Welcome to the world of transformation, where precision meets artistic mastery. I'm Dr. Robert M. Lowen, a renowned specialist in Plastic, Cosmetic, and Aesthetic Surgery. My dedication to sculpting natural beauty and boosting self-confidence has driven an inspiring journey in the field of plastic surgery. As an advocate for excellence, I’ve dedicated years to rigorous training and education, honing my craft to provide you with the highest quality care. My expertise spans a wide range of procedures, from breast augmentation and tummy tucks to facelifts and liposuction. When you choose me, you’re choosing a surgeon who understands the artistry behind every transformation. Located in Mountain View, my practice is more than just a clinic; it’s a sanctuary of refinement and rejuvenation. Our state-of-the-art facility features its own operating room, ensuring your comfort, privacy, and safety throughout your journey. My exceptional staff is dedicated to making every step of your transformation process seamless and comfortable. What fuels my passion for plastic surgery? It’s the belief that beauty is not just skin deep; it’s about empowering you to feel confident and embrace your unique allure. I take pride in using advanced techniques that prioritize your well-being, ensuring minimal downtime and natural-looking results. Beyond the surgical suite, I’m committed to giving back. I’ve had the privilege of volunteering internationally, bringing hope and transformation to those in need. This experience has deepened my appreciation for the profound impact of plastic surgery on both physical and emotional well-being. Whether you’re considering a subtle enhancement or a dramatic transformation, I’m here to guide you on your path to newfound confidence. My mission is to understand your unique goals, tailor a personalized treatment plan, and provide unwavering support throughout your journey. Let’s make your dreams a reality.
Where do I even begin? From consultation to aftercare, Dr. Lowen was absolutely exceptional. He was communicative, respectful, and prioritized safety, including required COVID testing. His attention to detail and perfectionism truly set him apart—his skill is evident in the results. Beyond his expertise, Dr. Lowen went above and beyond to assist me in securing warranty funds. When the manufacturer initially pushed back on the payout, he personally stepped in, carefully analyzing the situation and advocating on my behalf. His persistence and thorough explanation of the findings and potential ramifications ultimately led to a successful resolution—something most doctors wouldn’t take the time to do. I couldn’t be happier with the entire experience and my results. Thank you, Dr. Lowen!
I got a Zoom/MyEllevate neck lift with Dr. Lowen and it has taken years off my appearance. Actually, my neck and chin have never looked this good. I haven’t done anything beauty related that was this impactful. Dr. Lowen is a perfectionist and takes such great care to give the best result possible. There isn’t a smarter or more honest cosmetic surgeon on the SF peninsula.
I had a consult with Dr. Lowen for necklift surgery. After a thorough exam of my neck/jaw area, he recommended the less invasive MyEllevate procedure with chin lipo and skin tightening. I happily scheduled the procedure and am thrilled with the one-week post op results. Dr. Lowen took the time to make sure I understood everything about the procedure and aftercare. He did a wonderful job and I can’t recommend him more!
I am male, 32. I found Dr. Lowen as a plastic surgeon with expertise in removing lipomas. He limits the incision size, which helps with recovery and minimizing scarring (I happen to scar easily). The follow-up care included a recommended silicone gel and periodic laser treatment. He has decades of experience and uses state-of-the-art techniques. Dr. Lowen is by far the most responsive doctor I've interacted with via email. A couple things that may be dealbreakers for you: - He is very opinionated and blunt. You will not get a soft or coddling bedside manner with him. It reminds me of no-nonsense restaurants that serve great food along with equal helpings of the-customer-is-not-always-right. Keep this in mind when you read negative reviews. One Yelp review that amuses me is a woman who wanted a procedure, went for a consultation, and was upset because he was trying to talk her out of doing it (1 out of 5 stars). - His practice has the tightest COVID prevention practices I have ever seen in 2024. Negative tests are required before visits. His reception is locked (no hanging out before an appointment) and his receptionist is off-site. I wash my hands as soon as I enter his clinic. He has always been masked and has asked me to wear a mask. This is a man who loves what he does and does great work; and because of that I give Dr Lowen my highest recommendation.
This is a long overdue review for the brilliant surgeon, Dr. Robert Lowen, who I credit to changing my body and my life after turning 60 yrs old. I hope sharing my surgery experience, results, and how Dr. Lowen has raised my level of confidence will not only show my gratitude to Dr. Lowen but also help other potential patients know what to expect. Before my initial tummy tuck, I felt embarrassed and self-conscience of my bulging belly, muffin tops, and back fat that made me look like I had a second set of boobs. I worked out but could no longer hide my sagginess and lumps under clothes layers or compression body shapers. The initial Tummy Tuck was transforming, indeed! This review is intended to highlight a recent revisit where Dr. Lowen removed and revised an old the scar tissue line which continues to heal beautifully to being almost invisible after only a couple of months post op! I will forever admire Dr. Lowen’s commitment to delivering outstanding results, and meticulous attention to aesthetic details. Thank you so much, Dr. Lowen!
I first met with Dr. Lowen in October ‘23 for consultation for an abdominoplasty. I had lost 80 pounds and had a significant amount of extra skin. I also still had a not slight amount of subcutaneous fat as well. After consultation, Dr. Lowen felt like the best fit for me, so I scheduled a drainless tummy tuck procedure with him for January ’24. Dr. Lowen performed the drainless tummy tuck in January that absolutely transformed my body. His work is meticulous and his attention post-op is nothing short of wonderful. I was unfortunate in that I developed a post op infection three weeks after surgery. I want to iterate that this infection had nothing to do with Dr. Lowen and his work, but everything to due with my home (specifically my two cats who want to crawl all over me all the time). Dr. Lowen was so great with checking in with me daily until the infection had cleared. I was so happy that Dr. Lowen took time to check on me so often and provide reassurance when needed to help me throughout the healing process. Four months post op, Dr. Lowen did a revision for me to remove a dog ear on either side, smooth out both hips and remove a bit more of the subcutaneous fat from the abdomen and sides. I am almost three weeks post op from that procedure and I am in constant awe of my new appearance. I wear clothes now that I never would have worn before. Even with the (seemingly minimal) current post op swelling and extra padding (lipo foam and binder), I feel more comfortable and confident in clothes and my own skin than I have for the majority of my adult life. I have Dr. Lowen to thank for that!
Dr. Lowen is not one for small talk or selling you something you don’t need. He’s very focused and intentional, and once I warmed up to this I appreciated him even more. I wanted a lower facelift to correct my jowls, he recommended MyElevate and chin lipo instead. He’s very thorough with explaining the procedure, I booked that same day! I really appreciated his direct honesty, there’s no room for misinterpretation and I welcomed that. He called me the evening of the surgery to check on me- I loved that! He called again 48 hours later as well. I healed very quickly and saw my profile improvement almost immediately. It takes three months to fully see results, but I definitely saw the difference when the bandages were removed. I highly recommend Dr. Lowen, his credentials are top notch and his intensity when focused on his art is commendable!
Escribo está reseña a 6 semanas posteriores a una abdominoplastia con liposucción. Realmente no podría estar más feliz con el resultado mi abdomen está mejor que cuando estaba en mis 20's y mi espalda se ve mucho más definida y estética. En cuanto al procedimiento el dr es exelente, la técnica del dr dónde no se necesitan drenes es maravillosa, no supure ni una gota de sangre. Recomiendo ampliamente al Dr. Lowen es muy atento desde la primer consulta me explico con detalle todo lo relacionado a la operación y después de la operación siempre estuvo al pendiente de mi recuperación.
I live in Colorado, but flew out to California for 3 weeks (1 week pre-surgery, 2 weeks post) in order to do this tummy tuck procedure with Dr.Lowen. There are a good number of qualified doctors in my area and being away from my 3 kids was tough, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime surgery and I didn't want to compromise on quality. Dr.Lowen is simply the best. It's now 2 weeks post-surgery and I'm absolutely thrilled with my result. The incision is neatly done and super low on my belly, with no infections or other issues. The bruising is almost gone, the swelling is minimal, and my mid-section is looking sleek. Also, importantly, the belly button is very realistic-looking and perfectly placed. (This is one of the reasons I ultimately chose Dr.Lowen - I didn't want there to be any risk of symmetry issues, bad scarring, or other issues that might require a revision surgery.) The recovery has been excellent. After 2 weeks, I feel almost fully back to normal. I'm able to go on long walks, can sleep 8 hours at night, have been taking Ubers and doing in-person work meetings for the past few days, and am completely off of medication. If you're thinking about doing the surgery, I say go for it! ---Even more details about my story---- I'm small (5'2", 115 lbs) and had 3 large babies in the past decade which stretched out my core. Despite being an active runner and doing strength training, my midsection never went back to "normal." When I'd do a plank, there was always a bulge in the middle, and I had this annoying pocket of fat on the lower part of my abdomen that just wouldn't go away even though the rest of my body was lean and muscled. I thought that this was just something I'd have to live with for the rest of my life, and had accepted that this is just what happens when you have kids and get older. Then a friend of mine who'd also had 3 kids told me about her surgery with Dr.Lowen. She'd had a full tummy tuck and was absolutely delighted with the results. She was running marathons again and loved the flatness of her abs. This opened up my world - if she could do it, maybe so could I. From the first time I reached out to Dr.Lowen, he made me feel cared for. He spent an hour with me in our first consultation and later checked in as my surgery date approached. I appreciated that he seemed to know every single detail, and made me feel comfortable and respected. He was never annoyed or impatient, no matter what I asked. I'm a perfectionist, and I wanted a doctor that was equally a perfectionist: someone who takes pride in their work and wants to ensure both the surgery and recovery go smoothly. Dr.Lowen delivered in every way. How the surgery went: Dr.Lowen's surgical team were all professionals that made me feel safe and ensured I was comfortable. The surgery itself happened in the blink of an eye. Honestly, even though this was "the big day", I was out for most of it and when I awoke, the local anesthetic they used helped me feel ok and not in immediate pain. My brother and sister-in-law picked me up and took me home, and the recovery started. How the recovery went: The first few days of recovery were the hardest because the bruising and swelling--while natural--is not something I'd ever experienced before. Dr.Lowen told me what to expect before the surgery, and afterwards he was also quick to respond to my text messages and also willing to Facetime with me frequently. We did either a virtual or in-person check-in almost every day for the first week. Dr.Lowen even went one step further and did a couple of laser treatments on my bruised areas and gave me Arnica tablets to take, to help speed up the recovery. Dr.Lowen provided me with pre and post-op instructions which were detailed and answered most questions. Here's a bit of extra advice for those of you about to do this: (1) It's not necessary, but I found a walker very useful for the first 3 days when I would walk around particularly hunched over. It helped ease the pressure on my back. Dr.Lowen loaned me one so I didn't even need to buy it. (2) Be sure you're drinking enough, and also consider taking a stool softener and laxative on day 2 after the surgery. I don't typically get constipation, but it's a common side effect of the painkillers you'll almost surely take post-surgery. (3) Buy Arnica tablets to help with the bruising - Dr.Lowen can recommend some. These things are magical. (4) Shower the day before the surgery (you can't shower the morning of, and you also can't shower for the first few days after). (5) Buy super loose pants with a high waistband (I'm normally a size XS/S and I bought size L yoga pants). You can't wear restrictive clothes for a while after the surgery because it can cut off blood flow, and since you'll be wearing padding and a "binder" (compression wrap) around your waist, your normal pants won't fit. Personally, I love the BeyondYoga for how soft the fabric is - you don't want anything even remotely scratchy. (6) Be sure you have somebody to help you. In the first few days, I couldn't do something basic like lifting a heavy pot of soup out of the fridge and was reliant on others to carry things for me. I could do baby walks around the room and go to the bathroom, but I appreciated help with everything else. After the first week, I was generally self-sufficient at home and even meeting people outside. After 2 weeks, I could take 30+ minute walks and do full days of "normal" work. Updated on 24 Mar 2024: I did a 3.4 mile hike today with 1400 feet of elevation gain and felt great, even did a few short (30 second) bouts of running at times. The scar seems to be healing well and swelling is mostly gone. At around 3 weeks, I replaced the original binder Dr.Lowen gave me with this more breathable one. Highly recommend - it is fantastic: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09HKGCJRQ/refppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ieUTF8&th1 Also, I started using the Embrace tape on the scar after 3 weeks and this has allowed me to sleep wearing compression shorts (instead of the foam and binder), which is way more comfortable. Otherwise, I keep the binder on all day. Updated on 6 Apr 2024: I had another visit with Dr.Lowen to look at the scar and ensure everything is healing well visually. I appreciate that he really cares about the long-term result. He even did some additional treatment on the scar to further help ensure it eventually becomes as thin as a pencil line. It's looking great, and most importantly, I'm feeling great! I've noticed that I sleep better now, like I used to before having kids. I think part of this is I don't have back pain anymore, and another part is because after having kids I had much less bladder control and would have to get up to pee 1-2 times most nights. Now I can sleep through the entire night. I've started doing some ab rehab exercises and also trying to mix in a bit of running into my walks (e.g. 30-60 seconds of running at a time). Excited to keep getting stronger over time.
Dr. Lowen is wonderful! I thank God I found and chose him for my tummy tuck. My initial consultation with Dr. Lowen was virtual. He explained EVERYTHING to me and answered ALL my questions with honesty, experience, and patience. He spent quality time with me, virtually and in person. His bedside manner is exemplary, and his work is impeccable. Being a woman of a particular age, I was very nervous about the outcome of having a major surgery. However, after meeting Dr. Lowen, I knew I was in good hands. I knew God had sent me to him. I prayed to find an experienced, patient, and kind surgeon, and Dr. Lowen checked all the boxes. I am in the final stages of my post-opt, and Dr. Lowen patiently ensures I am as perfect as possible. Dr. Lowen is a perfectionist and meticulous before, during, and after the procedure. Oh yeah, let me not forget... Dr. Lowen's assistant, Melissa, is a treasure. She is kind and ensures you are prepared for appointments. I never thought my body could be made so beautiful at my age. I am grateful to Dr. Lowen. I thank him so much for giving me the confidence and motivation to take better care of myself. Dr. Lowen is serious about following up with you and making sure everything is in tip-top condition before he releases you. Listen to me... You cannot get what Dr. Lowen is giving in Miami or abroad. It’s because of Dr. Lowen I am getting my groove back. This is just the beginning.
No, not commonly done. Most breast lifts are just breast lifts. However, the scar for a reverse abdominoplasty is intended to be concealed in the inframammary fold, so if there is the proper indication for a reverse abdominoplasty, either primary or after an abdominoplasty that could not correct the upper abdominal skin laxity, then doing them at the same time is logical.
You would need a regular tummy tuck and could have liposuction of the waist, flanks and bra rolls. One problem is that you currently have skin laxity in the bra roll and upper abdominal area. You cannot expect liposuction to smooth out the bra rolls, although they can improve. Regarding the upper abdomen, it can be difficult to smooth that out with a regular abdominoplasty, because the undermining stops in the upper abdomen and the excess wrinkling skin goes up over the ribs. There may need to be a secondary reverse abdominoplasty to be able to mechanically pull up and smooth out that skin. That can be combined with breast lift if you are going to get that as part of a mommy makeover as a staged second procedure, since the scar goes in the inframammary fold. Your back photo does not show the buttock area, but what it does shows is excess flank fat that would be treatable with liposuction alone without a circumferential incision done for a lower body lift. The tummy tuck will pull up the front of the thighs a lot which currently appear to have excess skin in the medial upper thigh area. So, based on these pictures, you would appear be a candidate for a regular abdominoplasty, with the proviso that because of skin redundancy of the upper abdomen, inner thighs, and bra rolls, you could be a candidate for other elective procedures, such as as reverse abdominoplasty, medial thigh lift and upper lateral back lift.
Extended, depending on your definition, does not appear to be necessary. The incision needs to be long enough to treat the entire anterior abdominal surface and redistribute the excess skin, of which there is a lot, the excess being primarily in the lower abdomen. The incision goes from one mid-axillary line to the other, the hinge point from which the anterior skin can be lifted and brought down and redraped without a dog ear. Despite there being a lot of redundancy when you are sitting down, it is certainly not so evident when you are standing up; the point being, that you may not have enough upper abdominal laxity to pull down enough skin to remove the umbilical donor site. The donor site may require closing as a vertical incision in the lower abdomen. The length of the incision as described sounds like just a surgical decision and not an "upsell". Such a decision on length of incision should not influence the fees charged, whatsoever. One doctor's usual tummy tuck may be another's "extended". The main thing is that the scar not be visible in a bikini. If the doctor marks the bikini with the patient pulling up the lower abdomen and then flexes the thigh to make sure the markings go in the crease between thigh and torso, and designs the incision within those markings, the scar will never be visible post-op. With regard to terminology, a "full" abdominoplasty means dissection vertically up to the upper abdomen/rib area, as opposed to a "mini" which is dissection only up to the umbilicus. Extended refers to the length of the horizontal abdominoplasty incision, which in my practice is from mid-axillary line from one side to the other. Any "extension" would be posterior to this line, which is not commonly needed. Extending it all the way around is a lower body lift.
It is more helpful to mention your height and weight in numbers so we could know your BMI. My comments relate to patients with a BMI of 33 or less, occasionally up to 35. Sometimes patients like yourself are concerned about the problems that the overhanging abdominal skin and fat pose, like rashes under the skin, real obstacles to working out, quality of life issues. The 60 lbs. more to lose are not all on the abdomen, and all the extra fat and skin on the abdomen, and the fat on the waist and flanks, along with the bra rolls can be removed with a lipoabdominoplasty, 360 lipo plus tummy tuck. The extra weight will be on the rest of the body where you store fat, usually hips, thighs, buttocks, and some intra-abdominally. By having an abdominoplasty and losing the rest of the weight, you won't "mess up" the abdominoplasty, because the "weight" you lose afterwards will not be from the abdomen (see attached photo). Your question: "would a tummy tuck with lipo make a difference in appearance". Yes, and a difference in your workouts. You can see patients on my website with BMI's over 30 and determine if this approach would be appropriate for you. You have to go to a surgeon who is comfortable doing both extensive liposuction and a tummy tuck at the same time. Obviously, the concensus is to wait until most of the weight is lost. This can be very difficult or take a very long time for some patients. In my practice, timing is dependent on goals and expectations, tempo of weight loss, quality of life, acceptance of some trade-offs in immediate vs later results.
Not sure if you need a tummy tuck or liposuction with a scar revision. As you know scars are permanent unless you could remove all the skin up to the top of the scar. That's not possible. So if you did a tummy tuck you would still have that vertical scar and only a certain amount of the lower scar would be removed as the abdominal flaps is pulled down and the excess removed. There is also increased risk of skin necrosis at the lower midline where the vertical scar meets the abdominoplasty transverse incision. This is because the scar cuts off some circulation. An option would be to do liposuction to get a thinner skin contour. There would likely be some skin laxity that could be put to use by removing the old scar and bring the sides together. A year later when all healed, a limited undermining tummy tuck could be done, and some rectus plication to improve abdominal wall laxity. Midline scars on the abdomen tend to heal with hypertrophy; revising them recreates the original scar. However, in the revision, the suture or staple marks can be removed. If sutures are left over seven days they will leave scars. So the incision closure should be engineered with deep layer support so that superficial skin sutures can be removed in seven days, or a subcuticular pull out suture should be used.
