On December 27, I underwent a liposuction procedure of my abdomen and flanks after nearly 20 years of hating my midsection. I had tried Coolsculpting, lipodisolve shots, and Emsculpt Neo in the past with little to no success. Add having a baby 4 years ago and I felt like no matter what I did, I always had a pudgy tummy. During the early days of the pandemic, I started an at home workout program while my gym was shut down. I exercised and tracked my calories religiously and I got to the point where I was actually feeling really good about my appearance but I knew my weight was a bit too low for my frame and lifestyle. I felt like I had to watch everything I was eating and I got so down on myself if I skipped a workout - it wasn’t a mentally healthy place for me. After doing my BA in 2019, I was feeling pretty happy with things but still battled the tummy a bit. Finally, this year I decided to reach out to my surgeon that did the BA and see what he thought about my abdomen. I had a c-section with my son and I worked very hard to heal the diastasis recti that I had developed in pregnancy. After our meeting, I was conflicted. He recommended a tummy tuck for the most optimal results but said that lipo would also do quite a bit for me. I had never really considered the option of a tummy tuck and it seemed a bit overkill in my opinion. Cost, time off of work, having a 4 year old at home, etc all weighed heavy on me. I am a thin, fit woman. My skin quality is actually still quite nice and I didn’t develop any stretch marks during pregnancy. The tummy tuck would have been quite aggressive and could have potentially left me with a smaller vertical scar along with the wide horizontal scar because the surgeon said my skin might be a bit tight to get it where it belongs. For all of these reasons, my gut told me that lipo was my answer. I have so much admiration and respect for my doctor and this was a hard decision to make but he was great at answering my questions and giving me all the info so that I could make an informed decision. Once I found out that they had surgery openings for the week between Christmas and New Years, my mind was made up and I scheduled my procedure immediately! -Starting measurements: Natural waist - 28.75” and belly button level circumference - 32” -Current measurements: Natural waist - 27.5” and belly button level circumference - 30.5” -Weight is virtually unchanged at 130# but dramatically increased 5# on day 2 post-op due to swelling and fluid retention. -Amount of fat removed - 800cc from lower abdomen and flanks Day of surgery thoughts: Pain isn’t nearly as bad as I had expected. I was given some vicodin 5/325 tablets and I found them most helpful at bedtime on nights 1-3 to help me relax and fall asleep - that said, I could have done the recovery on tylenol only. I have only 4 tiny incisions all down by my hips. Not bad at all! So many trips to the bathroom - between the saline in the IV and the swelling, my bladder is working on overdrive. The post-op documents emphasize getting up and walking once per hours and this was no issue for me since I was constantly headed to the bathroom to pee haha. Lots of swelling, tenderness, and bruising in the pubic area. Thanks gravity. This lasted the better part of a week. I was surprised that nobody from the clinic called me to check and see how I was feeling. If I recall correctly, I did get a call after my BA in 2019 but this time there was no follow-up. To be fair though, I was messaging with the doctor privately via IG and I told him I was doing great. One thing I wasn’t prepared for was a hormonal shift near the end of that first week. I had been waking up in the night quite sweaty for a few days and then I developed some lower abdominal pain that was oddly familiar but it took me the better part of a day to realize that they were menstrual cramps. I haven’t had a period in about 4 years thanks to my birth control pill so I wasn’t even considering this would happen. But between the stress of surgery, the removal of fat (where hormones are stored in the body), and the anesthesia - it made sense. I had a few days of increased discomfort from the cramping and GI issues related to my period but it eventually passed. A period after 4 years of no bleeding is already a miserable experience but then add the post-op situation and a compression garment that is limiting the ability to bloat and it’s a recipe for a few days of feeling no bueno! The abdominal binder isn’t great in my opinion. Here are the issues I discovered. It’s very hard to put on without a friend because you need to get it wrapped tightly for compression. It was ok when my husband helped me but I couldn't get it wrapped tight enough on my own. Also, the binder has 3 panels and doesn’t compress evenly. Around 1 week post-op I started to notice a firm lump on my left flank and it was right in the middle of the middle panel where the compression is less. I tried to “rotate” the binder every day so that it didn’t always line up in the same area but this was also a bit of a challenge. I did purchase a 3 pack of lipo foams to wear under my binder for increased and more even compression - this helped but wasn’t an ideal fix. Around 2 1?2 weeks post-op I decided to try on a waist trainer that I had in my drawer to see what it felt like and it wasn’t too bad - I wore it for the better part of an afternoon and upon removing it I immediately noticed that the flank lump that had been troubling me for 7-10 days was dramatically smaller. I again wore the waist trainer for part of the next day and by bedtime that night, the lump was virtually gone and I could tell that retained fluid from my abdomen was being pushed down and out of the area. With this info, I decided to purchase a legit post-op faja designed by a plastic surgeon to wear moving forward. I think the binder is probably great for tummy tuck patients but for me, it wasn’t getting the job done. My doctor did say that if the lump was present at my 1 month post-op appointment, he could inject it with some steroids but I am thinking this is no longer needed. Another thing I have been doing is lymphatic massages. I had massages on post op days 3, 6, and 10. They were surprisingly light and not painful at all. I had read about the value in lymphatic massages but my doctor didn’t call them out in his post-op guide. After asking him about it, he said it was a great idea to go ahead and schedule but that he doesn’t specifically request that his patients do this since we live in an area where these therapists are few and far between. Luckily, after asking around, I was able to find a therapist that had experience with post plastic surgery patients and had lots of availability. I have since connected her with my doctor so that they can potentially develop a working relationship moving forward. I have my 1 month post-op visit next week and I am hoping to be cleared to take baths - man do I miss soaking in the tub - especially in the winter. I am also curious as to what he will tell me regarding compression moving forward. Right now I am supposed to be wearing the compression garment for 23 hours a day which I have been doing. To be honest, I like the compressed feeling and I can tell it’s really making a difference for my body. I hope he approves of my transition to the faja this week.
I am a 42 year old mother of one who had severe diastasis, mommy belly and who breast fed. I researched and met with other doctors and then found Dr.Carlise through my hormone replacement Doctor at The Mercy Comfort Center in Clive. When I met Dr. Carlisle, after researching him on Realself.com, I felt much more confident in taking the big step to move forward with my mommy makeoverI found Dr. Carlisle to be patience, kind and empathetic to my needs and concerns and felt with no doubt that he was the doctor for me. I had a breast lift with areola reduction, tummy tuck or abdominoplasty with mesh implant as well as liposuction for contouring. I was very much impressed with my results literally the day after surgery and look forward to sharing my before and after pictures when they are available. I was terrified about the mesh but was reassured that without this, my results would not be what they are today! No other doctor I met with even mentioned this.I'm happy to answer any questions and will update you all on my results at a later date. Hands down, Dr. Carlisle has amazing talent, fantastic bedside manner and his attention to detail is phenomenal. I'm very pleased with my results and new belly button. His assistant, Kristin, was also very helpful and responsive when needed. Dr. Carlisle is the surgeon you want if you are considering a mommy makeover for yourself. Updated on 17 Nov 2021: I will be posting additional photos but wanted to give you a sneak peek of my before picture. I have absolutely no regrets after seeing these photos that I made the best decision to proceed with my mommy makeover. I absolutely cannot wait to see my 4 month follow up photos. Dr. Carlise is a very talented surgeon and with the help of CareCredit I can make monthly payments at 0% interest. What investment is better than an investment in YOU!
Dr Carlisle and his team are absolutely amazing. I was very nervous about getting a bilateral breast reduction because it was a major surgery and I am 19. But Dr Carlisle made the whole process easy and I was always confident in my recovery. Honestly this surgery was life changing to me and the whole team made it incredibly easy. I can’t recommend him enough! Currently 3 months post up and have unbelievable amazing results. Incredibly professional
Simply the best. Backstory: I am a 37 year old, 5'6" 120lb mother of 4 wonderful children. I spent a total of 8 years of my life either pregnant or nursing. I have always had an athletic petite build and loved my body through all phases of motherhood. Making the decision to help my "sad deflated girls" happy again was not an easy decision for so many reasons. Ultimately I looked at it as a reconstruction rather than an augmentation. I had never had large breast, probably an A cup at their peak, but breastfeeding left me with sad deflated breasts that couldn't even fill a 32A "training" bra from the little girls section. The decision: I wanted to feel like a woman. I wanted to feel feminine. I felt beautiful, confident and strong. It was just time to "reconstruct" my "girls" to reflect how I felt...like a WOMAN rather than a child. The Doctor: Ask everyone you know and read ALL the reviews! After doing my research, I was confident Dr. Carlisle would be the right choice and I am more than pleased with the work he performed!! He was patient with me, even when I had about a hundred questions regarding size and shape. He was kind and listened while I repeated myself endlessly saying that "I didn't want to look ridiculous." He was patient and humorous with my husband who gets silly and awkward in awkward situations. He made us both comfortable and confident. I even called in 2 days prior to surgery after we had already decided on a size and said I wanted to change the size. He and his team rushed around to overnight a second size option for me to choose the day of surgery! Ultimately we chose to go with the size originally agreed upon and I am so happy we did. The procedure: Surgery was as smooth as it possibly could be on my end. Checked in at 9am, left at 3pm. It took me a little while to not feel nauseous post op. Recovery: The first 2 days were the most difficult. Pain medications make me vomit. Ice packs, sleep and ketorolac were my saving grace. By day 3 I felt better and felt postpartum, funny enough! My breast felt fully engorged and my stomach was squishy from post surgical swelling. I had no bruising and even before "settling in place" they look great. At my 1 week follow-up the surgical tape was removed from my incisions. One incision looked beautiful, one was a little bubbled up with some slight pulling, but all in the scope of "normal" healing. I am now 2 weeks post op and still have just slight swelling. Day by day the tightness and feeling of engorgement gets a little better. Overall: I am beyond thrilled with my results. I finally feel like a woman! Thank you, Dr. Carlisle for a wonderful experience and wonderful results! Updated on 14 Jul 2021: What a transformation! I am so happy!!!! Again, I can't say this enough, I FINALLY feel like a woman! Beyond thrilled with my results thus far! 2 weeks out and feeling good. They still feel very high and hard. Have begun "massaging" to help them settle in place. It is really more of a deep pectoral pinch downward than a massage. My skin is feeling less and less tight as the days go on. My nipples are still incredibly sensitive and almost have the feeling of being chapped. Have been applying lanolin and it has helped tremendously.
I had a c section shelf that I hated so I had a tummy tuck. Dr. Carlisle was very friendly, listened to what I wanted to do, and explained the procedure well. He was booked a few months out, but it was worth the wait. I had my surgery at West Lakes surgery center and it was a great experience. I felt safer with an actual anesthesiologist administering my anesthesia. Post op pain was well managed and not as bad as I expected. I was ecstatic with my results. Belly button is small and natural looking. No weird dents on my hips. Incision is placed low and easily hidden. There was a lot of attention to detail. Before and after pics can be found on Realself.com and Instagram. My body had its own ideas on healing and Dr. Carlisle and his wonderful staff always kindly and quickly addressed my issues. I was a challenging case and am so glad I chose this group to work with. Even with challenges, I had results better than I had ever hoped for. Clothes fit soooo much better with a waist, flat stomach and no love handles. Shopping is fun again. I can enjoy boating and waterparks with the family as I no longer dread wearing a swimsuit and can even do a bikini! I used to look in the mirror and say yuck, now I say Wow!
Had a baby last year and exclusively pumped for him for about 8 months. Had small breasts to begin with but lost some upper fullness after weaning. I felt so feminine and confident when I was nursing and I wanted that feeling back...so I took the plunge! Visited 3 doctors and immediately knew Dr. Carlisle was the one. He has a very impressive resume, Facebook page, outstanding reviews, excellent bedside manner, and he provides a lot of guidance along the way. I questioned him alot during the sizing process and ultimately he let me call the shots but he made his feeling clear and justified them with his experiences and I defered to his judgment. After lots of debating with my dr we decided on 285cc SRF (extra full). With a BWD of 11-11.5 and being thin he truly felt like it’d be the best for me. I was pretty apprehensive about that profile but he reassured me that I won’t look like a pornstar lol. After surgery my mouth was dry as hell...wasn’t expecting that and eating lunch was nearly impossible...had to use a lot of water to get my sandwich down. I was also quite drowsy but not really in pain...a little pressure in my chest, slight ache near the incisions, and some tension in my back. Any extra-high profile ladies want to chime in regarding how you feel about your profile and how your drop/fluff process went? Thanks to everyone here for being such a great group of ladies and sharing your experiences...I’d be lost without you! Stay tuned for updates and feel free to ask questions :) Updated on 15 Dec 2019: Got to take a look today, shower, and change bras. So far I'm pretty happy. They remind me of my super engorged breasts when I was pumping for my son. Excited for the drop and fluff process...not sure what to expect...I'd be ok if they were a tad larger which most people say happens with time. I hope that my wide gap will narrow a tad but my Dr did warn me about this at the pre-op. I slept well last night and took 1 oxy and 1 muscle relaxer. Naturally woke up at 5am when I was due for more meds...took another round and slept till 9ish. Other than that I've been just doing Tylenol and toradol. I have a little residual cough from the bronchitis and that sucks but I'm dealing. We shall see what days 2-4 have in store but so far, I've period cramps that have been worse than this lol. Feel free to ask me any questions :) Updated on 15 Dec 2019: Nothing exciting to note...a lot less sore, pecs have loosened quite a bit. Haven’t had any pain meds since 9am and I honestly only took one this morning because my back was a little sore from sleeping on the couch. I am still taking the toradol as directed...will finish that rx tomorrow. Getting a little bored since I’m so sedentary but this is going well overall! Updated on 27 Dec 2019: 2 weeks post and I feel nearly normal. Occasionally reminded of my surgery if I use my arms too much in bed. Hardest thing is not lifting my 15 month old. I’ve carefully lifted him a few times with no discomfort but I’m doing my best to avoid it. I am anxious to return to exercise...especially after all the holiday eating....I’m bloating up lol. I am also a fitness instructor (aerial silks) and I hope that I can return to teaching at the 6 week mark. I teach beginners so I am optimistic. Took some progress pics...starting to drop and soften a little! Updated on 16 Jan 2020: They are dropping, fluffing, and softening. I don’t feel sore or strange at all. They feel like my own boobs, not foreign. I’m ready to get back to teaching and taking classes at my gym...the doctor should release me from restrictions next week! I also really miss picking up my 1 year old but I haven’t minded the fact that my husband has been stuck with daycare pickup/drop off for the past month haha! In hindsight I could have personally been ok with a size larger but my surgeon warned that I probably couldn’t go more than 310cc srx and in my mind that was kinda scary since it was a much higher profile that I had originally planned on. So I decided on the 285srx...which still scared the shit out of me. I was really torn between 265 and 295cc full profile but my surgeon said that the 295cc fulls were borderline too wide for my pockets...hence the decision to go with the ultra high profile implants. After surgery I realized that my breasts are wide set due to the decent gap between them. In the past, my breasts were so small I never really noticed it. I think with larger implants they would stick out on the sides more and I might end up with more side boob than I would like. I am very happy with my results so far! If I could change anything, I would just bring my breasts closer together but that’s just my anatomy and bras/swim tops will bring them a little closer together Updated on 8 May 2020: I’m about five months out and feeling great! Sensation is back to normal and I don’t feel different at all.… Other than when I look in the mirror and feel happy. Based off of these pictures, you’d never guess that I had ultra high profile implants. I was so nervous when my doctor suggested them but it was so worth it! The only thing that bothers me right now is the fact that my right is a bit softer and has dropped more than my left. I am right dominant so I am hoping that someday they balance out a bit more. Seriously though, no regrets!!!
In April 2018, I had VSG and lost 95lbs. I was at my goal weight, but I was left with sagging breasts and stomach skin. A friend of mine was already in the process of having her mommy makeover and recommended Dr. Carlisle. In our first meeting I knew he was the surgeon for me. He answered all of my questions, no matter how crazy, and was very accepting of my bluntness and jokes. After my mommy makeover I cried. My body was different, but my brain had yet to catch up. I also set some very unrealistic expectations for myself. Dr. Carlisle was very understanding and the voice of reason with me. He treated me very respectfully and helped me see how awesome my new body truly is. Honestly he could probably be a therapist on the side! My healing has been pretty easy, my scars look amazing, and overall the process has been nothing short of excellent. His entire team is just as wonderful. I would recommend him to anyone and everyone looking for cosmetic surgery.
My original surgery was September of 2016; it was a horrible experience, I felt my surgeon couldn't understand what I was saying or feeling. Looking back, I know he didn't care, so he did what he wanted. I was a DD up. He assured me I would be a D when surgery was completed, however that didn't happen. I couldn't fill a C cup and the shape didn't match what I was originally. After a couple complications and a couple more surgeries I was left with total frustration! The more he worked on me the worse I looked. And the pains never subsided. He told me to learn to live with it. At my checkup with my primary doctor in 2018 I asked for a referral to someone else in another area. And that's when I met Dr Michael Carlisle!! I cannot say enough kind things about him or express the gratitude I feel towards him. He is SO caring, he listens, let's me ask questions, he's kind, funny and very professional. We were on the same page instantly. I had the wrong shape implants, (they were on a recall list) they had both fallen causing pain-- especially the right side because it was sideways. Dr Carlisle had his hands full just repairing the damage and replacing the implants. I expected a lot of pain through the healing process but he had me covered. It was wonderful-- even with the drains in place. I was able to heal and move forward with my recovery-- which was new because of all the pain I had with previous surgeries. I look like I used to before my original surgery. I am beyond pleased! My breasts are where they belong and I'm a D cup which makes me feel better about the whole experience. I just wish I could have had Dr Carlisle from the beginning. Rest assured that he truly cares for his patients. You will not be disappointed. He understood how I felt from the initial consult and never veered from that path of treatment that we set together. I am blessed beyond measure to have had this man repair all my damages, yet have me looking so great and lifting my self esteem. Thank you, Dr Carlisle! I can't sing your praises enough, but I have shared and will continue to share my story with many people!
I can't honestly put into words how wonderful Dr. Carlisle is, as well as his staff. I recently underwent a double mastectomy in May with immediate reconstruction. Dr Carlisle walked my husband and I through the process and really took his time with each consult. It is very obvious he has compassion and treats you with genuine care and eases your concerns. His bedside manner is phenomenal and he truly listens to understand and gives hope and peace throughout the process. He took his time with us during each visit to answer questions both before and after surgery and we never once felt rushed but more like I was his only patient. That is an amazing quality in the medical community! His staff and nurses were easily reached over the phone and willing to answer questions immediately. I couldn't be happier with my experience, and the results he has achieved for me so far as I continue my care through him. Thank you for doing what you do and always going above and beyond!
RealSelf has been so useful to me. Now, I hope to pay it forward after my own rhinoplasty! I cannot express how thrilled I am at my results and overall experience from my very first consult to my latest three-month post-op rhinoplasty follow-up appointment with Dr. Carlisle! He and his staff provide excellent care, privacy, service, hygiene, and atmosphere. Between scheduling consults and follow-up appointments, as well as the day of my surgery, he and his entire team were above and beyond professional, comforting, and supportive with all my questions and concerns, and matched me in excitement, too. I never felt like I was being "sold to" or talked into my surgery. Dr. Carlisle listened to each of my concerns that I hoped rhinoplasty would correct, addressed them, and gave me realistic expectations. He will make sure that your results are not only beautiful and complement your other facial features (symmetry and overall balance to make your nose look like one you feel you should have been born with all along!), but also functional. I met with several doctors in the Omaha and Des Moines area before scheduling my rhinoplasty because I wanted to do my due diligence and research, but I was most impressed by Dr. Carlisle from the very first handshake. He is highly esteemed by past patients and has dozens of well-deserved five-star reviews and praises online. If you are looking for an amazing plastic surgeon (and ENT), look no further! He is equal parts surgeon and artist!
The way I approach it is this: volume of implant (cc's) is decided by you based on the sizing I do in the office. What shape, dimensions, etc. that fits you best is recommended by ME after I assess your breast shape and measurements. Which 400cc implant will give you the best result is best decided and discussed by the surgeon who thinks critically about breast shape. 400cc will be fine for you if that's what you like based on sizing. Best thing to do is use rice sizing or sizers that the plastic surgeon offers. Vectra, or computer imaging sizing doesn't work that well to get a feel for your proportion in clothing, etc. Hope this helps.
Seems just the way you developed. A lower eyelid procedure: canthopexy or tarsal strip procedure will work. Hope this helps.
If you want to see pictures of something similar, look up “Asian rhinoplasty” or “ethnic rhinoplasty.” Cartilage graft will correct this problem. Hope this helps!
Liposuction alone will not help. A tummy tuck will do best for you to contour the abdomen. You might also think about doing liposuction first to get rid of as much fat and deflate the volume. Then, have a tummy tuck a few months later. This will allow for the best contour. Hope this helps.
You can't rely on septoplasty alone to straighten the nose. By the book definition of how septoplasty is performed without rhinoplasty, it will not. Generally cosmetic improvements have to be paid for out of pocket, which will add another $3-4000 to an insurance operation. Changing the tip with a septoplasty is insurance fraud and that part cannot be performed during septoplasty...simply b/c tip surgery is NOT septoplasty. That's why in order to do it, we have to separate the procedures and charge out of pocket for that part. Hope this helps! Good luck!
