in the office says...You look really good! etc etc. Like if they tell you often enough you will believe it! I had more areas done. The only diff is that my PS did not make ANY remarks of what results I was to expect. That is what I was missing, I have my expectations, but do not know if they meet his. As he also did not ask me about what I was hoping for to happen. I had taken all of my measurements before and they have all remained the same. I did ask him at my last follow-up if the "handles" will be gone, if what I was pinching was fat. He said of coarse there is still fat in there. I asked him if my kissing thighs would change enough so that I could stand with straight legs and see between them...he said that they did after the surgery...how he saw this I do not know, as I was laying on the table and I doubt someone held me up under my arms to stand me up- to then put on the garment. So, if he was saying that post-op with my garment you could see between my thighs..well no wonder, I was wearing a compression garment. He is telling me how much time and how many different canuelas he used. That he knew I was an exact person. When I asked him how much he took out, he said that he did not write it down, then started to point to my left inner knee and say 75 cc, to my left flank 150 cc, to my left butt 600cc...I stopped absorbing all the numbers, I just wanted a total number. I also could not believe that it was not noted somewhere. When a ran into his staff later, the woman said that they took 3 containers! I looked up the Bodyjet machine and each container is 3000cc..which would be 3 Kg..means 9 KG (over 18 lbs)!! I would see that kind of reduction on the scale as that is 18 lbs. I do not know how much is pure fat and how much is fluid. It sounds like there are hardly refunds, it is a matter of going in for a revision. I have been thru that before with my first lipo...so this is actually my 3rd and I did not want to even consider having to have ANOTHER revision for lack of taking out enough fat...The first time I had it done 14 yrs ago and was done with local and the tumel. method. I was awake and could tell all the things that were not right. So it made it easier to tell my story. This time I was under sedation, and do not remember anything.
Curious to see what someone had to say.

NHaven 3 May 2011

Many years ago I had liposuction done to my inner thighs so they wouldn't rub. I have always been small, but no matter what, my inner thighs always rubbed. I had a local anesthesia and the procedure took about 45 minutes. The week following surgery was much more uncomfortable than I ever expected. No one told me about that stupid girdle! And it took months to appreciate the final result. I cried that I'd made a stupid mistake! Now, many years later I realize it was the best investment I ever made. Liposuction is a much bigger procedure than anyone advertises. And, it takes a long, long time for all the tissue to settle. Fortunately the end result can far surpass the initial impression. Best wishes.

Riverp 3 May 2011

Thanks! It has been 5.5 Weeks and so far my measurements are still the same. I even look lop-sided now...my one hip is flat looking, the other curved. Therefore on the opposite side, my "sattelbag" is bigger, the other is flatter.
I know when I go in for my next follow-up at 7 weeks post-op, he and his nurse (who never saw me naked) will tell me how GREAT I look. I still have an inch to pinch where my muffin/love handle was. It is much smoother looking, but there is still an inch there. I would say things look less "full/puffy" than before..but they are not gone. I also never got a response to confirm how much was taken out.
This morning I felt that my right knee looked a bit better. But I know that the further down you go, the longer that takes...so I hang on my muffin/handle and think- Why can I still pinch an inch and see a line like before.
Thanks for your imput!

Dusty1234 3 May 2011

I can still grab handfuls in my abdomen..this should not be the results. I am not talking about swelling, because I know that part will subside. I am talking about excess fat that was not removed. I want a refund for that the abdominal area. I like the other areas that were worked on. I don't know how to make my doctor give me a refund for that part. Any suggestions?

Riverp 4 May 2011

As far as I have read up, there are no promises to liposuction. It makes sense to think that if you are having fat sucked out, that fat will be sucked out. Not just something being shoved back and forth under your skin causing tissue damage and bruising.
I also read that you need to look into your "contract" or paperwork and it will state what will be done if the results are not as expected. Mine state that it is not uncommon to not be completely happy and a possible second OP will have to be done. During my consultation, I was told that with the BodyJet he has almost no revisions. And bang, now I will belong to that tiny group? I also just do not know if I want to go thru with a revision with this doc. I would have to pay for the materials/Anesthia...not for his labor. I already paid $7500 for this and only 1 area (the last one on my list) has obvious improvement. If you are happy with the rest, then revision might be your only option. They do not refund anything..because they did do the time.

MissUndaztood 27 May 2011

NHaven, I just want to say THANK YOU for this comment. I just had slim lipo on abs and thighs 9 days ago and while I keep hearing that it takes time to see the results, your comment really made me feel better that I will see more results in time. I'm 5'8" 160lbs so I'm in good shape but do have a larger frame. I don't necessarily want to see a gap in between my legs but I would like for them to not make the "swish" sound when I have on pantyhose.

NHaven 27 May 2011

The "not swishing" is more important than any lack of perfect symmetry. It feels so much better. Now, years after my inner thigh lipo, when I loose weight I can see a little puckering in the inner thigh flesh. I decided right off, "Big deal"!!! It's more important that when I gain weight I still don't swoosh! If after a year you "swoosh" a little the doc can remove a some localized inner thigh fat. I don't know how these guys can perform lipo and guarantee any symmetry. It's done by pulling and pushing a suction wire. The fat taken off each side is measured in a cannister which holds about a liter. If you started out with the fat fairly equal they just compare the filled cannisters, one taken from each side. There's a limit to how much total fat they can take off because too much stresses the heart. I was awake during my lipo and they were able to judge my thigh-touching by slightly raising my legs. I remember the doc saying, "Wow, that's a lot more fat than I thought!" From what I've learned in my own experience, fat accumulation after lipo moves upward. Take it off the knees it moves to the butt; off the butt it moves to the waist; off the waist it moves to the bra line, then the neck, then the face. So a little fat left on your tummy may keep you from getting a moon face down the road if you gain weight. But, literally, you won't appreciate the work for a year. You may not be jumping for joy until you forget the compression garments! Who would have thought? Best to you.