Paul Chugay, MD, FACS

I am one year post op vsg and i have 3 kids.
I was looking for a surgeon who could help me get rid of my flabby belly while retaining my hourglass figure (super important to me)
When i met dr paul my first impression was he is knowledgeable, he is confident and he is to the point.
I initially had scheduled after a virtual consultation. I scheduled for the 21st without ever seeing the building or meeting staff in person.
Once the front desk girls told him i had scheduled a date and planned to travel for my preop the day prior to my chosen surgery date he called me from his cell phone and said he really wanted me to come face to face before then. He said “what if you think im a total schmuk and don’t want me to be your surgeon you need to know that before surgery day”
So i made the trip and I’m glad i did. He explained everything very well and made sure i was realistic in my expectations.
He showed me surgical photos in his operating room performing the same procedures he was going to do on me.
He made me feel very comfortable and confident in his abilities.
Now i am one day post op. So far the pain is bearable. I have not seen what is under my girdle yet but i cant wait to.
I will update more as recovery goes on.
Unfortunately dr chugay doesnt have an extremely large amount of reviews even though hes been in practice a long time.
He does have videos on youtube of him preforming procedures which i liked watching.

Updated on 23 Mar 2023:
Full 2 days since surgery
Pain is still bearable. Bruising is unbelievable. I bruised soooo bad.
Doctor said continue taking arnica, wear compression bandage 24/7 and drink as much water as i can.
I look like ive been ran over by a truck.
Just wanted to send update.
I have been taking pain meds and ibuprofen and muscle relaxers as well as a low mg thc/cbd gummies and i feel like my pain is very controlled.
My pain med prescription says take 1-2 every 6 hours. So far ive only needed 1 at a time every 6 hours.
Everything feels very tight. My skin is so tight
My back and butt are so tight.

Updated on 25 Mar 2023:
Loving results so far. I am very itchy currently and its driving me crazy but just keeping my garment on and staying moisturized.
Dr said no massages yet, just keep the compression garment on and lipo foam in between my skin and the fabric.
Trying to stay up on hydration.
Pain is still not that bad. I am one pill every six hours along with muscle relaxer.

Updated on 29 Mar 2023:
Drains aren’t ready to come out but i have been cleared to side sleep and start walking upright
Belly button is moist so they ended up removing the tape. Im so bothered by the fat over my rib cage. My surgeon was very transparent that he would not be able to directly address it because he didn’t want to damage blood flow to lower abdomen. He did undermine and stretch it which helped some

Updated on 6 Apr 2023:
Im so happy with my results so far.
Getting the drains removed was quite an experience
Uncomfortable and bizarre feeling like pulling a curly snake from under my skin.
Still swelling, still supposed to wear compression garment and foam 24 hours a day for one more week. Then i get to ditch the foam and continue with compression only for another week. Then move to compression for 12 hours a day.
My butt looks amazing i love it its exactly what i wanted.
My doctor did not recommend bbl pillows or anything like that. He said belly incision was out priority so hopefully my butt holds up.
My doctor said there also has been no science backing the use of lymphatic massage which i found interesting. He said if i want to go for it but he is happy with any massage even ones i do myself. He said use heat to soften tissue that is lumpy and bumpy from lipo. He said that can stick around for 6 to 8 months. I go back in two weeks but feeling good in my skin

I loved my visit/experience with Dr. Chugay. You definitely will need help after the procedure, it not easy, I had a Go Girl to help with the bathroom, I was on bested for a month. I couldn't fully sit comfortably until 3 months after. I loved my results. I don't regret it one bit, it was worth it!

So far this has been an amazing experience. I received a tummy tuck and full back lipo, lipo waist and hips two a little more than a week ago. He has made the experience very comfortable and he was very personable! More importantly the results have been amazing and it hasn't been a full two week!!. Tomorrow I should be getting my drainage tubes out, picture to follow.....

Updated on 11 Sep 2020:
Only two and a half weeks out and I already feel amazing!!! I cannot wait to see how I look when the swelling and bruising go away!!!!!! My began doing massages at home this week to help with the healing process.

I'm excited about getting surgery next Tuesday morning 12/10/19 found a great doctor in Long Beach CA. Hopefully everything works well for me and I really expect it to look natural and not big exaggerated for my legs and hips.
Updated on 11 Dec 2019:
Por fin my cirugía ya está y me siento excelente el Dr Paul Chugay muy atento y porsuesto hiso excelente trabajo en mi cuerpo estoy muy agradecida con el y con todo su personal . Fue la mejor decisión que tomé para escogerlo como mi doctor muy satisfecha y agradecida con el . Y yo feliz



Updated on 18 Dec 2019:
Happy for my results I was never scared of nervous at all because it’s something I always wanted to get done and finally found a excellent doctor to help me first providing my all the important information I need to know and telling me what options I have to reach my goal

Updated on 20 Dec 2019:
Felling good because Today im getting my drain tubes out.

Procedures: TUMMY TUCK, LIPO-MULTI AREAS, FAT TRANSFER TO BUTTOCKS
I had several consultations for these procedures and NOT one of the doctors consultated me the was Paul did!! He has a different approach all the way around! Not your regular put this gown on let me see how much your gone fork out for all the fat you have around you waist.... NOPE..... before he even looks at your body he has a full on conversation with you, in my opinion he seems interested in the WHOLE me not just the procedure I came for. He asked me questions no other doctor asked during the intital consultation (social, personnal, and previous weight loss history), it was more of a get to know each other consultation. When he finally had me undressed he made me comfortable and gave me more than one option, he then conversed with me a bit more and had me met with Vanessa ($$$). Now she is friendly but she does have that car sales man approach, but hey that’s her job. The prices where great and the accommodations were as well. After leaving that Friday evening I knew this was going to be the office of choice for me! I scheduled my surgery for about 30 Days later and I’m now 5 days post op.... The doctor, anesthesiologist, nurse (I think her name is PJ) and the rest of the staff was on POINT!! I would recommend this doctor to anyone! He’s not only did what he was suppose to do (sculpt my body) but he did my lungs some Justice, fix my hernia(s), and educated me on important facts I never took into consideration after the surgery, PLUS he let me call him with questions in the middle of the night!!! Dr. Paul Chugay is a phenomenal plastic sergeant!!! YES indeed..... Oooh, Oooh I can’t wait to show off my little black body to the ocean waters of Hawaii next summer, Thank you Dr. Chugay! Leticia and Alondra (did not hurt me while rebandageing me and dealt with all my post op shenanigans) and I can’t forget ERICA..... ERICA for being on point with scheduling, you rock the front desk HONEY!!! Vanessa you too, but after you sold me I felt the genuine side of you was gone, but you may have had a rough week, who knows. Over all I rate this office at a SOLID 9 out of 10

I had surgery a few years ago with Dr.Chugay. I am beyond happy with my results. My breast so natural and not overdone. My friend just had her breast implants last week because she loved how mine look and feel. I have been visiting their office in Bixby Knolls for her follow ups, & have been tempted to have a new procedure soon. For those in the OC area they have a spa in Irvine for all non surgical procedures at great prices. I’ve had multiple treatments with his wife because since he is booked with surgeries and they are open Saturday which is super convenient with my schedule. If you love taking care of your self you will so much more confident after having surgical and non surgical produces with the Chugay Doctors.

Dr. Chugay was awesome and all his staff were amazing. Loved the bedside manner, very professional, very happy with my results. He explained in detail and showed pics of other patients procedures similar to mine to help in my decision. Answered all questions I had. Even took care of a hernia he found that I mentioned might be there.

Updated on 29 Dec 2016:
Had my follow up appt, he showed me pictures. He said he removed about 6 lbs of skin and about 5 lbs of liquid fat. He showed me that he did find a hernia and removed that and stiches it up. Tubes still in, still have alot of liquid flowing out of me so my next appt i should see my tubes removed. It was a good appt. everything looked great. Will post photos soon.

Updated on 29 Dec 2016:
Another day to recover. Doing really great. My abs stopped hurting, my lipo spots are still really bruised and are super sore but thats part of the healing process. Still taking an occisional pain med but weening off everything else.

Updated on 30 Dec 2016:
Its been 1 week now since surgery. Doing great everyday that goes by. I am able to take showers by myself. Having a chair in the shower helps tremendously. My pain threshold is about a 2. I am able to do some chores around but not alot. Just to feel human is an amazing feeling. Monday is my next appt, hoping to see my incision and my new belly button. And to get these tubes out.

Updated on 2 Jan 2017:
Had my next appt and got my drains out, taking them out wasnt that painful just a weird sensation. they took out the stitches in my belly button too. So stoked i dont have to deal with drains and tubes.

I'm a 27-year-old man and I've been hiding my calves with wearing long pants all my life. I feel like I'm the only guy wearing long pants at gym. I worked out my calves a lot but it seemed not working. So I decided to do something. I first searched for fat transfer. Unfortunately, I don't have that much fat to work with. So I decided to have implants to have a permenant effect. I came to Dr.Chugay who has 25-year-experience with implants. The whole process is pleasant and I don't feel anything in the procedure. When I woke up the procedure was done. But I have to say it is really hard to walk after the procedure. My it's only day 2 I feel pain but I don't know if the final result is expected or not. But when I looked into the mirror, I do like the shape of my current calves even though they are rapped with tape.

Updated on 5 Nov 2016:
Today when I woke up I feel more pain than yesterday. I texted the doctor and he said it is normal because the drug that lumps my calves is gone today. I didn't take any pain killers cause I think I can still tolerate it. It's just really difficult to walk. Hope after a few day I can walk normally. And I attached the before pics here.

Updated on 7 Nov 2016:
Today is day 3. When I woke up, I felt the pain is less and it's a little easier for me to walk now. I can not still fully stretch my legs but I think I will be able to after I take off the tape. Hope after one or two more days I can start to walk and drive because I still have to go to school. Here are some after pics. As you can see, the shape of my legs are way better than before though they are still wrapped with bondages. I can't wait to Tera them down and see what my new legs look like!

Updated on 7 Nov 2016:

I had a tummy tuck with lipo to upper, lower back and flanks. All I could say is that I love my results so far. Like any major surgery the pain was real but the meds he prescribed helped with the pain. I had drains for excactly one week, the removal was a bit uncomfortable but bearable. I returned to work at 2 weeks post op and I was back to normal. I do experience swelling but the compression garmet really helps. All in all it the pain, the discomfort, the drains, etc they are all worth it. New body...new me and ready for my new body.

Last year, i spent $5000 on two sets of coolsculpting which resulted in my mid section measuring 37 1/4 to 35 1/4. While it worked, it was not the result i wanted. After much research, i decided to do liposuction. My advice is not to focus on the technology, but on the doctor. Hes an artist and you are the canvas so check out their past work before deciding on one. You also need to check out their operating facilities like do they have back up power in case of outages, how far they are away from a hospital just in case some thing foes go wrong, and the the anesthesiologist also. Needless to say, its been way more painful than coolsculpting. The meds help for the pain, but have been nauseated for the past two days. All i cam really do is sleep and wale up to go pee. Its been hard to eat so mostly just liquid soup. I also have alot of hiccups. I know these symptoms are from the general anesthesia as i previously had the same symptoms from my broken clavical surgery. The doctor personally called me from his cell phone that night to see how i was doing. I came back today for him for a check up. During the check up, he showed me pics during the operation in which one side was done and one wasnt so i can see the difference. Even though i am swollen, the circumference around my mid level has gone from 35 1/4 to 34 already. My stomach still sticks out, my my love handle are like gone. Its so weird to swing my arms back and forth and not to have them in the way. I look forward to the final result in 6 months. I have a one week check up, 1 month check up, 3 month check up and a 6 month check up. If during the 6th month check up i dont like the results, he will do the touch up for free providing i dont weight more than 5 lbs from the time of surgery and i pay $700 to the anesthesiologist. I was also provided a compression garment that was very tight and comfortable, with holes for going #1 and #2. That was a major help as i was peeing every two hours.

Updated on 7 Sep 2015:
It was hard to eat real solid food for the first few days and i had a lot of nausea. The bruising went away pretty quick. My body changes every day. One day its thin, one day its bloated, one day its lumpy, etc. I had my one week follow up and dr. Paul said it was normal and that we would start the massage after my one month follow up. I am off all the meds, so the itching and burning sensation around my waist and stomach does get annoying. Its not like its painful, but its just constantly there. Its hard to tell from the pictures, but its been big improvements. All the t shirts that were too tight to wear are now roomy on me.