Treatment Provider

Ben Lee, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Call Doctor
Call Doctor
Reviews you can trust, from real people like you.      
How it works
  • Our highly-trained Review Moderation team evaluates all reviews before they're published to ensure they're written by people like you and not a member of a doctor's office.
  • This multi-step process takes up to 24 hours from review submission to publication.
  • Doctors can't pay to have reviews removed or hidden.
  • Reviews are only removed at the reviewer's request or if they violate our Terms of Service.

If you have questions or believe we should re-evaluate a published review, let us know.

Sort by:
*Treatment results may vary

10 weeks PO. Wow how time flies. I can now say...

10 weeks PO. Wow how time flies. I can now say I'm so glad I did this. I went through a time I needed to be off the forums because I got really bummed that I was not healing like everyone else, started feeling fat, and was pissed I couldn't work out yet!!! ARG!
I started walking at 6 weeks and could only do 1 mile at a 2.5 mph pace. My grandma in a walker could've put me to shame. But I did it...pissed and all I did it. At 8 weeks my body started to accelerate its healing. I could finally "jog" (and I use that in the loosest of terms;) But I started to feel like I was maneauvering through the discomfort a ton better. I started sleeping much better and I was only wearing my CG when I got home from work.
Between weeks 8-10 I feel like a new woman!!! I'm so glad I did this. I have tucked in shirts (first time in 8 years) and feel fantastic. Sure I am still swelling. I get a pooch more times than I don't and the only time my tummy is completely flat is when all of it swells (;-) but guess what.....It's a hell of a lot better than it was and I know it wont be this way forever. Thank god I don't have to go to work naked, but clothed I look pretty damn good!
I think being more active really has lifted my spirits and has put everything in perspective. It is so hard to mentally deal with disappointment and not have exercise as an outlet. As soon as I could begin running (oh btw I'm running faster than I did pre surgery---not as far but faster how bout them apples!) my whole outlook changed. I felt in CONTROL again! Am I 100%...NOPE, but I can now cope with this. Some days are much better than others as far as how I feel and my mood but overall...much improved.
Do I still see flaw? Am I still a woman...hell ya I see flaws but many times I'm side tracked by thinking "Damn I look good and that's me in the mirror!". It didn't happen overnight but it did happen, so those of you beginning to doubt or think this will never end...yes it will, but it won't happen on your terms or your timing so suck it up an move forward;-). It is SOOOOOOO worth it...You will feel like a million dollars (even if you don't see it) so don't rob yourself of that feeling...You're worth it!!!

What a difference a week makes. Last week was...

What a difference a week makes.

Last week was my first week back at work and boy could I feel it. I had no energy. Not really pain but no energy or stamina, and sleeping is still a struggle. I had a difficult time finding clothes where I could hide my cg and still be comfortable. I did it but I sure hope what not to wear wasn't secretly filming. I did learn that while recovering from a TT DO NOT WEAR high heals. My sides were aching like a runners cramp and I couldn't figure out why until I got out of my shoes and started thinking duh you have to balance side to side in heels so my obliques let me know! It did give me an excuse to buy some really cute black flat boots!!!

I worked out last week and so far this week has been better. I say worked out in a VERY broad term. I walked. I'm a ways off from a jog. tried it last night and my abs are still soooooo tight I'm definitely not ready. I did however, try wide legged squats and can do tthose no problem. Tried rowing and I bet I'm 2 weeks out from that. Tried girl pushups and could do them but shouldn't. I'll wait about 2 weeks on those too. This weeks walking pace is much better so I'm happier about that. Just the fact I'm down in my gym again with my shuffle improves my mood!!!

Went for my 5 week po appointment today and my ps said wow! That's good. He said my thighs still have 10-15% swelling left and that when it's all done they shouldn't touch. Yay I will wear shorts again!!! He said m belly is swollen nothing crazy but below the belly button will be flat and concave in a bit once the healing is complete. He said up to a year but was really happy with the progress. My incision started reopening this week which concerned me a bit but he said fair complected people's scars can behave that way. Also, a staple (dissolvable) popped out and opened up the incision. Ok not popped out but rubbed it's way out. He said those are placed so close to the skin I may have more do it or they may just dissolve. There is no telling. I'm cleaning with peroxide, neosporin and a bandaide. Also, I popped a stitch above my bellybutton but he says it shouldn't make me worry since it's neighbors are holding everything in tight.

I continue to struggle with finding an appetite. No I have an appetite but I get really full really quick. I have lost between 12-14 pounds depending on the day since surgery and ps said because the muscles are pulled in so tight they act like a corset and keep you from eating very much which I guess is a good side effect since I can't work out.

Not sure there are much changes from last weeks photos but might take some anyway cause the swimsuit one is horrible:-)

4 weeks po. So today is my 3rd day back at work...

4 weeks po.
So today is my 3rd day back at work and I can feel it. I'm really tired not so much in pain just fatigued. In fact I didn't have any medicine today until around 6pm.I ate out yesterday and boy could I tell it! Sodium sucks!!! My fingers were little smokies this morning when I got up. Nothing else was swollen but I have kept up on my regimin of vitamin water so I think that helps a ton. I ran to the bathroom (ok not ran) about 7 times today but I think I got 4 vitamin waters in at work and my decaf coffee which was another 24 oz. My CG is starting to be alot more comfortable. I cant tell if that is because I'm losing weight or it is just stretching.Funny thing about my CG. Since it is a full body suit down to the calves I wore a longer skirt and riding boots today, but I kept grabbing the sides of my skirt cause I was afraid that it might fall off and I wouldn't know it since the CG feels like clothes. My boss asked me if I was ok since I probably looked like a mental patient and instead of just saying yea I told him I was checking to see if my skirt was still on. His face was priceless!!!I have been trying to stay off that scale until I can actually run since all it will do is [RS bleep] me off and I won't be able to do anything about it.

I worked out again today and was much less tight in the abs. I only did a mile in 30 minutes.BLAH! but I got something done and it got me back into the gym which for me is the one habit I cannot afford to take off the schedule otherwise everything else will take it's place. I can tell I swelled a bit after my walk and all day at work especially in my pictures but I feel really blessed that I haven't had the tummy swell hell that so many have had to deal with (knock on wood). Nonetheless I am much more flat at the beginning of the day than in these photos and my inner thighs are still swollen and have little feeling in them still. So I am hopeful that this is not near my final results. The back photos are what makes me want to barf!!! I cannot wait to do sprints to get that [RS bleep] off!!! To me I look soft and definitely am making some plans as to how and fix that. Ok enough of the self loathing talk;-). My scar is still really red but the skin has started to really stretch out and I think once completely healed it will be beautiful. I also spent some time tonight stretching. I feel like I have lost alot of flexibility while laid up and I know I gotta get those leg muscles flexing or when I get the green light to run I will get injured. It felt awful at first but then after about 15 minutes I could feel a difference. All in all this is going to be a good experience and I am glad I did it.

Provider Review

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
3680 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, California
Call Doctor
Call Doctor
Overall rating
Doctor's bedside manner
Answered my questions
After care follow-up
Time spent with me
Phone or email responsiveness
Staff professionalism & courtesy
Payment process
Wait times

Dr. Lee is amazing. His attention to detail is ridiculous and his work is better than you could expect. His caring bedside manner and professionalism makes this difficult recovery much easier. His staff is the BEST. They are attentive, empathetic, and caring. They return phone calls immediately and get you into appointments very promptly. I have never had to wait for long. I believe the aftercare is the MOST important part of surgery and Dr. Lee and his staff have FAR exceeded my expectations. That is saying alot since once a dr has done your surgery and got your money they could really kiss you off, but I think my after care was even better than my before care. They have even called several times just to check up. They are amazing and I cannot say enough about my experience. If I ever get anything else done there will be NO OTHER doctor I would consider.