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“Liposuction Deformed my Body - Chicago, IL”

19 posts
Comments (117)
Updated 21 Jun 2009
Posted 20 Jul 2008
Not Worth It
Spent: $25,000 in Chicago

I went for a lipo... doctor suggested I have my inner and outer thighs lipoed. I was mainly concerned with my stomach and fat accumulated on my back. I had no idea that there could be possibilites of having a deformed body.

I had the following areas treated:

  • Inner and outer thighs
  • Stomach and back
  • Calves and Knees

After the surgery, I notice that my buttocks were smaller.. and that my body was more masculine looking and more square. I had specifically asked the doctor not to touch my buttocks.

Apparently, when lipoing outer thighs, if the doctor is too aggressive, he can easily cause grooves in your thighs and butt cheeks. My very round buttocks had lost their outer fullness and instead I was left with such a huge groove, as if some one came and gave me a punch right on the side of my butt and the skin went in and never came out. It's really very sad.

I wish I had a time machine. I wish I never did any of it. I had a very nice figure, just a little bit chubby. But, I was very happy with how I looked.

Now I have deformities all over my body, I have much more pronounced cellulite... and hurrable hanging loose skin around my belly, one more thing, spider veins (apparently a side effect).

Today I have spent another 30,000 US dollars trying to fix my lipo deformities. I had serious lumpiness and bumps on both my outer and inner thighs. The doctor I went to did some fat grafting, outer thigh area was partially resolved. Inner thigh, became worse. Groove around my buttocks was never fixed.

I plan to make one more attempt to fix what went wrong.

This review is the subjective opinion of a RealSelf member and not of RealSelf, Inc.

My Doctor:

Vote: 19 members found this review helpful

Comments (117)

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What? (1 post) 13 Oct 2008
If you were "very happy with how you looked", then why did you spend thousands of dollars on liposuction?
deformedlipo (19 posts) 13 Nov 2008
Short answer... I was stupid. Long answer: The doctor had me sold. He looked at me up and down and said that I was a perfect candidate for liposuction, because I was not fat but had a little excess fat here and there. He said that my skin was firm and my body would look absolutely amazing after a little bit of liposculpture. I had no idea that there was such a thing as lipodeformity ! Doctor said that liposuction was a procedure that has been perfected and that it's much safer then ever before. He said that there clinic does more liposuction procedures then any other clinic in the US. I fell in love with his vision of what I could look like. Who knows why else... maybe because I had a bad break up or maybe because I was single and 36. And when we are hurting inside the easiest thing to fix is something on the outside. I will forever regret my spontaneous decision to go under the knife. I was botchered and I am paying very dearly for this. Especially because I know that some of my deformities are irreparable.
Wil in KY (15 posts) 16 Jun 2009
Did you consider legal action? I am in the same boat! I completely understand how depressing the lumps and bumps are! I will have to wear a two piece in July and my BF is use to my tight stomach, he is going to kill me when he sees my stomach. I have been able to hide it so far by not letting him see me completely naked. My PS doesn't want to even talk about corrective surgery for another three mos. (6 mos post op). Should'nt the corrections be his financial responsibilty?
deformedlipo (19 posts) 17 Jun 2009
Unfortunately, in most cases doctors make you sign a contract. Usually within the contract it explains the possibilities of grooves, pivots, wrinkly skin, uneven contour and lumps. So they are basically off the hook. When I read the contract I asked the lady that gave me the contract... "I can develop grooves??" She said it's very unlikely, we are not int the business of make people look worse. She compared it to some medications where you have possible side effects, but usually not very likely. Like one in every 1000 patients or something like that. Problem, that is not the reality. Something like over 60% of all liposuction patients have at least one of the side effects listed above. Usually when these are minor deformities the patient is usually happy with the overall result. And doesn't mind the small riple here or there. Also, with law suits...you really would have to have a missing limb to be able to win anything at all. Since this is an elective surgery, juries are typically not as sympathetic unfortunately.
Mobile4807 (8 posts) 13 Mar 2011
I just read this - nearly 3 years after the fact. However, this long after, I went to your Dr's website and see that he has no board certifications in the plastic surgery field. Any time you get plastic surgery, you need to have a medical Dr. who is a board certified Plastic Surgeon and also certified by the Board of Cosmetic Surgeries. There are a few more certifications as well. Your guy simply went to med school, sat in a one-day or so training and decided to practice plastic surgery at an extremely high cost.

I'm sorry for all you went through and hope you have found some help or peace. For those who haven't done this yet, double check the credentials of your DR. IF the don't have the necessary credentials, don't hire them.
7858anon (6 posts) 26 Apr 2011
Mobile4807, although it may help to look for these certifications it does not mean that a PS has the artistic ability to perform good lipo. My body has been ruined by a Board Certified PS, the certification meant NOTHING!
ndmoreno (77 posts) 16 Oct 2008
Hello, I ran across your post this morning and I wanted to take a minute to say to you, that I am sorry that your lipo didn't turn out as planned. Your story is heartfelt and people need to hear the truth. Good job for your complete honestly. I commend you for not giving up and for trying out ways to get it corrected. That takes even more courage. Also, you are not alone. I am a major deformity here in Santa Clara. Natalie
deformedlipo (19 posts) 13 Nov 2008
One thing that I also failed to mention is the severe effect these deformities have had on my self esteem. I no longer feel confident sexually. I also have had to go to counseling and take antidepressant pills. I have fallen into a great depression because I do not feel like I have a way out. Waking up in the morning is never easy. I constantly feel sad, like a part of me has been taken away. That was not a risk I was willing to take. I feel like I have been tricked and lied to by doctors that know that these outcomes are possible but are not up front about them. They are just looking to make a quick buck and feed on the insecurities of women like me. Need less to say, there are many good plastic surgeons with integrity that have transformed the lives of so many people.
ndmoreno (77 posts) 13 Nov 2008
if no one has told you today that they love you. I will. I feel exactly like you do. EXACTLY. I fought off the Anti-depressant meds. as I am in Recovery from drugs and alcohol but you know what. Don't let them win. DON'T. You can either start living or start dying. So we made a bad choice. We screwed up. Bigtime but please try to move forward. i have tried to take the focus off of my legs, the loving relationship that I wanted and the countless number of barely dressed beautiful women that I am flooded with on T.V and in public and I now undress in the dark and away from a mirror. You have got to try something. This is not your fault. It is the doctor's we can't let them ruin our lives. They are not the one's that have to live with this. We are. But we have to hang on and hope that there is something brighter out there. Honestly, I do know how you feel. The more people you share your story with and show your outcome to the more you will gain strength and heal. And, there has got to be someone out in this world that can fix horrible deformities no matter how much we are turned away. Let's get busy finding one. okay? if you need to talk email me. Natalie
deformedlipo (19 posts) 17 Nov 2008
Natalie... I was so touched by what you wrote to me. I must of cried a bucket. Strange how when we find some one that can sympathize and share our pain how somehow it just all feels a little bit better. It was so comforting to read your words. Even though I cried a lot, it was tears of sadness and... tears of "I am glad that finally someone understands what the hell I am going through". You are right, I am not giving up... not now and not ever. I am going to find the best doctor their is and he is going to have to find a way out of this mess. When I find this doctor you will be the first to know. I will search for him high and low... promise ! Planning a trip to Brazil, where I plan to meet with Dr. Rodriguez. He specializes in butts... I will see what he can do, I will see all his photos and decide. He is the best in the world as far as I know. You have Dr. Roberts in North Carolina as well. You also have Dr. Coleman in NYC. I am going to see them all... and tell you what I have decided. It's time to start living my friend. Natalie... you make a difference in this world and thank you for being so wonderful !
ndmoreno (77 posts) 18 Nov 2008
Good! You are on the right track. I spent plenty of hours surfing the web for any glimmer of hope. I too, found Dr. Rodriguez's website and specialty very promising. You are a good person. Together we can get through this. Natalie
ndmoreno (77 posts) 3 Apr 2009
how are you?? Just wanted to say, "hello!"
producer12 (4 posts) 10 Dec 2009

i have deformities in my stomach and i also undress in the dark , I was told that lipo well trim me and i will see a flat stomach, 3 lipos later not good, if you find the answer please let me know , I used to love the beach anfd its been 5 years i will not take my shirt off or get naked in the light w a woman, My god i was suppose to feel better but no such luck the doctors dont care they just looking for suckers to take there money , Please email me if u find someone that really can help , Thanks George from La.

deformed (3 posts) 1 Jan 2009
OH MY GOD, I'm in the same situation as you. The inner/outer thigh lipo left me with no butt and a huge dent in the one sidd and hollow spots on both sides. My butt used to be nice and full and now is saggy and jiggly! I did not want lipo on my butt! I am so disgusting looking and deformed. It's all I think about and has taken over my life. I just want to die and have thought of killing myself because I cannot get over this.
ndmoreno (77 posts) 2 Jan 2009
Deformed, hang in there. Liposhifting is coming out and has (so they say, helped with deformities) Don't give up 5 minutes before the miracle. I too, have wanted to end it over this horribly stupid choice that I made. I can't even look at myself. I want human interaction and touch so badly but feel like I can't because I am botched goods now. I would be deceiving another person if i acted like I was actually attractive I had no idea my life would turn out like this. I hate that someone is out there living with their "after's" and actually okay with themselves. I couldn't live with myself if i knew another human being trusted me and I cause this much harm to them. You are not alone. Let's try our best to find a solution together. Natalie
Wil in KY (15 posts) 16 Jun 2009
Me too! I would like to know if anyone has sued over these "lumps". What are the corrective surgeries and who has to pay? My stomach is so lumpy....I look deformed and am so depressed!!!! It is summer and I my BF will expect a two piece, but there is no way....not like last summer when he and others complimented me on my ab. muscles. I just wanted perfection.....I wish I could have my "old stomach" back.
deformed (3 posts) 4 Jan 2009
Hi ndmoreno. I am botched good as well. I feel like I was butchered and the worst part is I paid thousands of dollars to be butchered!!!! I am so sorry you are going through this too. I wouldn't wish this upon my worst enemy. This is an awful thing to go through. I currently live in the DC area. Have you heard of any good doctors in this area or along the east coast that are supposed to be good and fixing liposuction disasters? I'm pretty sure I need a fat transfer as well to fill in the huge dent in my a**. Thank you for writing back. I wish support groups existed for people with jacked up plastic surgery. I think it would help to meet and speak to others going through the same thing.
Wil in KY (15 posts) 16 Jun 2009
Me too! Is there a support group for "lumpy, lipo stomachs?" My PS doesn't want to talk about "corrective techniques for three more mos.-six mos. post surgery". Is this too late? Has anyone sued over lumps? What are the "corrective surgeries" and who should have to pay?
sn (5 posts) 20 Feb 2010
I also live in DC and can't stop obsessing about my deformities. Have you? Any advice?
Mobile4807 (8 posts) 6 Jan 2011
I recommend Dr. Michael Lyon in Mobile, Alabama. He is quadrupal Board certified and everyone I know who has gone to him - including me - is satisfied. He does smartlipo under light sedation - not anesthesia - and also does fat transfers.

He does only one surgery per day and the whole team is focused on that one patient. They all have great bedside manner and I've been told that he will follow the recovery through until everything is just as it should be. I am a couple weeks post-surg and they have been great! Good luck! And I'm sorry for your situation. And just for the record, the person who paid $25,000 paid WAY TOO MUCH!
ndmoreno (77 posts) 5 Jan 2009
I am still researching doctors. So far, I have found a few that are trying to correct the disasters. i too need fat transfers. My problem is also that hideous cobblestone appearance all over the fronts,and sides of both legs. And I look moth-eaten. I can give you the names of the ones that I found but none of them show any afters. That still worries me. Anyway, Thanks for the much needed support and to understand everything that we are going through. Yeah, a web site dedicated to this stuff would be great. There are a lot of us!! Best, Natalie
Mobile4807 (8 posts) 6 Jan 2011
It sounds like your surgeon did not do the lazer first to melt the fat. Also, Lipo-ex may be an option to smooth things out and much cheaper. Again, my guy is Dr. Michael Lyons. He would probably cry if he saw what they did to you!
clk (30 posts) 7 Jan 2011
hi mobile,
do you know anyone who's gone to him after having been deformed by a different doc or just first timers? thanks
deformedlipo (19 posts) 7 Jan 2009
Hello girls, I have been doing a lot of research on doctors that have had some good results with patients. Although I have to admit that they are few. If you look at Dr.Coleman in NYC. His before and after photos are on the website, they are impressive. There is also a doctor in Brazil that has had some good results specifically in the butt area. Lets keep researching this. I think in two years the procedures to fix deformed lipos will be common practice and will be superior to what exists today. Liposhipting is interesting, but there just enough proof that it actually works in more serious cases. Also, it seems to me like an extremely evasive procedure, since it's supposedly chopping up fat cells and shifting them else where. Lets keep researching, three brains is always better then one. Lets stay positive, where there is a will there is a way. We will find a way out of this mess.
ndmoreno (77 posts) 8 Jan 2009
Sounds great. Let's never forget one another. I also believe there will be help. Dr coleman reviewed my pictures. Cost: 57,000.00. Out of my price range but the pictures do tell that he can correct the problems that I definitely have. I also researched Nathan Newman. No before and after but he said he could fix my deformities also. He is in LA. Cost:7,000. So, let's hang on to each other until we get to the other side. I also dislike the fact that I am now gaining weight in my stomach area. I used to have a flat one but the weight is shifting. Help!!! Stay strong ladies. I need your strength and support. Natalie

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