I would like to start by giving a big THANK YOU to Dr. Matthew J. Trovato, M.D. ( Board Certified Plastic Surgeon) and his staff that have been with me through my journey Annie, Megan and Amber since being diagnosed with breast cancer 06/2020. Well let’s beginning with my journey of Breast Cancer reconstruction surgery. I had a double mastectomy and tissue expander with saline was added to start the stretching which was done on July 1, 2020. For my breast cancer reconstruction I chose was to move forward with Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (DIEP) flap, which uses existing lower abdominal fat to form new breast which was done on September 14, 2020. Dr. Trovato and his staff were extremely informative and told me what to expect after each procedure. Which I was extremely grateful. Let me say the app that the staff uses to communicate with patients is excellent as you get a response immediately if they are not tending to patients. Annie was so help with setting appointments and completing any paperwork necessary that I would have to submit. My paperwork was always accurate and returned to me promptly. Megan was extremely thorough with detailed explanations when I asked her any question always remaining honest. Dr. Trovato made an excellent decision during my DIEP to place an expander as only one breast took due to all of the scared tissue that couldn’t be foreseen prior to the DIEP surgery. I am extremely pleased with the end result I had a DIEP flap and implant in one breast and an implant in another. Dr. Trovato made both breast perfectly symmetrical and I honestly could not be happier. This journey and recovery time is a process and you have to follow your doctor’s orders and his staff’s direction to get the best results. I literally feel whole again. My tummy and breast have healed well and I am able to work out again. Remember everyone’s breast cancer journey is different so I can only speak on mine. Thank you and God bless you Dr. Matthew J. Trovato for your superior work and knowledge. Your staff is exceptional and I could not have been under better care.
Dr. Trovato and his nurse Megan were exceptional in listening to my goals and easing my fears. I am 4 days post-op and actually am doing far better than I anticipated. Day one and two were really though but each day is getting better. I’m a very independent person and was surprised that I could get my self up and down off the potty from day one. I use a walker at home for stability and piece of mind. I’m excited to truly see my outcomes. Updated on 16 May 2021: I’m getting around way better than I thought I would be at this point. I’m still swollen but I can already see it will be worth it. I am only using pain medication to sleep at night. I’ve been able to get up and down fairly easy, just slowly. Updated on 17 May 2021: I had the Me Ellevate neck lift and I could not be happier. My jaw feels a little bit tight but that is expected. I’m headed to the Dr today and hoping to get both my drains removed from my TT. I will update in a couple of days. If you are on the fence I highly recommend doing this for yourself! Updated on 18 May 2021: I am one full week post op today. I tried to do better side by side comparison pictures. I still have both abdominal drains as each of them is putting out approx 50mL/24 hours. The drains have not been painful for me. I can almost stand completely straight up right with minimal discomfort. I opted to keep my breast implants and have liposuction around areas I didn’t like and chose to have my nipples repositioned so both are centered and pointing straight. I’m still swollen in my abdomen and praying for significant flattening. Feel free to ask me any questions. I’m headed back to work after 2 weeks off. I am a nurse so praying I can make it through my shifts. Updated on 29 May 2021: I just got out of the shower. My surgery was May 10,2021, so I’m 19 days out. My right breast is healing nicely along with my tummy tuck line but my left breast has me a little worried. Anyone have any similar experience? My PS nurse said keep clean, dry and come in first of the week. Updated on 8 Jun 2021: I am 4 weeks post-op and this is my only pesky wound. My PS nurse has been accessible and reassuring that this wound has healthy blood flow. “ I promise- it’s healing! When the edges become more of that “raw” tissue, it can be a little sore, but it is short lived!” Megan is so thoughtful, caring, attentive and smart. I highly recommend Dr. Trovato! Updated on 13 Jun 2021: I am 5 weeks post op and feeling really good. I am very pleased and cannot wait for all my swelling to be gone and see my final transformations. I am not very good at taking pictures but hopefully you can tell body changes. I have one wound healing under one breast. It is superficial and I’m told scar will actually probably be better than the other breast.
My neck has been troubling me for the last 5 years or so. What started with just a little laxity in the center of my throat turned into an ugly banded mess. Through researching I found MyEllevate procedure. Dr. Trovato discussed what the procedure would do for me; he said I was the right candidate for it; he also talked about the procedure itself. The staff at New Jersey Plastic Surgery in Montclair, NJ took care of all the details, scheduling, photos and payments. One person was nicer than the next. Kris was very clear of what to expect after the procedure. She didn't sugar coat anything. I knew what to expect and how much time I really needed off from work, which was a minimal amount of time. Shirlee was wonderful to work with. The day of the procedure, I was very calm and excited to get started. Dr. Trovato chatted during the procedure, which I was awake for. I felt absolutely nothing. I felt taken care of. Providing great results was Dr. Trovato’s primary concern. I could feel that. And I can totally see the results. Co-workers saw me 3 days later and said, Wow, you look 25!!! I agree!!! Every day I look in the mirror and I can’t believe how it just looks better every day!!!! Just do it!! Updated on 20 Mar 2021: The last few years I knew something wasn't right... I was doing these weird things with my jaw and lips in order to pick up my pout. During a neck procedure with Dr. Trovato, he did a lip lift. I love it!!!!! Aging is what it is but thank goodness we have amazing surgeons and procedures to lift, plump and rejuvenate our faces and body. Read my review on Dr. Matthew Trovato. He's simply genius!!!
I've always had huge breast with an hourglass shape which hid my figure, but when I lost 70 lbs, I noticed that my body just sagged. I wore shapers 365 days a year hoping for a miracle- after years of feelings like I was looking awful, I decided to take the steps and correct the issues. I am so lucky and blessed t find a doctor that was looking out for my best interest. His goal was to simply make me believe I was buetiful again.
I can not say enough good things about Dr. Trovato and his staff. From my first visit, I knew that Dr. Trovato was the doctor for me. My story is one for significant weight loss that left me with sagging and uncomfortable extra skin. Dr. Trovato performed a thigh lift, tummy tuck and breast lift. I knew that I woul be happy to get rid of the uncomfortable skin, but I underestimated the feeling that the surgery gave me back my true self and the body I had years ago before I gained the weight. Dr. Trovato and his staff were so incouraging, supportive, and always took the time to answer any questions that I had. When I comes to live changing cosmetic surgery, I’m really glad I choose the best of the best. I am thrilled with the results!
I went into their office scared that it would just be another surgeon asking for a high dollar amount with no care for me or my needs. I found the 1st person that talked to me was Cassie and she has this timid personality with a great big smile that welcomes you into their office like you are an old friend. When you meet Dr. Trovato for your appt yes you are nervous but you can see the magic working in his brain as he sees and understands your vision of the improved you. He took a risk on me since I had Factor V Lieden (a blood disorder) and did the necessary research to make it happen. After my amazing price was paid I had the pleasure of meeting his nurse Megan, whom made every visit special and personable. Her laugh is infectious and her dedication to my well being guarantees I made the right choice in surgeon and office staff. Bella joined the staff while I was already a patient there and quickly realized my anxiety and took extra care to make sure I was taken care of EVERY time I called. I cannot say enough about my love for these people and the work they did for me. Yes my surgery came out amazing. I had a tummy tuck and a breast lift and couldn't be happier with the work,and all that after having weight loss surgery 2 years ago. If you visit tell them Samantha sent you.
After having weight loss surgery last year I made the decision to have a Tummy Tuck and a Breast Lift with Implants and after talking to my surgeon Dr. Roshek, he recommended me to see Dr. Trovato. He told me he was the BEST! And he was right... I had my surgery 3 weeks ago and definitely HE IS THE BEST! Is incredible what he did for me. I already look amazing and I had my surgery only 3 weeks ago. The abilities and skills Dr. Trovato possess to sculpture a body are a true gift. I went to consultations with 5 different surgeons but when I went to see Dr. Trovato on my first visit I knew he was the one. There was something very special about him. His kindness, his confidence, his knowledge, his honesty, the way he treated me on my first visit. There was no doubt, he was the one… From all the plastic surgeons he was the only one that gave me a different recommendation because he wanted the best outcome for me. One of his recommendation was a Fleur De Lis tummy tuck. I did panic at the beginning because I didn't know anything about the Fleur De Lis and there is no much information online or pictures to find about this procedure but every day I felt more comfortable about his recommendations and with the help of one of his staff (Cassie) I overcame my fears and put all my trust in him. Cassie and Megan are amazing. They both guided me in different ways and took care of me. My Fleur De Lis Tummy Tuck and my Breast lift with implants look absolutely AMAZING. I couldn't have asked for anyone better to do my surgery. Thank you Dr. Trovato for making me beautiful and confident! Thank you for taking care of me since the first day I met you at my first appointment. I highly recommend Dr. Trovato to anyone looking for cosmetic surgery.
Hello all.. I have read reviews after reviews to see and read about results and what to and what not to do. THANK YOU!! Now my story started 2 years ago. I had gastric bypass. I loss 237lbs ???? but wow the skin left ????. So i started my journey to find out if I could get it removed and using my insurance. Well the answer to both questions was is Yes. Took research to find plastic surgeon that would go through the insurance. Have my Primary Care Physician start documenting issues that i was having with the excess skin and the sagging (SAGGING) breast. 8months of documentation from PCP and 8 first time consults with Plastic Surgeons. I picked my surgeon by his ratings, personality, and if he was willing to send info and answer questions from my insurance company. I took all my docs from PCP to Surgeon so that everyone would have the same info. So 6months later my surgery date was set 09/14/16. Photos below. Im still quite swollen but so happy.
How I got here: So a bit about me. I am an almost 34 year old without children, but a big extended family with several youngsters which I help support. I work in health care and have always taken my health seriously, but as it does for most of us, life got in the way. I began to gain excessive amounts of weight. I found that after turning 30, I had a significantly harder time losing weight with implementing the same strategies that were successful when I was younger. Once I was diagnosed with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and an increasing blood sugar level I decided that it was time to put-up or shut-up. I decided to get a gastric sleeve in April 2015 with Dr. Chad Carlton (GI Surgeon). I was fearful as I had never had surgery before, but my experience went extremely well. No major complications. The worst part was the first day when there was so much gas on my chest (with laparoscopic procedures, chest is inflated to complete the procedure), I could not find any position to get comfortable. I was out of work approximately one full week, but it took another two weeks of working half days only before I would say I was back to normal. I lost about 80 pounds to this date. I currently am 5’5 and 145 lbs. I began to worry that even at goal weight (another 20 lbs to go), I would not be able to get my desired shape. I have had flabby arms since middle school that make me self-conscious, and my belly was still present. Under clothes I look good, the additional loss would put me at my ideal body weight for my height and still well within a healthy range for me. Nevertheless, coworkers have told me not to lose more because they feel I am getting too small (their unsolicited opinion). To Plastics or Not to Plastics: After many prayers, I decided to live this life to its fullest, so I put my fears aside and started my research on tummy tuck and arm lift, semi-considered breast lift, thigh lift, and butt lift. I originally was very much considering doctors in the DR from reviews on here, but after further consideration decided it was not for me. I went for my one year follow-up with Dr. Carlton. I told him I was considering plastics to at a minimum address tummy and arms and he referred me to his partner Dr. Thomas Roshek (GI Surgeon). Dr. Roshek has been collaborating with Dr. Matthew Trovato (Plastic Surgeon) to help their clients with reconstruction after weight loss. I had my first visit with Dr. Roshek and he found another hernia. He recommended surgical correction that could be combined with tummy tuck procedure if deemed appropriate, he then referred me to Dr. Trovato. A few weeks later I had my initial visit with Dr. T. The visit entailed a full photo shoot in the nude, which was awkward to say the least. Dr. T recommended Fleur-de-Lis abdominoplasty (horizontal and vertical incisions tummy tuck with muscle correction) and would allow one additional procedure as well which he recommended the brachioplasty (arm lift). Perfectly what I had in mine! Booked and Ready to Rock: I started to panic the week before surgery about the postop pain, the more I read on here and watch YouTube videos, the more scared I got. I do NOT have a high pain tolerance by any stretch of the imagination. Day of surgery was typical, no major issue. I was well-medicated so pain was controlled. In my experience the pain was reasonable, way less than what I thought it was going to be. I did stay the night in the hospital at my MDs rec for pain control. The MD had to pull my left arm tighter than expected so it blistered quite a bit. Although swelling was to be expected, my left arm was quite larger than the right. I had a panic attack thinking that I would lose my hand (health providers make the worst patients) which produced the first tears and kept me up most of the night at the hospital. The RNs were awesome and Dr. T PA saw me the next day and said everything looked great so I went home. Once home, I took meds every 4 hours on the dot and had no real issues until my postop BM. I did everything to prevent a horrible for first poop, but still took several laxatives, suppositories, and enemas to get my bowels to move on Sunday (4 days postop). I did have two drains, which were annoying but again doable. After that, it’s been a good recovery. I am 2 weeks postop, still way swollen in the abdomen, but I think everything is coming along. Dr. T’s RN confirmed everything is looking beautiful during and drains were removed during my first postop visit this week. The Cost: Combining the surgery meant a discounted price as insurance would cover costs associated with hernia procedure in my case. The hernia repair was covered by my insurance so I paid $1500 deductible, $1500 for my 20% coinsurance per my policy, $1500 facility fee (this is charged for cosmo procedures), $6200 (deposit was subtracted) Cosmo fees to Dr. Trovato’s office for a total of $10,700. Now with FSA and other prepaid health accounts paying the non-cosmo parts, I am left with about $5000 out of pocket. The whole process from initial visits with both docs to surgery date was 3 months. I thought this was awesome. Updated on 28 Sep 2016: I took most of the advice I read on here. House was clean, all supplies stocked, groceries stocked, and meals pre-prepared and frozen before my surgery date. MDs ordered meds via mail order that were sent to my house about a week before, so I was able to organize these ahead of time. My additional tips: • BEST DECISION: I rented a lift chair from a med supply company for about $150/month. Its vinyl (leather appearance) so easily cleaned with lysol wipes for germaphobes like myself. The lift helped the first few days in getting to my feet. I also sleep in it to keep correct positioning. • WORST DECISION: I thought I would be able to care for myself when I got home. I was wrong! During my freak out a week before, I asked my aunt if she could stay longer, so she has worked from my home since surgery. THIS WAS A BLESSING! Make sure you have help for at least a week. I could walk (hunchback style of course) and use restroom by myself but that was about it. I needed help getting showered, changing the dressings, monitoring medications, microwaving those precooked meals, and anything that required bending down or reaching up higher than your tippy toes can get you. • I increased vitamin/protein intake to make sure that postop wound healing would be optimized. Made sure I was stocked for a month at least for all of those. • A couple more pillows and a body pillow. I needed 5 pillows and my lift/recliner chair to sleep. I used 1 behind back, two under knees (must elevate to reduce strain to abdominal section), and a pillow under each arm. Plenty of white pillowcases so you can bleach out any stains. White towels if you don’t already have them for the same reason. I used clean towels daily. My wonderful aunt did laundry almost daily to ensure no infections! • My aunt made me get a shower chair. She was totally right, during the first week or so when I needed help showering this was a invaluable and has continued to be helpful. I would recommend this especially if you have a garden tub. • I bought additional gauze pads (I rec Bandaid Gauze sponges they do not stick), cheap overnight sanitary pads, plenty of body flushable wipes. • Heating pad and gel reusuable gel ice pack. I used the heating pad day in/out across my stomach and the ice pack at night on lower back. The walking around hunched is murder on your back. • Big supply of Lysol wipes….Got to keep EVERYTHING clean! • You are not to use deodorant for some weeks, so I dabbed baking soda to kill some of the odor which eventually returns despite spending most of my day in the recliner. • Not many posters discussed work logistics, so I wanted to add a note about my leave. I received FMLA given the hernia procedure. I had approximately one month off covered with extended illness paid time that I could take off at work. When I return, I will probably return half days for a couple of weeks before returning to full schedule. I had my MD add this to my FMLA paperwork as well. I chose not to apply for short term disability since I had paid sick time to cover, but it was an option according to my HR department. So far I am happy with my decision. My progress is going well, I am another 7 pounds down. I am anxious to see what things will look like once swelling has reduced. I have fairly resilient skin, and have my scar regimen locked and loaded once cleared to begin, so I am not too worried now about scars. I did not get many pictures from immediately before surgery or during the time I had drains, but I attached a few so you can see the problem areas and my current status. Wow that was a lot :), but hope it helps! Every detail I could get, I soaked up during this journey. I am happy to answer any questions. Thanks to all of you that posted your journeys they were invaluable. You are all so amazing!
I was a gastric patient that lost 150 lbs. After my weight loss, I had a lot of loss skin around my abdomen. I was recommended to Dr. Trovato for a tummy tuck procedure. If you are looking to get this procedure, this physician is the perfect choice for you. His did wonders on my body. The outcome was phenomenal, and anyone would be crazy to pass up an opportunity for this physician to do a tummy tuck procedure.
Hi, there- thanks for your question. In my practice, it is very routine that I require my patients to stay overnight for observation by nursing staff following a surgery that in which multiple procedures are performed. It's not that it is unsafe to perform multiple procedures at once, it's that you increase the safety by monitoring the patient for the first evening. The staff has access to medications and IV fluids that the patient can't have at home, plus direct access to the surgeon. The other benefit is that the nursing staff is well trained on identifying potential issues, and most patients and their caregivers are not. It takes a lot off the shoulder of whoever is caring for you postoperatively- they don't have to wonder if they are doing something wrong! Sounds like your surgeon is making a great recommendation. Happy recovery!
Hi, there- sounds like you're doing all the right things! As great as it is that you have worked hard to improve your diet, which is certainly improving your health whether you see it or not, no amount of diet will shrink excessive skin! An abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, is the only way you can get that excessive skin that hangs over your hips off for good. Even just starting simply with a tummy tuck, plus or minus some conservative liposculpting of the hips, would improve your shape dramatically and make you feel so much more comfortable to throw on some leggings and hit the gym! It is very common for my patients to lose weight following a tummy tuck because they actually become more active once they have recovered. They are more confident and more comfortable, which increases their ability and desire to work even harder. Hope this gave you some encouragement. Find a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon for an official consult and recommendation. As far as general anesthesia goes, I make sure each of my patients are cleared by their PCP prior to surgery- all patients have a clean bill of health before they go to sleep!
Hi, there- thanks for your question. In my practice, I very frequently perform these types of procedures on young patients who have had massive weight loss. I believe it's so important for young patients who have worked hard to lead a healthier life to reap the confidence benefits of that hard work, as well! From your photo, it seems you would very much benefit from a breast lift, and, likely, a mini-tummy tuck with skin removal ONLY. Since you haven't had a pregnancy, it's very likely that your rectus muscles are without separation. This would make recovery VERY easy, and you could be back for full activity after a few weeks, rather than restricted for months. Research surgeons in your area- Board Certified, and preferably someone who deals with weight loss patients very frequently- there are differences! Best of luck!
Thank you for providing your photos with your question. You should absolutely have an in-person consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who will be able to make an absolute recommendation based on their physical assessment. However, from the photos you have provided, my initial thought is that you would be a good candidate for a traditional abdominoplasty or tummy tuck because it appears that you have some separation of your abdominal muscles, which is very typical in someone who had multiple pregnancies! The abdominoplasty will tighten those muscles to decrease the appearance of the bulge that you're describing. At the time of your tummy tuck, it would be a very opportune moment to revise your breast augmentation, whether that be by exchanging your implants or performing a lift! Best of luck!
First, I recommend that you find a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who has ample experience in working with weight loss patients; there is a difference in treating patients with that history! When I consult with my patients, I obtain a good understanding of their lifestyle, and their concerns in order of importance. Based on this information, we can recommend the best order of operations to give the patient the best outcome. Typically, the breasts and abdomen are the main concerns for most patients, but sometimes the patients care more about their arms because they just want to wear sleeveless shirts! Have a thorough consultation with your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, and truly think about what your goals look like so that you, along with your surgeon, can determine the best course of action!
