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POSTED UNDER Liposuction Reviews

Nothing About It Went Right

ORIGINAL POST

I had liposuction in 1997 on butt, knees and...

$5,000

I had liposuction in 1997 on butt, knees and thighs. I really only wanted to get rid of the saddlebags but trusted the doctor (do NOT go to J.B. in Arizona!!!) when he said he'd have to balance it out by doing the whole area. The results were terrible - incredibly uneven, indentations and dents all over, saggy, saggy skin, saggy looking butt now because he took too much from the sides. "Doctor" B's staff was terrible, couldn't wait to get me out of the clinic so I'm vomiting in the cab as I'm going home after a six hour surgery! I wasn't in recovery for even an hour, they were so irresponsible. The pain was pretty bad for about a week, and then gradually faded over a period of six weeks.

I had a touch-up lipo by another doctor here in Hawaii in 2000 and not only did it not help, but I also got purplish blotches wherever this doctor did the lipo that have not gone away. He even did the small of my back without asking, and took too much out there and now I have these indentations in the small of my back, so not only are my hips, thighs and knees ruined, so now is what once was a pretty nice back!

Tha pain was not as bad with this doctor, however. Now, ten years after the first surgery, the results are worse than ever as gravity has taken its toll. The saggy skin is even worse - my thighs look like I was someone who was morbidly obese who lost over 100 pounds! I've never weighed more than 140 and I'm 5'5. My legs have not seen daylight since 1997, and I live in Hawaii. I am pretty attractive, smart, funny, intelligent, but I am 40 and single and I know that my "secret" is what has contributed to the demise of my last two serious relationships.

My decision to have liposuction ruined my life, and I truly believe my dream of becoming a wife and mother will probably never happen. Don't believe the before and after photos - if you are standing up perfectly still, someone's lipo job might look okay, but it's not okay when you sit, when you bend, when you move, when you pinch the area where there's excess skin and not enough fat. I can't believe I paid $5 grand to be butchered and have my life become so limited. I'd take those saddle bag thighs back in a heartbeat.

's provider

John W. Bass, MD

John W. Bass, MD

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

rating for Dr. Bass:

Overall rating

Replies (5)

July 6, 2008
Hello, you. Your story completely touched my heart and made me tear up. I am very sorry this happened to you. I do understand how these decisions that we make to better our selves can somehow destroy us. Don't allow it. I know that time has passed and you believe that love might not happen for you but believe that it will. Who knows maybe you can find a person that has also had liposuction. Granted more women fall prey but there are also men out there. I have a similar story and never imagined that i would be forever changed and as you say, butchered. Sometimes, when i pull up on the skin from my knee to the mid thigh I seem to get a smooth result. I am tempted to have a doctor just cut and pull to get me to a point where I don't look I don't have 101 year old lady legs. There has got to be help out there for folks like us. Have you tried places like Fix my lipo.com or Lipostructure. They sure look like they can help. My story was deleted when my profile was edited but I definitely like hideous. My reason for sharing. You are not alone. And, you know what? Really, this isn't our fault. We trusted a certain level of skill going in. We wanted to look better than when we started. It was the doctor that failed us. We made a bad decision. They did a BAD job. It's a one-sided outcome leaving us to pay the price for both. Can you email pics. I would like to see you.
January 1, 2009
I am sitting here bawling my eyes out because I feel your pain. I have been left with incredible sagging skin and my butt looks like an 80 year old woman. I didn't even go in for lipo on my butt-it was supposed to be inner/outer thights and the doctor literally sucked out every ounce of fat in the area! I am so deformed and this has taken over my life. I am 27 and single and like you, I can NOT have a relationship. I feel so disgusting and gross. How can you possible explain this to someone after just a few dates-it just can't happen. I cry all the time and have thought of suicide because I can not live with this pain anymore. I would give anything to have my "huge" thighs back again. I have a huge dent in my butt and can't even wear jeans! How sad is that, I'm 27 and can't even wear jeans. I don't even go out much anymore because I am only comfortable in sweats and fleece pants. I can't believe I did this to myself and the worst part is that these doctors get away with this!
July 23, 2009
I was just wondering how you are feeling today. I am hanging on but wanted to reach out to you too and see if you were okay. Write when you can. Natalie
August 2, 2009
I know how you feel, I had lipo done on my abdomen and "flanks" 6 months ago, but it looks like he did not do anything on my left side, I paid $4615.00 and I still have to wear the same clothes with no change in my waist at all. I want to get my money back, but I don't know exactly what to do. I called a couple med. malpractice lawyers, but they said they couldn't do anything about it, one of them said to call a civil law attorney, and she said she couldn't do anything about it either, so I'm left with the med. board, I called and they said to file a complaint, but I haven't because I want to ask the dr. for my money first and let him know that if I don't get it back then I'll send the complaint. Any advice?
August 5, 2009
No. I am very sorry. No advice you tried the avenues available and gotten the typical response. I would just ask the doctor. I have seen some of the folks on these sites say that they get their money back. Good luck
November 2, 2009
Hello Bell, Oh, my God, when I read your comment, I could not believe it. My husband calls me Bell sometimes too, I had exactly the same surgery, abdomen and "flanks" in Jan. 09, my "left" flank looks like he did not do anything at all either, I did lose some weight because I talked to my fam. dr. and recommended the "South Beach Diet", I'm 5'1 and lost about 9 lbs when I started the diet (2.5 months post surgery) I paid $4615.00, I have no change in my waist either. I contacted 2 med. malpractice lawyers, same answer, one advice to call the civil law att., same response; and now I am also left with med. board, I called to, can file the complaint any time, but I'd like to try to get my $ back first as well. Have you gotten any advice, please let me know.