TT Redo, Botched 3 Years Ago - East Peoria, IL

That picture of my stomach sticking out is right before my revision TT. I should not have looked like that since I had already had a 'full' TT. My new surgeon says the first Dr did not do any muscle repair or go up high enough or pull the skin down far enough. So I still looked like that.

I think too many surgeons underestimate their patients' understanding of tummy tucks and sometimes cut corners (and not enough skin) by doing a mini tuck without muscle plication above the BB hoping that we won't know the difference and accept our results. I had this happen to me but fortunately my surgeon revised me for free and my results are okay second time around. After a "full TT" you definitely should not have been bulging out above your BB! Shame on your first surgeon who clearly ripped you off!!

It was devastating. He blew me off, dismissed me as a problem patient not being satisfied. I am actually a very good patient and always follow Dr's orders. I just was so upset! So a few tears and unhappiness seemed appropriate. A good surgeon makes all the difference. So happy with my new belly.

That is exactly what I'm going thru right now!!! I had a mini this past January and now have a bubble around my belly and loose skin under my breasts! I'm not happy!!! I'm going to see my Dr on Monday. Any advise on how to start this discussion?? I'm so frustrated!!!

Oh I am so sorry. I don't really know what you should say. Dr Kurly and I did not see eye to eye. I asked for paid for an extensive tummy tuck and he left me a mess. And then claimed the results looked good. And decided I was just being difficult. So I didn't want him to fix it. I lost all confidence in him. I went somewhere else. And Dr Lomax fixed everything. I guess you start a dialog with him letting him know that you do not like your results. If you had a mini, my guess is he only removed the "apron". The loose skin at the bottom of the tummy. The real problem is that you needed a full TT and he should have advised you on that. Did he tell you before surgery about your options and expected results? If not, I would think that was what went wrong. If he did, and you chose the mini then he didn't do anything wrong. However many surgeons will give you a discount to do a second surgery. But it is still very expensive. I am so sorry your going through this. Let me know what happens when you talk to him.

To confront our surgeon about unsatisfactory results is not an easy task. Been there, done that. What I did was email the surgeon first. I emailed him three photos which I named the good, the bad, and the ugly. Of course I started with the good and praised him for that. (It was a photo of me standing up and looking quite flat), The bad was the dimples and unevenness of the liposuction to my abdomen and remaining loose skin. The ugly was a large roll of skin hanging over the waistband of my jeans. So by emailing him first he was well prepared for my upcoming office visit. I lucked out and my surgeon apologized to me and offered a complete revision at HIS cost. Good luck!!

Thanks. It's a hard choice for some of to spend the money. I had to do it twice. Needed a full TT the second time because it wasn't done right the first time.

Did the first dr not want to do a revision for you? I'm having the same problem now. I'm 6 weeks po and I have a roll over where he didn't take enough skin off in my opinion. I go back to the dr next week and u hope he sees what I see and will realize that he didn't take enough and will redo it for me!

In my case the the first Dr (Dr kurly in champagne Il) did such a bad job I did not want to go back to him. I had to ask him to revise me, to lower my hair line, he had it pulled up so far it wasn't covered by wearing underwear. He left rolls on my hips that I had to ask him to redo. He left a little strip of old tattoo that he wasnt supposed to and had to redo that. He left me with a vertical scar that was unnecessary and very rough and bumby, I had to ask him to redo that. And most importantly he left my upper stomach bulging out above the belly button (see photo). I paid $10,000 for a full tummy tuck. He did a partial one and did it badly. After all the revisions I asked him to make I looked pregnant. It was awful. So when I was ready for a BA. I found a different dr. (Dr Lomax, Peoria Il) and it was a much better experience, so it took a while to come up with enough money to get another TT, and I went to Dr Lomax. It is so pretty and turning out so good. I haven't felt this 'normal' and confident in many years.

They usually don't redo the TT. They just do little revisions in the exam room. Numb you, trim off little bits and tape or stitch you back together. Hopefully that is all you need. Good luck. I posted more details about my experience for you to read.

Thank you. I feel so good about myself now.

I will soon. I'm on vacation and don't have any recent photos.