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POSTED UNDER Mommy Makeover Reviews REVIEWS

worth it at 6 weeks, not after 9 months beware of keloid scars

ORIGINAL POST

I am 48 years old soon to be 49 (2 mos. away). I...

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Terri0107
$18,000

I am 48 years old soon to be 49 (2 mos. away). I had a breast lift with implants, extended tummy tuck, with lipo to hips and flanks. The whole package! I am very pleased with the results and glad that I went for it. I am still wearing a compression garmet during the day to reduce swelling but it is very minimal. I eat a regular diet and have not really reduced salt intake as some others on this site so that is probably why I still have some swelling. I just had my 6 week po appt. and the doc says that I am doing great.

Terri0107's provider

James E. Chappell, MD

James E. Chappell, MD

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

4.9 | 28 Reviews
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Terri0107

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Replies (2)

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February 21, 2012

Yay for success! Thanks for posting your experience here on RealSelf. I think most ladies have swelling at 6 weeks (and beyond) whether or not they eat salt.

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April 9, 2012

Glad to hear you are doing well Terri!  The whole package is a great way to go! :)

UPDATED FROM Terri0107

My update is much different from my 6 week po...

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Terri0107
My update is much different from my 6 week po review.
It is now 9 months po and I regret the tummy tuck.
My belly button is a keloid scar and everyone that sees it cringes. I also have a fat pocket on my right side. The ps said that I need lipo, its a fat pocket. I didn't know that parts of a tummy tuck are not liposuctioned and you can get a fat pocket.
I cannot fit a q-tip into my belly button and it feels like it is still scarring and closing up. The purpose of my TT was to wear a bikini so I am very disappointed.
I wish that I knew that I was prone to scaring before the surgery and steps could have been taken to avoid the keloid belly button.

Replies (7)

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September 8, 2012
Sorry to hear about this. I am 7 1/2 months PO and my tt scar is raised and ugly. I too wish I would have steered clear of TT and my BB is messed up too. Check out my pics and you'll see what I mean.
October 2, 2012
I would never post comments about a specific patient here or elsewhere, but in a generic and hypothetical scenario if someone had hypertrophic or keloid scarring (from a surgical procedure or injury) I would (and have many times) work with the patient to improve the scarring as best possible. As a plastic surgeon I have many "tools" at my disposal in order to improve hypertrophic and keloid scars. Every patient is warned about the risks of surgery in advance, including poor scarring, and I do not have the luxury/burden of picking who gets good/bad scars. Thankfully, the large majority of patients end up with perfectly acceptable scars. For those who do not, I am willing to work with them to remedy the situation. Thank you.
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October 20, 2013
Just because one is warned it can happen, doesn't mean they want to just suck it up because it looks bad...come on!
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November 18, 2014
Is it possible to revise a keloid scar? Is there a cost to that (if she is your pt) and do you do that under local/ in-office? Just curious. I do agree that no one can foresee how a pt will scar. It is best to ask if the pt has had previous surgeries and take a look at what scar formed (that's what my PS did). I had a bunionectomy in 2003 and it has healed nicely. But yes, always proceed with surgeries with caution... it's always 1 part science and 1 part miracle.
November 18, 2014
I had no knowledge that I was prone to keloid scars. I was asked if I was prone to scars prior to surgery and my answer was not to my knowledge. Dr. Chappell did great work. I fully understand there can be complications, just want a PS to acknowledge the complication in a timely manner. I paid $6,900 for the corrective surgery.
May 23, 2022
I would never tell a patient to "suck it up" and am not sure how anything I wrote or said could be interpreted that way. These comment and reply sections should remain respectful and accurate
May 23, 2022
Great comment. We have treatments available to us and I would use any means necessary to help a patient in this type of situation.