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POSTED UNDER Tummy Tuck Revision REVIEWS

Tummy Tuck #1 and Tummy Tuck #2 (Revision) - Florida

Name: Tummy Tuck #1 and Tummy Tuck #2 (Revision) - Florida
Item: C. Randall Harrell, MD (closed)
Rating: 5
Author: ymmomof1

ORIGINAL POST

Since this website has helped me through my...

ymmomof1April 14, 2010

WORTH IT$31,000

Since this website has helped me through my nightmare and recovery, I decided it's time to pay it forward and post my entire Plastic Surgery Journey.

The amount spent, approx. 31k includes...

04.15.2008
*Breast Augmentation Revision (400cc high profile silicone implants replaced with 600cc low profile silicone implants)
*'Full' Abdominoplasty (my nightmare-results are.. well lets just say I, and many doctors with whom I've consulted, have no idea what procedure was actually performed).

03.16.2010
*Breast Augmentation Revision (600cc low profile silicone implants replaced with 800cc moderate plus profile silicone implants)
*Full Reconstructive Abdominoplasty
*Liposuction/Liposculpting of the Hips/Flanks and Upper Back

Today is day 25 after my revision. I started by posting before and after pictures of the first procedure. I will post photos of the revision as soon as I have more time :)

ymmomof1's provider

C. Randall Harrell, MD (closed)

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

ymmomof1 rating for Dr. Harrell:

Overall rating

Replies (23)

sarahg09

April 13, 2010

those last pictures are from after TT? you shouldnt have saggy extra skin if you have done a TT. strange. keep us posted please.

ymmomof1

April 14, 2010

Yes it is very strange. As soon as I started asking questions after the surgery, the entire staff just kept telling me I was in the healing process and I got absolutely no answers. My medical records said that I started with 'no umbilicus', basically trying to make it seem as if I had no belly button prior to the surgery. So our guess was that the doctor must have accidentally cut off my belly button and then did a skin graft to cover the hole, and then skip the rest of what a standard abdominoplasty procedure should entail. (ab muscle tightening, removing skin/stretch marks, etc.) If you look at my pictures, you can see that he cut through my pre existing butterfly tattoo but did not remove any skin, or the tattoo, or at least part of it would've been cut out! It definitely is a mystery of what exactly Dr. H did to me... couldn't he have at least given me the decency of explaining and trying to be a decent human being? Come to find out, I didn't pursue litigation against him but went to the court house and got his records and the guy has a stack of lawsuits against him, which include a wrongful death! I can't believe he is still in practice! I wish there was more I could do so others wouldn't have to go through what he put me through! Suing him would've just consumed more of my time and emotion so I decided KARMA will hopefully get him!

ymmomof1

April 14, 2010

Oh and my 'umbilicus'... belly button was under there in the end, yay! It didn't get cut off! :)

sarahg09

April 14, 2010

im so sorry for what youre going through babe, but it doesnt make sence as i look at ur before and after photos, before photo clearly shows a belly button and after surgery its gone and the butterfly is still there. i just had a TT 15 days ago and my tummy is so flat that i still walk around bent over, part of the surgery is taking excess skin out but in ur case its relally a mystery but good news is that you can have it re done as i see you still have plenty skin to stretch. im sorry for your experience and i know you went through the painful recovery just find yourself unhappy with the results. that must be really hard. from what i see he is not a good doctor and needs his license revolked if he killed someone. unbelievalbe. i hope you can resolve your problem hun. [RS bleep]

yude

May 18, 2010

Hey, I truely feel for what happened, but as I can see you look terrific now. Congrats!!!!! I don't know if i've missed it throughout all that's been written. Could you please provide me with Dr. H's full last name? I'd greatly appreciate it. There's a lot of Dr. H's in Florida. Thank's in advance.

marinaki68

August 23, 2011

Hi, , can i see your before and after. I did my TT 18 months ago and i have to go for revision as i also was left with lose skin!! i'm wondering if is even worth to go htru it all over again..

kalyanii

December 2, 2017

That's nuts!!

Angie_M

April 13, 2010

I'm so sorry you had to go through that. Thank you for keeping us updated on how you're doing. Looking forward to seeing your newest revision photos!

ymmomof1

April 14, 2010

Thanks Angie! I just posted my revision photos and am so happy to have that nightmare behind me! Now I am not reminded of the entire horrific experience every time I look in the mirror! YAY!

rebekka37

April 13, 2010

Omg!! What a crazy journey! Who did your revision?? i also live in Florida! Can't believe that your first provider didn't even speak to you! What did the secound PS say happened??? I bet it was SO scary for you to go back under!!!! Glad that everything has worked out!

ymmomof1

April 14, 2010

If you look at my reply to Sarahg's comment above it is the short and sweet version of what we think happened. After it all, my belly button was underneath the skin graft, yay! So even though the revision took and hour and a half longer than expected, my new doctor is amazing! I actually had been turned down by a few doc's that I went to see on consults so for Dr. A to have been so confident and willing to make sure I am completely happy, he is a god send! His name is Dr. Azurin. You can see all of his amazing tummies on the site in his gallery, 300+ before and after pictures of just tummy tucks! It was scary but soooo worth it!

sarahg09

April 14, 2010

wow your latest surgery came out awsome. your tummy is flat with a belly button attached :) i am so happy for your results hun. i see you also had a breast augmentation. congrats. if you dont mind me asking what implant size did u go for and what size were you before surgery? it is quite unfortunite you had to recover twice from TT and i admore that. im still struggling with my recovery as i still walk bent over which has now caused me back discomfort also. keep us updated and congrats again. you have a beautiful new sexy tummy now. [RS bleep] Love, Sarah

ymmomof1

April 14, 2010

Thanks Sarah! Yes this was my third boob job lol! After breast feeding my first pair sat funny and so I upgraded them from 400cc silicone (under the muscle) to 600 silicone but they were 'low profile' implants so I felt that they sat to wide on my frame and a majority of the implant was towards my arm pits... plus I wanted them bigger, it's really a disorder, because when I look at my pictures, even now, I know my boobs are HUGE but to me they don't feel big... weird right!? I ended up getting 800 cc silicone (the biggest they make in Silicone) but I got 'moderate plus profile' so they are more round instead of wide. I absolutely love them! Now I have the perfect amount of cleavage, without having to wear a bra to push them together! Silicone is definitely better than saline because they feel 100x more natural and have less complications. They use a gel now so no need to worry about them ever leaking into your system, should they break! How long ago did you have your tummy tuck? My doctor recommended I purchase/rent a walker for the first bit of my recovery, which I did. It really helped me move around without my back hurting so much and I'd even take it in the shower with me and basically everywhere! (I felt like an idiot but being hunched without support was a lot more painful). Hope your recovery gets easier!

sarahg09

April 15, 2010

your results are beautiful, both breast and tummy :)) im 16 days post op. i had a TT, BL, BA all at once. i have no pain with the breast op but the tt is killing me as i struggle to walk around and i should have rented a walker like you. my husband rented a wheel chair for the first 2 weeks to go to my post op apts and etc.. i dont need it anymore but still hunched over. so are u recovered now? can u stand erect? im so glad we can talk about our recoveries :) xxxx oh and its my first breast surgery so i picked 330cc saline they look huge to me as i have a small frame but i think they will drop and settle soon i hope. Love, Sarah

ymmomof1

April 15, 2010

I'm 29 days post op and I wouldn't say fully recovered but I am standing totally straight now. Although if I take my compression garment off, the muscles are still really tight and without that support I still hunch a wee bit. Are you wearing a garment? Not sure if they make you if don't get lipo, but I have to wear both the garment and a velcro binder that really help support the tummy and back area. I still am sore, esp around and above my belly button but the muscles don't burn anymore at all... the worst part about all of my procedures was definitely the Liposuction I had to my hips/flanks and he also ended up doing my upper back and man, that was the most painful part and still is sore to the touch!! And I get shooting pains, I guess from where the nerves are coming back... skin is still numb though! I know that each week that goes by I feel better and better... definitely don't over do it because I've noticed that I still swell up super bad at night!!!! Have you gotten a lot of swelling? xoxo

sarahg09

April 15, 2010

I was offered the liposuction in 2 areas which included in the package but i didnt get it. i was really scared of the risks. I do wear a garment and suppose to keep it on for 6 weeks. this morning i noticed im standing little more straight. not all the way straight but i think im getting there. i have alot of back discomfort due to walking bent over. I dont have any swelling at all. my hips were slightly swollen after surgery but its gone now. i think for me not being able to stand straight is the biggest complaint. are u back to work? im suppose to go back on the 26th and i dont know if ill be able to :( Sarah xoxo

Glitterbabe76

April 13, 2010

I'm so sorry for your what you had to endure. Getting a TT is already such a trying period for many women, to have to go through the trauma that you encountered with your surgeries, my heart goes out to you. I can't even imagine what you must have thought when you first saw your belly button, it's a good gauge as to what kind of work your PS puts forth into the care of your whole surgery. I hope you keep us all posted, my thoughts are with you.

ymmomof1

April 14, 2010

Yes Dr. A has been incredible. Incredibly talented, kind, and best of all he is so willing to make sure I am happy with the outcome. It has been a rough two years but I am so happy I went through it all again to fix the horrible procedure I had! I just posted a bunch more pictures of my revision :)

brittany88

April 14, 2010

That must have been terrible! I will say that I am impressed with how faint your scar is. Did you use anything on it? Keep us posted on how you are doing. Can't wait to see your revision pics!

ymmomof1

April 14, 2010

Someone told me to massage my scars (after they heal of course) and so I did and it really helped break up the scar tissue and make them less rigid and bumpy and raised. I also ordered this little gadget from a company called Nuskin and it's the Galvanic Spa. I ordered the 'body shaping gel' and used the machine on my scars once or twice a week for five minute increments. Not sure how much the machine helped or if it was just time that healed them up so nice but I am definitely going to use the machine again and keep up the massages! The company is a MLM (i hate those) and I was getting vitamins shipped monthly but I cancelled my membership. You can find the reviews and the machine for cheaper on Amazon/google. Some people swear by it, some people think it's a scam but I think it really helped. There are also different functions/parts for the face and scalp etc.. I just posted my revision pictures. :)

brittany88

April 14, 2010

Thanks. I will have to check it out. I really hope my scar fads as light as yours. You look amazing! Your second doctor did an awesome job!

UPDATED FROM ymmomof1

Today is day 28 and I definitely over did it! I...

ymmomof1April 14, 2010

Today is day 28 and I definitely over did it! I really can't believe how long the healing process is taking this time around! I notice much more swelling in the evenings and tonight was a bit better than yesterday (I'm hoping it's the juicing I've started, cucumbers & celery for swelling and I add fresh apples and carrots) yum! I've also been religiously taking Bromelain (a homeopathic supplement) that funny enough, I read the bottle and it says its from pineapple stem, and pineapples are also supposed to reduce inflammation! I also still take Arnica Montana 30x as it is also a homeopathic supplement that is known to reduce bruising and swelling and help repair muscles. I swear by this stuff because with all of my surgeries (even my first, that's where I learned of Arnica) I did not get ONE bruise! And this time around the only bruise I got was on my bottom and I'm guessing it was from sitting on it so much because he sure Lipo'd the hell out of my back and hips and not one bruise! So I definitely recommend it, to say the least.

As far as discomfort, my tummy area is still a little sore so I've taken a few tylenol here and there but the worst pain has actually been in my hip and back area from the lipo. I still have burning and sharp pains throughout and the entire back area is still swollen and sensitive to touch. But I gotta say, in looking at my before and after pics, it is amazing how even with the swelling, all the fat and love handles are gone! Definitely well worth the pain!

I will try and update more pictures but it said I could only upload 20. I have a bunch of my back and more of my tummy. Should I start another review? Anyone know the answer to this?

The two things I am looking most forward to are

1. Swelling to go away completely so I can see the final result.... but as it stands right now, I am soooo happy that all of my stretch marks are GONE and my belly button looks 100x better than it did!!!

2. For day 42 to come (six week mark) so I can stop wearing these annoying garments/binder! (You ladies that are past me in the recovery, do you still feel the need to wear the garment after the six weeks?) I am one of those unlucky women that have the worst swelling! But I know that can be a good thing because it means that the doc actually did something right, and pulled our abs tight! YAY!

Well bed time for me! I will try to respond as fast as I can but you guys know how it goes with kids and work and the house! I'm wiped lol!

Oh one more note, I had the absolute best nurse ever! She was sent home with me for 4 hours after the surgeries (at the doctors expense). She helped me so much throughout this journey and even gave me her cell number and was such a blessing in my first week of recovery that she inspired me to go back to school and become a nurse myself! So today I was at my old college, and although I am not looking forward to all of the Pre-requisites, and being a college student again, I am so excited to have found a passion again. My current career, book keeping/ accounting, that I've done for the past ten years, sure has gotten boring

Replies (0)

UPDATED FROM ymmomof1

Oh yeah and I wanted to post more pictures but it...

ymmomof1April 14, 2010

Oh yeah and I wanted to post more pictures but it only let me post 20. I have to wear a bandage underneath my belly button with a bunch of cotton balls (kind of feels like I'm back in grade school making santa's beard lol). This is to stretch out the skin in between to make sure it doesn't indent and crease inwards. Those are the weird markings you will see from the pressure of the cotton/tape/guaze.

Replies (23)

galabar

April 14, 2010

you look absolutly fantastic aft your 2nd tummy tuck congratulations ,,,,,,it was hard enuf goin trough it the 1st time for me ,,only 2 months ago so stil in swelling stages every now and then ,,,but it looks great good luck wth rest of your healing hope it all goes well :)

backtome

April 14, 2010

Your second doc is a miracle worker! You look so fantastic!

ymmomof1

April 14, 2010

Thank you hun!

akasha

April 15, 2010

wow girl- you look Maaavolus daaling...! Yes, thank you for sharing, its hard to get exactly what you want from these guys- you just said screw it and made it all work out for yourself in the end! You look terrific! Big Boobies!! I was thinking he shouldve taken a bit more from me, but I have a vertical scar in the middle where old bellybutton was so Im assuming thats all he could do~ PLEASE post later pics! your scar healed fantastically the first time........thanks again girly!!!

destin

April 15, 2010

I hate you had to go through all that... that is horrible. but am I understanding this right that on your last tt, they cut you vertical? I am having mine in June and I swear that is what I need is a vertical instead of the horizontal cut cause my ps said she wouldnt be able to do anything with my flanks. (i guess that is what they call it) She said I would have to come back for lipo later on. I dont want to do that! You look great though!!

sarahg09

April 15, 2010

thats strange cause usually the lipo on the flanks can be done same time as TT. i was offered with my tt which was included in the price but i refused to have the lipo. you should get a second opinion.

ymmomof1

April 16, 2010

I would definitely go and see a few different doctors and get a few different opinions before you get any procedure done because liposuction to the hips and flanks is a very common procedure to have done at the same time as abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). Also, I had a vertical scar and horizontal scar from both tummy tucks and it is not something that you should want or desire.... the horizontal scar is necessary to have across your pelvis/hips/lower tummy because that is where they pull all of the loose skin and cut it out.. the vertical scar, however, is sometimes unavoidable because their may not be enough loose skin to stretch your old belly button all the way down to cut it out, so then the doctor would have to make a vertical incision. I am guessing that what you need (if you have loose skin also on your hips) is what they call an 'extended tummy tuck' where they would extend the scar further on your hips. Make sure you see the doctors before and after pictures and that the after belly buttons look good and the horizontal scar is as low as possible. :)

brittany88

April 16, 2010

I would get a second opinion. I had lipo with my tummy tuck and I love it! It makes a really big difference. My PS told me that waiting to do it after could cause extra skin on the sides and then needing a slight revision later to remove the extra skin. I love the way my flanks look now. I'm really happy I did it. I would recommend having it done the same time as your TT though. Most doctors do combine.

Angie_M

April 19, 2010

I agree. It's pretty common to get lipo concurrently with a tummy tuck. You may want to talk to your surgeon about this or seek another opinion.

destin

April 16, 2010

Wow! Thank yall so much for all the helpful info! I am so glad I came across this website. Yall are gonna help me so much!

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