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Ready to Be an Almonte Doll in 2015!!! - Dominican Republic

UPDATED FROM ColumbiasPrincess
4 months post

It's been 4 (and a half) months!! Sorry for the Delay!

WORTH IT$5,100
I will try to upload pics later on tonight but I did not want that to stop me from giving an update. So, bottom-line, overall I am very, very pleased with my results.
My abdominal contour is amazing, the scar is low and thin, my waist is quite small (sometimes appears lopsided but still small) and my BBL is nice overall (the muscle on the right side juts out at a weird angle when I flex but how often is that?).
But the journey has not been easy and Almonte and co.s aftercare leaves QUITE a bit to be desired.
First, please let me say, REFUSE TO PAY THE 'INSURANCE'.. IT IS A SCAM!You will NEVER get paid!!
I developed a HUGE seroma that caused me to have to drive to their associated dr. in NYC several times for draining and incur a bunch of travel and medical costs that I have yet to be reimbursed for, 3 months later. Last thing I was told by Lesley was that she received my check and was 'figuring how to get it to me'. Really? You all managed to get my payment. We have the same bank. Is a wire in the OTHER direction that difficult? I think not. So my take on that situation is it is complete BS and since nothing life-threatening is going to happen if I am NOT reimbursed my 200.00+, it is a waste of my time to keep sending Whatsapp messages for Lesley to ignore.
Moving on. As I mentioned I developed a HUGE seroma. It was a beast! It is just now fully resolving. Yes ladies, very, very large seromas can take up to 4 months to close. Almonte and co. did put me in contact with a friendly Dominican doctor in NYC who was willing to drain it for me. I went to him three times, had two drainings then started doing it myself Why? 1) his schedule was ridiculous. we were not viewed as 'real' patients so we had to come 'after hours' after he saw all his 'real' patients; which, when you're making a 4 hour drive up and back, becomes a tiring annoyance. 2) the cost. Gas, tolls, wear and tear on my car, time off work, his fees (which weren't bad at all and would make sense if you lived in NYC). Each trip would be about 100-150 RT, then add his 50. It got too ridiculous especially after it became clear that this imaginary 'insurance' (which btw the claim forms are completely in Spanish so if you can not read Spanish, good luck) was very unlikely to pay out. So after I went up the last time and could not get drained because one of his 'real' patients, left, missed their turn, came back right before mine and then continue to jabber for over 45 minutes, I decided I was done and could do it myself. Which I did successfully.
I replicated his technique after reading about proper technique and asepsis, copied his pucture location, ordered sterile syringes from Amazon and needles from a medical supply in the sizes he noted in my medical notes, and got the job done. It was very scary and I do NOT recommend it but I had exhausted all my options. No local plastic surgeon would touch me (SURPRISE! not) and even the ER tried to play me. So I said I was done with the wasting of money and I do NOT beg and continued on to do it myself.
Thank the LORD I did not develop any sort of infection and it was effective as it barely accumulates anything now (I was draining ~15 ccs every few days) and have not had to drain it for weeks. Which I think it is actually closed at this point. Last draining (over a week and a half ago) was only around 6 ccs).
So that is my lil update i'll nab you all some pics later tonight or tomorrow :)

ColumbiasPrincess's provider

Fatima Almonte, MD

Fatima Almonte, MD

Plastic Surgeon

4.6 | 661 Reviews
PROFILE

Replies (4)

I'm happy you're okay and love your results. That insurance thing really sucks though!! I go next Tuesday and my surgery is Wednesday. They've made the insurance "mandatory" so I doubt I'll be able to opt out of it. But that's such a waste of money and it makes me mad just thinking about it. I could use that money for something more productive than throwing it away on an imaginary insurance. I'll have to check on that
Thanks for coming back to us with updates :-)
I'm really displeased to hear they are still peddling that mandatory insurance nonsense. It's. A. Scam... If they want an extra 150.00 they should just call it a 'processing fee'. Remember, it's your money and you're your only advocate. You can let them know you have your own insurance and you've heard negative reviews on their insurance so you're not going to pay it as you do not need it. We'll see if they pass on 3,000 USD because you refuse to pay 150 USD in bogus insurance fees.... I doubt it ;) Good Luck!!!
So now Almonte's office wants ypu to pay for insurance? That does what for you though? What is the purpose?
It's supposed to reimburse you and pay your cost. I spoke with Lesley and mentioned this case, she said she did receive the check, but they did not reimburse her for one of her trips so they sent it back and was waiting on the proper amount. That's why it took so long. She gave examples of other cases where other people were reimbursed. It sounded like BS. But I got it. I ended up with a fever two days post op and they ran a bunch of test on me and I didn't pay a dime. I'm sure if I had rejected the insurance, they would have charged me for everything just to say "see you should have gotten the insurance."
Sorry that happened to u too at least you had a doctor to go to Almonte has no doctors for me n Chicago n I am 8 weeks postpost I had my drains in for 20 days I too had a big seroma on my lower belly and from day 1 I been removing fluids never seen a doctor had to become my own smfh n still til this day im still removing fluids I think I post a pic of it but so far I removed about 140cc and I'm going on 8 weeks but im loving my results my ass is fat n belly flat just sad about my back because she couldn't get aggressive with it with my hemo being a 12.5
u look.great luv
Thanks for the update. I am considering her for my surgery
UPDATED FROM ColumbiasPrincess
21 days post

Scars...

Healing nicely... Still have a slight setoma in lower abdominal area. Will write seroma update soon. Ciao!

Replies (5)

You look great hun :) Congrats and happy healing
Thanks sweetie!!!
very beautiful result
Thanks dear!
Have you been to any physician or surgeon since you got home? I'm scheduled with Almonte for 4/28 and my only concern is the trip back with possible drains and follow up care.
Hi jessie I do not think that will be a good idea to travel with drain.. its so painful my cherie
I have. I did leave with my drain. I pulled it a few days later mainly because it was not working right. It was constantly clogged and I was scared of an infection from constantly having to clean clots out of it. So I pulled it. Probably was too early as I developed a seroma later that a physician needed to aspirate for me in my lower abdominal area. ater that
Buy water pills all the girls on my recovery house who bought them had there drain taken out in 3-4 day. I had mine in for 9 days ughhh wish I would have known
I want to scheadule my surgery for the 22nd with dr Almonte as well , do you know where your staying ???
Hi there xtra...not sure if you were directing your q at me but I'm staying at My Home RH
Thanks for the tip Almontedoll. Will def take some
Yes Jessie jr I was I'm trying to get I touch with dr Almonte and make my arraignments do you have any not info for her or her assistance ??? If there available maybe we can buddy up
Her whatsap # is 829-333-9660. I'm arriving on 4/27 for sx on 4/28.
Hi jessie thank you for your note
Jessie I made contact might see you there yay me:-)
How long did your procedures take?
I think about 3-4 hours?
You look absolutely amazing Doll ...results look very natural ... Great!
Thank you!!
UPDATED FROM ColumbiasPrincess
12 days post

My Scar.

She's so pretty...

Replies (4)

Your incisions look really good :) so happy things are going fine .....happy healing love!
Thank you sweets!!
the doctor you selected was Fatima Almonte? or Dr. Agustina Hilario Duran
Fatima Almonte!
thanks sweetie..hope you doing great...
Congrats!!! My date is March 10 with Almonte you look great ;-)
Good luck! I know she will do a great job!!
We're you under general anesthesia or were you awake for the procedure? Wishing speedy recovery for you!
General anesthesia. I was out like a light and quickly too..
Thanks for confirming. Looking forward to more of your after pics. Waiting for a quote from the dr now.
Np!! It's coming. Along with a seroma update.. Lol
hope your doing well...