Lipo, Extended Tummy Tuck, BBL - Tijuana, MX

After reviewing a few surgeons in Tijuana, I have decided on Dr. Pantoja. I am scheduled for an abdominoplasty, liposuction, BBL, and buccal fat removal on 9/17/14. I will be staying in his clinic for two nights then recovering at Club Medical for an additional 4 nights.

I'm very excited and somewhat nervous. I've had a lot of cosmetic and plastic work done but haven't been out of the states for it. 3 years ago I had lipo to my upper/lower abd, flanks, and chest but was left with a little excess skin that only an TT will fix.

Is anyone else having surgery with Dr. Pantoja around this time? I'd love to have a surgery buddy to chat with. Also I'd really appreciate any advice on recovery after a TT or BBL.

Nadia, Dr. Pantoja's surgical coordinator, told me pain is controlled with tramadol, toradol, ibuprofen, or Tylenol, or for "those with a LOW pain tolerance" they will give codeine/tylenol. This is very concerning to me. After every procedure I've had done I've always had adequate pain control with hydrocodone (for most procedures) and Percocet for the larger procedures (forehead reduction, septoplasty). What was everyone else given at Pantoja's office for pain control?

I'm 5 weeks post-op (and 1 day) and feel like things are going so slowly. I know the recovery with tt is slow and a long process but dang...this wears a person out.

I have some swelling in my LUQ (left upper quadrant) of abdomen. Dr. Pantoja said it should go away on its own and with massage and juices. I had some swelling in the same area a couple weeks post-op that resolved then came back after I went back to work last week. I'm worried about a seroma and wondering if it needs drained. But how long do I give it to go down before finding someone to drain it? Anyone else experience something similar?

My energy is better but some days, like today, are worse and it is hard to get up and do things. I'm still wearing my compression garment-this doesn't bother me.

How long until I start feeling normal again?

I am still dealing with a seroma that developed approximately 2-3 weeks post-op. I am seeing a local plastic surgeon who has drained it 3 times now. The swelling in my abdomen is asymmetric and is making my scar look really high on one side. I hope the scar goes back down. After the surgery and until 1-2 weeks post-op the scar looked symmetric.

I am visiting my location plastic surgeon on Monday to have my seroma drained AGAIN. I am hoping he will inject a sclerosant to help prevent this. I fear it has become encapsulated. Nadia has informed me they will take care of any complications but I'm not sure if this means for an additional charge or not. Plus I live in St. Louis, MO so traveling to TJ and staying for x number of days isn't exactly cheap. I have spent so much money with my local plastic surgeon trying to get this fixed. I am tired of this thing coming back. My scar looks higher on one side (not sure if its because of swelling-but they said swelling should subside by 12 weeks). I'll be 12 weeks post-op in 3 days and I still have a lot of swelling. I'm miserable without my garment.

I had a Abdominal Ultrasound (Complete) to monitor the seroma and look for any tunneling of the seroma and to evaluate the extreme tightness on my left side. The US showed the small seroma and didn't show any evidence of tunneling (good news!). I notified Dr. Pantoja's office of this and gave them a copy of my US report and a report from the plastic surgeon in the States that I am seeing for the seroma. The left side of my abdomen is very tight and the scar on the left side (approximately a 5-6 inch area) is about 4 inches higher than on the right. My abdomen definitely doesn't look right - it looks very swollen on the left and like its being "pulled" to the left. The right side has nice definition, curve and the scar is starting to fade. I have to go again this week to have the seroma drained again.

Dr. Pantoja has been very nice and helpful with all of this. Hannia has been so quick to reply to my messages and is very nice on the phone. It is so reassuring to know that I have their support and just left on my own after surgery. Hannia said to give it 6 months and if needed Dr. Pantoja will surgically remove the seroma and do a scar revision free of charge. That really says a lot about his character and his concern for his patients. I really appreciate this.

Has anyone else experienced anything similar to what I'm going through?

All photos 12 days post-op.

Additional photos.

After having JP drain removed. Scar looks good.

10/19/14 32 days post-op pics

Photos. Left side more noticeable.

Additional photos.