POSTED UNDER Tummy Tuck Reviews
Full Tummy Tuck, Age 49, 165 Lbs
UPDATED FROM de3wcfan
8 months post
Eight months post op
WORTH IT$5,500
I am eight months post op now. Still happy with the tummy but increasingly more unhappy with the hips. It’s clear at this point I’m either going to have to live with it or go back in and have some lipo or something to flatten my sides to match my stomach. It is not just swelling as I was originally told. It would have saved money to have done that at the time of the tummy tuck surgery rather than having to now pay another full price to have a separate procedure. If you are having a tummy tuck definitely ask about lipo to go with it to better contour the waist.
de3wcfan's provider
UPDATED FROM de3wcfan
5 months post
Five months post op
Thought I would add some pictures at five months post op. Everything is about the same. The area of the love handles never fully went down so it wasn’t swelling. It’s just fat that was left behind. I’m either going to have to live with it or go back in for lipo on the hips. Other than that I’m still lovin’ it!!
Replies (5)
January 27, 2020
Wow you look great! Thank you for sharing. I am only two weeks post-op.
January 27, 2020
Thank you! I remember two weeks post op very well. The worst is over and it should be getting better day by day for you. I pray you have a great recovery and love the results. I’m thankful every day.
January 27, 2020
I had initially looked at Dr. Ratliff to do a tummy tuck for me, but this is the way all of his patients come out looking...with the dog ears. You still look great but he needs to learn how to add a contour to a woman's waistline
January 28, 2020
I had used Dr. Ratliff for a previous procedure several years ago with an excellent result. That’s why I went back. I agree 100% on contouring the waist. I specifically asked him about lipo before my surgery. His nurse said he doesn’t use lipo but shaves off the fat. He told me he could go so far on my sides but I would still have fat left on my back. That I was expecting but not right there on my sides. The incision is right there below both of those areas on my hips so I don’t understand why that wasn’t handled better. If that area needed lipo then he should have offered it. That’s the only part I’m disappointed with. Every other part of the procedure went flawlessly.
April 12, 2020
No. The only thing he offered was a scar revision but not for free. I’m going to post new pictures now 8 months out. Dog ears as you called them are getting worse I feel like.
April 12, 2020
I had a tummy tuck a year ago from him. He didn’t lipo but shaved a chunk of fat off and it is really noticeable and looks weird. I really liked him but I want it fixed. My mons is also weird and looks like I have a cup. I was told by the receptionist that it happens and to wait until I’m all healed and he can take a look at it and we can go from there. I’m healed now but I can’t go up there because of covid-19. I was just wondering what all he would do to fix things and how much. My tummy tuck was $7,300 so I paid a lot for this. What all did he tell you?
April 12, 2020
I specifically asked about lipo before my surgery and was told he didn’t do lipo, that he shaved off the fat. Sounds like what you’re talking about. When I asked at my last app which was 8 weeks post op about the love handles and why they were still there he said it was swelling and that as you reach the edge of the incision you can’t take out as much fat around that area. So wouldn’t that be a reason to do the lipo? I would think so. The only thing he said to me was he could do a scar revision if I didn’t like the center of my scar but I would have to wait about nine months before it would be ready to cut out. And it wouldn’t be something he would do free. I had asked about lipo to my inner thighs. He said BodyTite is what he would recommend and he could do the scar revision at the same time. Cost for that? Another $4,200!! I am thinking I’ll go back in towards the end of summer which would be about the nine month mark and get a cost for the BodyTite on the hips as well but I don’t look for him to offer doing anything for free. A reduced price would be great but I’m not holding my breath.
April 13, 2020
I wouldn't go back, period. If you query him here on real self, this is always the way his patients look. For some strange reason, he doesn't like doing the lipo. Personally, if you're going to pay that much money, you should be given some lipo to make the waist/hip area look natural. I have been looking for someone I could afford for over a year, but I saw that all of his patients looked the same...all had these bulges on the side, and even tho' he was cheaper, I decided to pay more for a job I would love. Good luck to you. Please keep us informed and look around. Most of the surgeons, I have seen on RS are affordable in TX.
April 15, 2020
he should have also told you to lose weight first. alot of women do these procedures expecting to be transformed looking like a barbie but surgery should not be used for weight loss. I do agree that the surgeon should have done alot more lipo
UPDATED FROM de3wcfan
3 months post
Before and After Photos
I finally got the before and after photos from the doctor’s office. You can still see part of the scab in the center part of the scar. After these pictures were taken the doctor pulled that scab off. I would have done that myself before the pictures were taken but he had told me not to pick the scabs, to just let them come off on their own. It’s crazy looking at these pictures and seeing how big I really was!
Replies (3)
November 24, 2019
Wow! What a great result! How is your swelling now?
November 24, 2019
Thank you! I don’t really notice any swelling anymore. I think everything is pretty much the way it’s going to be. Still have pain if I try to use my stomach muscles. I don’t see any sit-ups in my future any time soon. How are you doing now?
November 24, 2019
It's wonderful you don't have any swelling! You look nice and flat. I can't do very intense ab workouts yet. I'm hoping soon though. I'm doing well. No pain, but still a lot of swelling.
November 24, 2019
Hi just wanted to say that you look great! I’m recovering as I write this to you from my hernia and repair to make my bellybutton smaller. Plus I had fat grading done to my face. So far I feel great. My face is swollen still and bruised. I’ll check back on you!
November 25, 2019
Thank you! It’s definitely a long process. Still have pain a lot between my belly button and my incision if I try to do something I’m apparently not ready to do yet, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. Hope you recover quickly! Appreciate your comments.
Replies (5)