Insult to Injury and a Bad Result

Several years ago, I went in for a consultation with another doctor, who said that with a full tummy tuck, he could remove my stretch marks. I did not have adequate financing at that time and had since moved, so I did not go back to that surgeon. Dr. Johns was recommended to me by a friend. She had a great result, so I went to him. Initially, the staff was friendly and helpful. I wanted to have multiple surgeries performed, as I had loose skin, from significant weight loss and childbearing. I only wanted to go under anesthesia once and Dr. Johns was willing to do them at the same time. The Tummy Tuck was the most major of the surgeries. We did have a "hiccup" over another area in consultation. In hindsight, I should have paid more attention to his bedside manner then, because I felt embarrassed and ashamed, nothing anyone should feel in a doctor's office.

Surgery day came and went off without a hitch. Dr. Johns was professional and came across as warm and caring. Everything seemed fine, except I was really groggy and dizzy on anesthesia, so I spent the first night in the hospital. I would recommend a medi-spa type place to others for an overnight stay, because hospital nurses can be rude towards plastic surgery patients, if they are the judgemental sort, and they were. Dr. Johns did come to the hospital the next day before my release. He changed my bandages himself and showed me exactly how and where to wear the surgical binder. He seemed pleased with his work, although I had seen nothing yet.

A few days later, when I saw my tummy for the first time, my heart sank. I still had stretch marks below the belly button, as well as not being flat, and I knew that skin was going to give, later on. I had much healing to do though, so I shrugged it off and hoped for the best. Unfortunately that day was the best my tummy ever looked, post surgery, even with drains still in. My first follow up appointment was fine, although it was mostly focused on the other surgery. The nurse did see how I was wearing the surgical binder, and it was fine.

Soon after, I developed a seroma above my belly button. I called immediately and was seen that day. I knew by the look on the nurse's face that this really was not good, and that my result was compromised. -She immediately blamed it on me, stating, "You must have been wearing the binder too low." Positioning of the binder had been checked twice already, once by her, and originally by Dr. Johns. I know I did it right; this was not a difficult thing. When asking him "Why?" Dr. Johns, the first time, said something to me about "the slope of your chest" in response. The next time I saw him, I asked about the "slope of my chest" but he didn't remember saying that. He then said, "We used to get them (seromas) a lot until we learned that quilting stitch. I don't know why yours happened." -I did appreciate that answer, as I felt it was honest.

I went in regularly to have the seroma aspirated, each time getting a new lecture from the nurse about "Crazy patients, who complain about their surgeries" and how it is always the patient's fault. She even violated a preceding patient's privacy, at the Monroeville office, with one of these stories. I heard all about "These girls who go to Krispy Kreme, KFC, Pizza, gain 10, sometimes even 20 lbs., then come in and say their 'tummy tuck didn't take.'" I began to realize then that she was on offense, running interference for Dr. Johns and playing "bad cop," so he could be the nice guy. I continued to go in for aspiration, and continued hearing all of this nonsense, until there was no more fluid that could be drained. It still looked terrible. Dr. Johns assured me that "a little lipo would take care of it." I did not see how that was possible, but what choice did I have? This was now April and he didn't have an available date until July. I then had to reschedule that one, do to a family emergency, and could not get another appointment until December, one whole year post-surgery.

During this entire time, I was in "Swell Hell." My abdomen was so swollen all of the time and I felt terrible. It still swells at night sometimes. I was unable to exercise, at even a modest level, for months later. I mentioned it to Dr. Johns and the nurse several times, who said nothing about it, just nodded. When I went in for that lipo to take care of the seroma, it became obvious to me that Dr. Johns, and his staff were "over" me. He made some motion toward my abdomen and said "The stretch marks were supposed to be going this way." When I asked for an explanation, he gave me a shrug off motion and instructed me to get on the table. I'm not sure what that was about. At this time I asked what could be done about my lower abdomen, as it still was not flat and, when not swollen, the skin was still loose. A sharp "nothing lower" was his response.

He performed the liposuction manually (a brutal procedure to go though awake, BTW). I must say he is very strong. He must have bothered a nerve during this procedure, as I had nerve pain, with a quick gag/vomit response, especially in the mornings (less swelling) in my abdomen, for months afterwards. Because of how I had been talked to, I didn't go back again. I am hyper-sensitive and I was intimidated. I feel as though they had already decided they had done enough for me, even though my result was bad-looking and in obvious need of correction. For whatever reason, I feel this was blamed on me instead, unfairly.

I am a woman of modest means. I scrounged and saved for this and I'm still paying for the portion I financed. I will be for some time. I have never, ever, worn a bikini or shown my belly. As a trainer, I was hoping to be confident enough to wear 2 pieces to workout in and show some mid-drift. These were my motivation for having this surgery, as my muscles were already strong before we started. As a whole, my abdomen is unsightly. I still have the seroma, and now I have tell-tale lipo scars on my upper abdomen too. My lower abdomen is still not flat, even though I am much fitter now than I was post-surgery. -It never was, except for sucking in. A year and a half later, I still have a small bump under the skin along the scar, which festers from time to time. The skin is loose both top and bottom. I can not show upper or lower. It looks inhuman, at times. Sometimes I get questioned about it in dressing rooms, which confirms for me how weird this looks. I learned I am not alone with the seroma from Dr. Johns, as their are others. I hesitated to share my story for a while, as part of me is still very intimidated and hurt, while the other part was hoping for a better ending.