As a plastic surgeon, wife, and mother, Dr. Cristen Catignani, MD, FACS, brings a unique and empathetic perspective to her patients. She understands the desire to live with greater confidence and to see a reflection in the mirror that brings joy. Dr. Catignani earned her bachelor's degree in biological sciences from Florida State University. She then pursued her Doctor of Medicine at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, where she also completed a certificate in interdisciplinary health policy and leadership. Following this, she completed her residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and further specialized with a fellowship in plastic and reconstructive breast microsurgery.
I had my tummy tuck with Dr Cat and am ecstatic with my results. During my consultation she made me feel very comfortable and confident with her as my surgeon, she walked me through my recovery process and my results are amazing. I was nervous about recovery but it was so worth it! My clothes fit better, my core is stronger and I am wearing a bikini again!
As I'm beginning this post I am currently 8 days post op. I am feeling very nervous that I went too big with the size! Trust me I am very aware it can take 6+ months to see final result for the shape and size of a breast aug. What I am most worried about right now is what the final actual volume/size will be. I've looked at hundreds of before/during/after photos of getting a breast aug and most of the time, the after photo is larger than the during recovery photo bc of the "drop and fluff" process. Currently, my boobs feel very hard and they barely move - when they soften and relax, will they expand or will they shrink? I have read conflicting answers. I am feeling like I need the final result's size to be 15-20% less than what they currently are to feel happy! Also, the lemon/football shape that's going on right now will become much rounder once the implant drops correct? I am just feeling super large and ugly and I know that's part of the process but I'm looking much larger and uglier than many of the other 1-2 week post op pictures I've seen of other women. I've included my wish pictures - will I end up like this? :(
Dr. Cat is a one of a kind plastic surgeon! She truly listens to what the patient wants and offers amazing results! I had initially consulted with many other doctors and felt the most welcomed at The Swan Center of Plastic Surgery. During my consultation, I was able to try different size implants as well as receive feedback to all my questions regarding breast augmentation. In every step of the process, I felt very confident and supported by nurse Stacey and Dr. Cat! The entire process went very smoothly from start to finish. I'm now post my 6 month mark of surgery and absolutely love the result! I went for a very natural look and I could not be any happier. If you want a female doctor that has amazing bedside manner, deep knowledge of the most innovative techniques, and a team of exceptional nurses you absolutely need to consult with Dr. Catignani and The Swan Center!
My experience was 1st class from start to finish. The girls at the front were so welcoming and always take care great of me. Dr. Cat did my aug, and I couldn't be more happy with my results! This was a procedure I've been wanting for years, and finally mustered up the courage to move forward with. I credit this to her and nurse Kennedy's warm demeanor that makes you feel like your just chatting with a girlfriend. I felt safe and reassured during the entire process. My results are outstanding, and Dr. Cat educated me so much on my after care and recovery, that I've had a flawless recovery! I'm so happy, I am even considering doing liposuction as well now! Thanks, Swan Center!
Absolutely the best. Fantastic bedside manner and easy to relate to. Most importantly, her surgical results are wonderful! Beautiful facility and professional staff. I was totally pleased with my experience with Dr. Cat and Swan!
Dr. Catignani, or Dr. Cat as she is referred to, is a skilled, approachable plastic surgeon who has an excellent bedside manner. She answered all of my questions, immediately made me feel very comfortable and has been very compassionate. I also found her to be very knowledgeable about the latest trends in plastic surgery and injectables. She wants to give her patients a natural look and help them restore their bodies to what they were before having children, after weight loss or just to make them feel more comfortable in their own skin. When I asked her specific questions about injectables (Botox/Dysport and fillers) she was honest with me and gave her recommendations to achieve a natural look. I have felt very comfortable with Dr. Cat every time I have seen her, I feel like I have a new best friend who is helping me to feel even better about myself.
Let me just start off and say She is absolutely amazing. I have struggled with a larger labia and clitoral hood for the past year. My sex life was affect, I could wear certain clothing, and walking to long caused me to cry it hurt so bad. I no longer have any of that! I’m so much more confident and my labia no longer hangs down and out of my labia majora! During my first consultation with her she immediately left a good impression on me. She was so sweet and made sure I was aware of everything One thing that is really important with getting Labiaplasty is making the patient feeling comfortable. It can definitely be a very awkward situation, however Dr. Catignani instantly made me feel comfortable and better about the whole situation. She doesn’t talk to you as if she is a doctor you are just meeting, but as if you are someone she has known for a while. Which was super important to me just because I was worried about the procedure and kind of embarrassed about it all. I got a price right after my consultation.. we discussed everything and they actually helped me a lot & adjusted the price a little to better suit me. I was so thankful. My procedure went awesome. She was so great during it. She did her work at a fast pace and got me done as soon as she could. It took around 30-40 minutes. She allowed me to move whenever I needed and repeatedly asked me how I was doing. My results are STUNNING! I’m a little over a month post op.. and I couldn’t be happier. There is still a little excess skin around my clitoris hood, but Dr. Catignani explained to me that she didn’t want to risk me having painful scarring or affecting my sensation because of the area it was in. I agreed with her and she let me know that if I wanted more taken off later that she would do so. She did a great job at getting my labia the same size at a perfect length.. I can FINALLY wear tight clothing again and not hurt. I can not thank her enough! This surgery will definitely change my life for the better! 10/10 would recommend her!!
I didn't want to post until things were 100% set in stone...so here I am! I had consultations with a couple of different surgeons a few months ago. After much thought, I've chosen to go with the Swan Center in Atlanta, GA. The staff was exceptionally friendly, informative, and not pushy. I was really nervous, so I forgot 90% of the questions I had, but they were talkative enough to cover anything I wanted to know and told me to call or email any time I remembered a question. Something that was a big help to my comfort was that multiple staff members had augmentations themselves, including the surgeon I spoke with! Dr. Catignani and the assistant, Cassie, made everything very comforting. There was also no charge AT ALL for the consultation (and they gave me a free t-shirt!). Little things like that really told me they care more about the client's experience than the money. Cassie gave me an email address to send them any "wish photos" I found (which I'll share here as well). Apparently, they print out these photos and add them to my file. Then when surgery day comes, Dr. Cat will have those photos on hand to compare then-and-there, to make sure the best implant is used to achieve my desired look. After trying on a few implants for sizing in the office, we were thinking 300-325cc. So, after the appointment, my husband bought a "sizing system" with a few different sizers to wear, to see what I liked in a more long-term setting. Still definitely feeling the 300-325cc range! After wearing them a few times and really feeling the upped confidence, there was no question that I wanted the procedure done. I chose to wait until after our Thanksgiving vacation to set the appointment, but we finally made the call a couple of days ago! My pre-op appointment is set for December 18, and my surgery date is set for January 3. 39 days to go! My stats are 5'5", 112lbs, bra size is a small B and I'll share some pre-op photos as well I probably won't post again until my pre-op appointment. Fingers crossed from another stellar experience ^_^ Updated on 20 Dec 2018: I had my pre-op appointment just a couple of days ago. We discussed the various do's and don't's and what I could generally expect in terms of care, bandaging, clothing requirements, etc. and all the paperwork was signed along with final payment made. I'm extremely excited, but the nerves are starting to kick in. I've never been under anesthesia, so I'm a little scared of that aspect. I already scheduled for at least 2 weeks off work to rest and recuperate. I'm honestly looking forward to the bed rest and excuse not to do dishes lol! Yesterday, my husband and I went out and bought a few button-up shirts, soft pajama pants, and cozy slippers. He also surprised me with of those big bed rest pillows with the arms on them (I have no idea what those are technically called). My husband got the first couple of days off so that he can stay home and take care of me, as well. There are a lot of little things that I'm nervous about, so I'm trying not to focus on all of that too much and instead just look forward to the good parts. Updated on 11 Jan 2019: Things have gone fantastically and I'm feeling so incredibly optimistic. I got to my surgery appointment at 7AM. They got me back, hooked up to the IV, antibiotic drip, and then the doc came in and made some marks. Shortly after, I was taken back to the surgery center and they had me under anesthesia in no time. I woke up in the recovery room a little uncomfortable but....that's it. We ended up going with 350CC, in the end. Pretty sure that's most likely to accomplish the look I wanted. At no point was I ever in any major pain, never nauseous, was able to eat normal solid food immediately. I was definitely super sleepy and napped a little on the ride home. I could have easily gone without any pain medication, honestly, but I took it the first three days, anyway, then switched to Ibuprofen just for the swelling. The worst part is the swelling - chest feels pretty tight. Ice packs have been my friend. Second to the swelling has been the boredom and general aches of being stuck in bed. Doc said everything looked great at the post op appointment. I just have to continue taking things easy. Since the pain is almost 100% gone, it's pretty easy to over do things right now. Oh, and the incisions feel super duper itchy sometimes, so that's annoying. As for how they look right now, I'm really excited. They look kind of funny, do to not having dropped yet and that will take some time. But, even for sitting high at the moment, I think they're looking fantastic for this stage of the healing process, all things considered. They look stellar under a shirt. I've got another post-op this Wednesday. I'll be excited to finally change to a different bra - wearing this same one for so long feels kinda icky haha All-in-all, so far, I'm feeling great and very, very happy Updated on 29 Jan 2019: The two-week post op went great. Doc says everything is looking as it should. I was able to change to a different bra (though the new one isn't a heck of a lot prettier haha) Things are starting to settle and I can see a MAJOR difference between now and week one. The right side is going a lot easier, looking better, and less problematic. There is still a lot of numbness on the underside of the left, and the left nipple is a little over-sensitive. The right feels pretty normal. I'm back to working my full, normal shifts at work with no problems. I'm still so excited. Everything is going wonderfully and statring to come together slowly.
Based on your photographs, you will be a candidate for a tummy tuck with liposuction of the abdomen, flanks and back with fat transfer to you buttocks (BBL). If you are 24 and otherwise healthy, you will likely be a good candidate for this procedure with low risk from surgery and anesthesia. Discuss your specific goals and concerns with your plastic surgeon.
Most patients are able to have their drains removed after a tummy tuck prior to 37 days post op. I have seen patients that have had large amounts of weight loss require drains to stay in for a long period of time secondary to low levels of protein. I recommend scheduling an appointment discussing your concerns with your plastic surgeon.
Weight loss after fat transfer may change your results. Unfortunately you cannot selectively choose where this weight loss will occur. Your best results in plastic surgery will occur when you are as close to your goal weight as possible.
It is very hard to tell based on a photograph if there is significant nipple necrosis. It may be, as others have suggested, that the color changes that you are seeing are related to bruising. I recommend scheduling a follow up with your plastic surgeon for further evaluation.
You are still early in your post operative recover period from placement of rather large implant. Your tissues will gradually stretch to accommodate your implants and your look with soften with time. You should continue to discuss your concerns with your plastic surgeon and follow his or her recommendations. I would expect to see significant changes between now and 4-6 months following your surgery so try to be patient with your results as your body heals.
