Dr. Kalnoki performed a belt lift procedure on me to remove loose skin after nearly 200 pounds of weight loss. She and each member of her staff were nothing but welcoming and helpful from my first consultation. Dr. Kalnoki and her staff took the time to walk me through the entire procedure, all that would be involved both pre and post-op, and answered each of my questions. It is evident that Dr. Kalnoki not only cares about her patients, their stories, and their goals, but also their health and safety related to surgical procedures. Dr. Kalnoki is extremely professional, knowledgeable, and talented at what she does. I am incredibly satisfied with my results and would absolutely recommend her! Thank you, Dr. Kalnoki!
I have had such a positive experience with Dr. Kalnoki and all of the staff I have met. The team is wonderful. The facility is clean and well maintained. The team made sure to look at all of medical information making sure that I was a good candidate for this procedure and following up with my doctors regarding a condition that I have. I am extremely happy with the results, and have already seen improvements with my back and neck pain. I wish I didnt' wait as long as I did to have this proceudre. I highly recommend going to Dr Kalnoki she is easy to communicate with and a great listener.
I came to Dr. Kalnoki 2 years after having a double mastectomy with the hope she could help my breasts to look and feel more real. Every person on her staff that was kind and professional. Dr. Kalnoki listened, cared and provided me with options. I am now finished with surgery and both my husband and I are so thrilled with the results. I never thought I would feel good about my breasts again. I am so thankful for Dr. Kalnoki and her staff!
Dr Kalnoki was amazing! She and the entire staff at the Quatela center made me feel such at ease! Aesthetically, I’m still swollen and bruised, but everything is even and looking awesome! The healing has been much easier than I expected. Melissa the patient consultant was a godsend and was an awesome point person for all my questions, appointment scheduling, and insurance questions! All of the nurses were so helpful in calming my nerves too! All around great experience!
Great Experience! I had been contemplating a breast reduction for a while. I went to The Quatela Center website and found a new MD, Dr. Emese Kalnoki. I did some research and made an apt. for a consultation with her. When I left I was pretty positive about the surgery. She has great bed side manner, knowledgeable, professional and I felt very comfortable. It has been about a month since my surgery and things have gone very well! I highly recommend her. She is top notch!
Dr Kalnocki performed a breast reduction, and liposuction of arms and bra line. She is so talented in the work that she performs! I would highly recommend her. She is very accessible to answer any questions that we had, even late in the evening on a weekend.
I just want to pay it forward. Thank you all so much for giving me the confidence to have my 500 cc silicone implants removed. Did this when I was young and naive. Now that I am more mature and more sure of myself I am ready to have them out. Still worrying like crazy but I just have to push thru and do it. Things will work out like they should. I am having the explant done then I will let my breast heal for about 6 months then I may have to consider a lift. I am 46 years old, 5'6" and about 130 lbs. I don't know how my skin will be if it will have any "bounce back" or not. We shall see. Updated on 26 Apr 2013: Thank you NervousGirlie. I hope mine come out as nice as yours. You look so good natural :-) I can't really remember what mine looked like before the implants. It's been so long ago.But I will accept them as they are because they are a part of me :-) I will keep you posted. Updated on 27 Apr 2013: Good Morning Lovely Ladies! I woke up this morning to thoughts and questions about what my limitations are going to be after surgery. My doctor and I didn't really discuss that yet and I want to be prepared for what I can't do and for how long. I read some reviews about some members building fluid up because they did too much too soon. Your advice would mean alot to me. Thanks! :-) Updated on 5 May 2013: Well I have 1 more week to go before surgery. I'm counting down the days that I won't have to struggle to get my minimizer bra on or my sports bra on. I went to pilates class this morning and looked at my huge chest in the mirror thinking "just one more week and I won't have to feel embarrassed by these big things." I'm worried about how they will turn out but what can you do but just accept yourself as you are right? Should have done that 23 years ago:-) Updated on 22 May 2013: Hi ladies, I hope my post op pics show up. I had to email them to Realself and they said they could post them for me since I can't seem to get it to work. But anyways everything is fine. I went to my 1 week post op appointment and they said I am healing up good. They did not mention a compression garment, just a sports bra so I went and bought a few different kinds. I'm wondering though if I should get a compression garment though because now that I have worn the sports bra for a couple of days my nipples are kind of folding over. I've read thru some of the other comments that the compression bra will keep my nipples from doing that. Any other comments on that? Updated on 23 May 2013: Updated on 31 May 2013: Hi everybody, Just wanted to let you know things are going good. My incisions are healing up good. My doctor wanted for me to keep them covered with medical tape but my skin was developing a rash so I stopped using it. My breasts haven't really changed much except I'm a little smaller, maybe less swollen. I'm going to do a pilates class today and not do too much with my chest if possible. I really need to exercise though. It will help me feel better. I don't know if you all have felt this way after your explant but I go thru good days and bad days. Depression comes around for a day or so and then I will snap out of it knowing that those big, fake boobs were way worse to have than the little ones that I have now. My husband looked at them for the first time a couple of days ago. He only glanced for a second and then went back in the other room. He said that they look a lot better than he thought they would. He said they look fine but he still needs time to get use to them. He did touch one in bed the other night too but only for a brief second. I think I was more worried about what he thought than he was. It will all just take time and I will be patient knowing I made the right decision. Oh, got my new 218 compression bras in the mail and I do like them alot. I think they are helping by keeping me "lifted up and close to my chest". My nipples are much happier :-) Hope you all are doing well, Hugs!
I always said after I was finished having kids I would go get myself “a new set of girls”. After 3 pregnancies, breastfeeding, lots of exercise and weight loss, I was barely able to fill my once overflowing 36c bras. My breasts were mostly loose floppy skin, and I’d be lucky if they were actually a 34/36 B cup. When I went for my consult, the Dr recommended a lift with implants. To be honest the idea of a lift really scared me, I had seen pictures and wasn’t sure I wanted to do something so extreme. But after reading so many stories on this site, the more I understood the need for it. I’m about 5’5” and 132 pounds. I wanted my breasts to be round and full again, without getting in the way of my daily workouts. So I went home and thought long and hard.
I made my consultation appt! It's one month away. I'm concerned about what my ins will determine, because I feel like I may not be big enough based on my BMI and bra size. I'm a little curvy and pretty tall. I don't think I'm really disproportionate but I feel like I could be 2 sizes smaller and still like proportionate. I do have back pain especially if I'm standing or sitting for long periods of time. I have the bra strap indents and finding clothes I feel comfortable in just doesn't happen often. Regardless I'm happy I'm taking this step. Lots of questions for the doctor and am hoping to be put at ease come June. I'm very excited and this website has been really awesome to have as a guide and as a reference. Excited to be a part of the community! Updated on 4 Jun 2017: I'm about a week away from my consultation! I was nervous before but now I'm feeling much more excited. I am only nervous that my ins won't cover and that I'll get my hopes up for nothing. They told me that my ins requires 500 ccs to be removed. I'm not sure what that would look like! I'm wondering if anyone had any tips on what I should ask the doctor? I have a lot of questions about taking time off of work and having someone there to take care of me. I live alone and my parents live 2 hours away. I think my sister can come stay with me if I need someone, which I think I will. Would love some feedback on good questions to ask and what to prepare for during a consultation. This site has been soooo helpful to me in making this decision. Updated on 15 Jun 2017: I had my consultation and could not be happier! The doctor was amazing and said I would be a great candidate for breast recursion surgery. Yay! They're going to attempt to submit through insurance and I'm keeping my all my fingers and toes crossed that they decide to cover it. There are a couple of things I'm concerned about. They gave me two tentative surgery dates and one, I have a wedding 8 days after. And the other is a week before a pretty busy week at work and two weeks out from a bachelorette weekend. Any thoughts or suggestions? They said they think I should be okay to drive to a wedding at that point. I'm just worried about dancing, pain, and fatigue. I'm already saying "I can't wait to have my new small boobs". Think I need to slow my roll lol but trying to stay positive! Updated on 22 Jun 2017: My insurance said they would not do any prior authorization before an outpatient surgery. This means that they wouldn't only determine if they will cover after the surgery is complete. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? If so, what did you do? I plan to call my ins company tomorrow to get more information. Updated on 28 Jun 2017: After some talk with my ins and the surgery center everything is still a big question mark which is a little frustrating. The ins will not approve an outpatient surgery before it happens. They will review the claim AFTER the surgery and determine if it would be covered. UGH Does anyone have $8000 to throw towards a surgery if it's not covered because I SURE DON'T! There's 3 requirements: 1) physician documentation of physical symptoms 2) Physician documentation of how the surgery will alleviate physical symptoms 3) 500+ grams removed from each breast. #3 is my issue. My doc said 450 out of my right and 500 out of my left. Good vibes and crossed fingers are welcome for a solution sometime soon... :\ Updated on 30 Jun 2017: So I went to an actual bra place (not VS) to get sized today. I have been wearing a 36DD uncomfortably and I was sized today at a 34H!!! Holy cow. And those bras felt soooo much better. If the surgery doesn't work out I'll definitely go back and invest in those. Think I'm going to take a leap with this ins issue. Feeling nervous and wondering if it's the right decision. Updated on 1 Jul 2017: I would love some suggestions on what I should get into place before surgery! Will they talk to me about this stuff during my pre-op? I have a recliner that I imagine I will be using quite a bit but I really don't have anything else in place since everything just became pretty real and definite! Updated on 5 Jul 2017: I talked to work about taking time off today and now I'm wondering about all possible complications that may keep me out of work for longer... ideally a week or less is my goal as I only have so much pto. I'm thinking "do I really want to do this?" The concerns I have are silly and and mostly just "possibilities". Will I like my new boobs? Will I miss my current boobs? And then I laugh at myself because I never like the way my current boobs make me feel or make me look. Will my chub on my stomach be more apparent? Will I be in a lot of pain? So many questions that I won't know the answer to unless I do it! Did anyone else worry about these things? Maybe go back and forth about if you should do it? Updated on 13 Jul 2017: 7 days pre op and surgery day cannot come soon enough! I'm currently resting my back in quite a bit of pain and feeling more than ready to get rid of these honkers! Had my pre op today. They went over medication, what to expect before and after surgery, etc. They were so great and genuinely excited for me and really helped calm me down. Now, we wait!! Anyone else get weirdly into taking pics of their "before" boobs to compare to after? lol it's become a hobby in a way lol Also wondering common responses from partners, bfs, or husbands? Sometimes I feel like they just don't get it. Updated on 20 Jul 2017: Currently waiting to be taken back! Anxiety and nerves are way up. IV is annoying but don't hurt too bad. It's so weird that I'll never have these boobs again. I feel bad in a way for not appreciating my body the way it is but then I have to remind myself that they cause me pain and it will still be MY body after. Lots of thoughts right now..ahh! Updated on 20 Jul 2017: Oh my goodness guys this is SUCH an amazing feeling, I never thought I'd get to this point. I'll try to start from the beginning and split it up as best as possible so you can skip spots if you want. Before: when I got there I signed some paperwork and then they let me say goodbye to my mom and sister before taking me back. They had me change, give a urine sample, and then took me to bed. They put little sleeves on my calves to massage my legs to prevent blood clots and a heated blanket. It took a while for them to take me back. I was brought to my bed around 11am and I went back to the OR around 12:30pm. They laid me down and everyone started doing all these different things. The anesthesiologist put something in my IV to relax me and the last think I remember is asking her what that thing was she put on my ear (to track oxygen?) and then I was DONE. Don't remember a face mask or counting down, anything like that. She called me a cheap date lol. After in the hospital/on the was home: I guess I was up for about an hour but I only remember about 5 mins of that at the end and seeing my mom. Apparently I talked to my doctor? I don't remember that either. They were encouraging me to get up and I was EXHAUSTED and did not want to get up I just wanted to go back to sleep. They sat me up and I got dizzy and lost color in my face. So they brought me some soda and I laid back down for a second. They wheeled me out to the car and I laid in the back seat with a pillow. I think laying down helped with the shitty roads of upstate NY and I didn't feel a lot of pain with the bumps. Also stopped to get McDonald even though I didn't feel like eating at all. When I got home: It was about 6pm and I felt much more awake and finally was able to glance down as I had a zip up on I started sobbing immediately! The relief and happiness I felt was overwhelming when I saw them. I could see in between my boobs!!! While they were in a bra!!! It wasn't just a straight line of gross boob cleavage all the way down! It was so amazing!! Ill post a picture for comparison. Now: It's 11pm and I'm about to retake my medication. My gauze on my right size was stuck so my angel of a sister used some salt water and got it off for me. My energy feels good. I can actually use my arms a fair amount but expect that to change tomorrow. I am mostly just sore as along as I stay on top of my meds. It just feels like a mix between these two things: that I lifted 100lbs with my boobs and getting them run over by a car lol but as long as I stay still I feel pretty comfortable! I was told they took about 2lbs out all together :) I also sometimes get a little light headed when I get up and use the bathroom but only sometimes. Boob status: currently very swollen and hard. Definitely some bruising and they're a little misshapen but all to be expected! I also had the SPAIR incisions don't so my bottom incisions don't run all the way along the bottom of my boob. I will update as often as I can! Updated on 22 Jul 2017: I'm honestly so surprised with how good I feel. It kinda weirds me a little bit? I was able to shower today and wash my hair by myself. I was also able to put on a loose tank top that I pulled over my head. I think having the SPAIR incision really helps with how much I can move my arms. I got a little light headed in the shower and it was strange not feeling my chest supported! I also woke up last night and my skin felt itchy on my head and my face and my stomach...maybe from the medication? I haven't taken any medication today for pain and I'm feeling really good. I rode in the car yesterday and today very comfortably. I'm not having a lot of jiggle yet so maybe that's why? I'm still leaking a bit and keeping gauze on my incisions. I did some shopping today and bought some new bras today to try! I think I'll probably take a nap soon though. As for my boobs it's really weird to see them! Theyre looking a little deformed lol. I can't wait for them to settle to see what they actually look like. Updated on 23 Jul 2017: My boobs are looking pretty gross! However, they feel so good! I was able to drive in the car and go on short walks to a lighthouse and around a park all day today with very little discomfort but I do get short of breath easily. I'm starting to get a little itchy and I'm getting tired easily and still yawning and sleeping a lot. I'm hoping to go back to work for a half day on Tuesday ( 5 days after surgery) to see how I feel. Updated on 24 Jul 2017: I still can't believe it. It feels amazing to see this reflection in the mirror! Updated on 25 Jul 2017: I did a half day at work today (all office work like checking emails) and I felt really good. I came home and slept for about 3 hours though lol I think part of that is because last night I slept in my bed for the first time and I was really anxious going to sleep that I was going to roll over since I had more room. I kept two pillows by each side the whole night but didn't sleep great I've been off my pain meds for about 3 days now as I feel like I don't need them. The only discomfort I feel is a little bit of itching and some irritation on my bottom incision where my bra can touch it. I showered again yesterday and I still feel sry strange when I take my bra off and my breasts are unsupported. The pressure is an odd and uncomfortable feeling to me. I also did some shopping and let me tell you...my boobs look pretty darn good in some low cut stuff now! Also the yellow dress from a couple weeks ago? I BOUGHT IT! Post op appt tomorrow :) everything still looks like my boobs were beaten to a pulp but I feel good! Updated on 27 Jul 2017: My breasts are still hideous looking lol thank goodness it's only temporary. I feel like I bruised so horribly compared to some others I see on here. I also feel like my swelling is strange but my doctor said it's normal? Im very "puffy" up too. I'm just really ready for them to look like actual boobs again. I've been back to work for 3 days now and I'm am sleepy throughout the day. I think I'm getting a little more sore from being more active at work but it's nothing unbearable. I'm still getting the itchys but it's not horrible yet. I'm told to trim my strips as needed but they will come off at the two week mark regardless which is my appt next Wednesday. Suggestions for swelling are welcomed! Icing? Essential oils? lol anything? Updated on 31 Jul 2017: So I LOVE the way my breasts look in clothes but they are still looking SO weird in the nude. Don't get me wrong I'm so happy with my choice, it's just a lot to get used to when you have monster boobs lol. I was able to go to a wedding this weekend and dance pretty comfortably. The tops of my breasts are getting more tender as my swelling goes down. Actually fabric and seat belts are pretty irritating to my skin to the touch. Any ideas on that? I was also equating that to swelling but I'm not sure. I think my back is still adjusting too. I have some posture issues to work on that my big boobies caused and just need to get used to better posture. My back pain is a lot better but surprisingly I have had a little bit after long days. Again, it may be posture related as well. Plus I jumped back into life pretty quickly after surgery so I'm not too sure! Things that have changed: - my shirts scooping very low/having to pull them up bc my boobs don't hold them up they way they used to (yay!) -I feel like I look heavier & my belly chub is more prevalent -wearing sports bras all the time plus not having a uniboob is amazing - conscious when hugs come up. At the wedding there were people that knew and were very gentle then there were those who didn't, they a little tender after a big hug - starting to sleep on my side a little more Also, did anyone want to tell like everyone they know/meet about their reduction? I'm a terrible secret keeper anyways when it comes to my own stuff, plus boobs are just boobs but like new ppl I meet, random ppl I know, I just want to share bc I'm so proud of myself! Even with my monster boobs! Haha :) Hoping to see some good and more drastic changes by my 2 week booby birthday lol healing and good energies are welcome! Updated on 3 Aug 2017: Definitely feeling more sore as my swelling goes down! The tops of my breast are sore and irritated to the touch of fabric or my hands. Also my nipples are hyper sensitive and also sensitive to fabric. Very ready for this stage to be over! It's very annoying. I got my strips off and my incisions are looking good! I was instructed to start using scar treatment and keeping them moisturized with a good lotion. Really looking for scar treatment recommendations!! They recommended "biocoreneum" but it's like $100 which I think is crazy. I'm open to anything OTC or any oils or a more natural cream. Would love recommendations. Updated on 10 Aug 2017: I'm not sure if anyone keeps up with these but I hope that one day it may be useful to someone! If not, it's still nice to keep a diary of my own to notice progress :) Some days I feel like they look so good and some days I feel like it's taking so long for them to look normal. I need to keep reminding myself that I'm still 5 months and 1 week out from having a good idea of what they'll look like! My soreness and skin sensitivity has gone down and finally my nipple are feeling a little more normal and not SUPER hypersensitive. Thank goodness. Still some soreness overall. Nothing too bad at all though! I'm still sleeping with two pillows by my side for comfort and wearing a bra at all times. Currently using maderma on my scars before bed every night. So far so good! Updated on 19 Aug 2017: I can't believe it's been one month! Sometimes they feel so new and other times they feel like they've always been my boobs lol. I'm still so curious to see how they'll look in another 5 months. I'm feeling great. Never feel woozy anymore. For a bit touching my scars made me a little light headed. Definitely still get some decent itches along the bottom, but overall best decision I've every made! I love my little boobies even if they're still looking a little deformed! Updated on 21 Aug 2017: Another before and after. I'm trying to pay attention to the pulling on my vertical scars, it's looking better since the beginning but I'm still noticing some pulling and an odd shape. Also seeing some puffiness up top and hoping that does down too! Starting to get a little bit more jiggly too which is a good sign! Updated on 21 Aug 2017: Another before and after. I'm trying to pay attention to the pulling on my vertical scars, it's looking better since the beginning but I'm still noticing some pulling and an odd shape. Also seeing some puffiness up top and hoping that does down too! Starting to get a little bit more jiggly too which is a good sign! Updated on 27 Aug 2017: That is all! Updated on 1 Sep 2017: Right after my 5th week I noticed some weird markings and coloring on my right breast. At first they looked a little like stretch marks or markings from my bra but it didn't go away. I sent pics to my doctor and she wasn't too sure what it was. She put my on antibiotics just to be safe. It's not warm to touch or painful, just strange looking! Anyone else had something like this? The 3rd pic here is terrible lighting lol and I also just put scar cream on. Updated on 27 Sep 2017: Ya girl got new bras! And the question everybody has after you get the surgery is "what size are you now?" And *drumrolllll* I'm sizing at a 36D! Yay! Aerie has amazing new bras out called the "Real Me" bras and the lightly lined and unlined ones feel like a dream compared to some of my old VS torture contraptions. Def recommend them. I'm doing great. I love my boobs. I love going braless. I love the perkiness. The markings are still there but Dr said hopefully they'll go away on their own. My scars are looking a little more pink and I'm massaging as often as 5-6 times a week with scar cream. The puckering around my nipples is going down but there's still some there, those are the spots that I really have to work on massaging. My scars are tender (not terribly) when I touch them. Nipples are still a little extra sensitive (annoying) I really don't like the feeling. And I still have some soreness which I think it's normal. 2 months down, a lifetime to go! Updated on 19 Oct 2017: Three months out and here are updated pictures! Overall, one of the best decisions I’ve ever ever ever made. Updated on 22 Nov 2017: It’s crazy that I’m 4 months out! It’s such a good feeling. My back pain is gone. My nipple sensitivity has returned to normal (which has always been sort of an irritating feeling to me). I love the size of my boobs now and I truly honestly feel like these were the boobs I was meant to have. I do feel like my lefty is a little larger still, but I’m okay with it! It was larger before anyways but now I actually like my boobs! I wanted to share an update about my ins. They couldn’t guarantee coverage prior to surgery. Luckily I have amazing parents who pushed me to move forward anyways. We got confirmation after all of the bills came back that ins covered most of it. We paid a total of about $300 for the whole procedure. I am extremely lucky and feel so so so so grateful. Updated on 28 Feb 2018: Nothing new really! Just wanted to post an update with some pictures. My boobs are great and I’m so thankful to Dr. Emse Kalnoki in Rochester. She’s AMAZING. At 24 years old, making this decision was not easy but I’m so so happy I did. It’s changed my life. I don’t wear bras unless I have to. I dont have trouble shopping. I love my new boobs, scars and all.
I loved the enviroment and people there! Everyone was so nice and made me feel so comfrtable! They were very clean. I was really impressed with the office and staff. Iev gone to other doctors and they were no were near as good as this office. Definitly recommend it to my family and friends! So excited for my surgury
Tummy tuck scars are a common concern for many patients undergoing the procedure. Make sure to consult with a plastic surgeon who specializes in body surgery to help your scars heal as well as possible. A lot of factors are associated with scarring. Genetics, smoking, skin elasticity, age, and nutritional health all play a role. Most tummy tuck scars are kept low so they can be hidden with a bikini, so even if they aren't the most ideal, they can not be seen. That being said, most tummy tuck scars fade to a thin white line (on Caucasian skin) or a thin dark line (on darker skin). It takes a full year for most scars to mature. Silicone gel or sheeting has shown to improve scar appearance during the healing process.
It is difficult to evaluate your results as "good or bad" based on just your after photos. However, it appears that your scar has healed reasonably well and you have a nicely contoured abdomen. If you are unhappy, though, I would recommend seeing another plastic surgeon to discuss your concerns.
My recommendation is to follow up with your plastic surgeon or his or her nurse to get help with wound care. The suprapubic area is a common place to get some soft tissue breakdown after a tummy tuck. It usually happens because of poor blood supply to the area right after surgery. Often, this area heals very well with some wound care and time.
Well done on your weight loss! My recommendation is to focus on the body area that bothers you the most. Most often, though, the "biggest bang for the buck" after massive weight loss is a body lift. This helps reshape your buttock and abdomen to reveal the skinny person underneath. Most patients can start to wear smaller clothing sizes after this surgery which really boosts their confidence. Another common surgery is breast lift (with or without implant) and an arm lift. Lastly, patients evaluate their thighs. Meet with a few plastic surgeons and discuss your goals. He or she can give you a good plan to complete your weight loss journey.
You look great! Well done on your transformation! It is a beautiful result so far.Concerning your nipple asymmetry, I would wait for full healing to take place (several months from now) to allow all the settling to occur. At that point, if there is still an asymmetry, a small revision (usually with local anesthetic) can be done. As you are healing, the swelling resolves over 6 months. Although the nipples were placed the same intraoperatively, with healing, different laxity issues can occur from one breast to another. We all have asymmetries to start with, and occasionally these asymmetries can not be resolved in the operating room. Good luck with healing.
