POSTED UNDER Liposuction REVIEWS
Liposuction abdominal (Liposcuplt E/X with skin removal from lower belly)
ORIGINAL POST
Liposuction abdominal (Liposcuplt E/X with skin removal from lower belly)
Makeawish1220August 11, 2018
$8,000
Hi everyone,
I am writing this review in hopes that it will help someone else on their journey knowing that prior to my surgery I did a ton of reading on here and it helped me. Also I could not find any reviews on here about the procedure I was having done (there are a ton about liposuction but not many on lipo with skin removal). The skin removal is not a tummy tuck!
I am a small girl (5’1 and 135lbs) but every since I had a kid (she’s 8 now) I have this large belly (fat) with a hanging pouch. So getting rid of this is something I’ve always wanted. I went for several consultants with various plastic surgeons and they each told me there was nothing then can do without a full tummy tuck. I did not want to do a TT in case I wanted more kids one day and also the recovery time for that is much much longer. So I called sonobello in Hanover MD.
Went in for my initial consult and it’s really a sales pitch. You don’t meet the doctor, but the sales lady was rather nice (everyone in the office is quite nice). I didn’t really care for how they handle the sales consultation but in a way I am happy with it because if they did not do it that way I would have left the office that day and never made a commitment to do. I signed to do full abdominal (upper, lower and flanks on each side) I found it odd you don’t meet any of the dr until the pre-op visit.
DAY OF PRE OP: this day I finally meet the dr. He’s nice not overly personable but I tend to over chat when I’m nervous. He explains the procedure to me and then takes a look. He immediately told me that I can do the lipo just fine but I will have excess skin and in order to achieve the look I want I would have to remove it. I knew I wasn’t going to achieve a flat belly but anything was better than what I currently had but I figured I should do the skin removal. Of course this is an additional cost so that is why I said I wish that at Sonobello you have an opportunity to meet the dr first so you can prepare for these things. I was now faced with paying an additional $3000 to removed the skin which I wish I would have known in advance to better prepare. Anyhow I signed to do it and paid the money upfront.
DAY OF SURGERY: well after having terrible anxiety all week it was finally surgery day. Prior to the day they tell you to drink lots of fluids, take arnica three times and day and wash with antibacterial soap right before going in. Also you should have picked up your prescription meds before hand and just keep them at home.
Ok so I went in, they make you sign some things (you will need to have a driver and a 24 hour care giver and they will have to sign papers as well). Then they take your vitals and give you a nice cocktail of all sorts of pills including oxycodeine for the pain and Xanax for your anxiety as you are awake during the entire procedure. Now it was go time. I went into the surgery room they prep you and then onto the table you go. The dr was playing some music etc. nurse was super nice and comforting. The procedure started around 10am. To be completely honest I didn’t really feel a thing. Nothing hurt it was not painful at all which I was terrified apart before hand. A few moments of discomfort, but really not much. I was also in and out of sleep for much of it. I woke up around the time he was doing the skin removal. That also did not hurt but I felt a few pokes of his needle as he was doing it. Other than that it was easy breezy. The nurse helps you get back dressed and down to the car. I felt great immediately afterwards it was most likely due to the Xanax and the lidocaine (numbing solution) but I felt great just tired. I could feel any sensation in my abdominal area. Stopped and picked up something to eat on the way home and everything which I was surprised how functional I was immediately after the procedure. Also minimal drainage but there definitely was a good amount. The drainage was mainly coming out of my back area (lower flanks right above my butt). I was able to see the fat canisters and it was two completely full ones and a quarter of a third. They said for someone my size that was a lot! (I will share pics one I get them).
FEW HOURS LATER: at the point where the lidocaine it was hell. Thank god for my friend and for helping me or else I would not have been able to make it. I needed to change the pads as they were getting soaked. They wrap you in a tight compression binder so she helped me remove that and put new pads on but blood colored saline was gushing out. I did not have any leakage from the front because those holes got removed with the excess skin. Anyhow it was sooooo painful was the pain meds wore off. As I was standing there changing my pads I was feeling so much pain (scale 1-10, is give it a 9), I was also starting to feel nauseous. So we got the pads changed as quickly as possible (which the pads the nurse put on t the time were taped on and it was hard to get off and change them). Anyhow once that was finished I took my OxyContin and went back to lie down. At this point I was so scared that the same pain would come back that I decided to take it every 3 hours instead of 4 to help prevent getting to that point.
What I was really upset about was that my friend was worried about the drainage and wanted to speak to someone at sonobello but the emergency number they provided was some corporate number and they asked her information and told her someone will call her back, no one day! Also they told me as I was leaving that the dr will call me later in the evening to check on me. I needed to know if I can switch off between the OxyContin and Tylenol because for the oxy the prescription in had about 10 pills, I wanted to see if I could get more because the pain was so bad or if I could switch off between Oxy and Tylenol every few hours. He also did not call until almost 10pm (my surgery was at 10am!!). Anyhow once the dr did call he told me to double up on the Oxy and i wouldn’t need more pills because I will start to feel much better by tomorrow. He said to double the Oxy to two at night so I can sleep and if switch to the Tylenol during the day save the Oxy to get through the nights. He said I do not need to wake up to take it, if I happen to get up on my own then it’s fine. All of my pain was centralized around my mid section (from right below my boobs to just above my belly button). I was surprised because the skin removal has not bothered me at all, and that was the part I was most worried about! So I ate a piece of toast, some crackers, and apple sauce popped two Oxy and slept through until about 3am. As I am writing this my pain level has gone significantly (1-10, I’m about a 4 it’s more discomfort than anything else right now). So stay on your pain meds and double them up if you have to. They say you’re suppose to walk for 10 min every 2 hours, I didn’t because I was in a lot of main and nausea was kicking in. I think I will try and walk more today or the next. Honestly toughest part is getting in and out of bed. Once I get up from the bed I literally feel like everything moving downwards. I guess whatever solution is still in me is moving with gravity. Not a real painful experience but definitely uncomfortable.
SKIN EXCISION: I wanted to be sure to write something around this because I couldn’t find any reviews. During the procedure this didn’t really hurt at all (only a few pinches when as he was doing the stitches) I started to move and say ouch a bit and the nurse came over and held my hand which was so nice of her. After that the dr said I was finished which I felt like it went super quick but in reality I think the total time was a little less than 3 hours. The dr said my skin was on the table and asked if I wanted to see it lol. I declined but once I was dressed and leaving the operating room I saw it on the table. The nurse took a pic and said I will get those later (not sure what to do with that lol). I’m really curious to see how big the scar is.
Well I will post pics soon. My before and after for everyone to get an idea. I was just in so much pain yesterday that I couldn’t bare standing so forget taking pics so look out for that.
I am writing this review in hopes that it will help someone else on their journey knowing that prior to my surgery I did a ton of reading on here and it helped me. Also I could not find any reviews on here about the procedure I was having done (there are a ton about liposuction but not many on lipo with skin removal). The skin removal is not a tummy tuck!
I am a small girl (5’1 and 135lbs) but every since I had a kid (she’s 8 now) I have this large belly (fat) with a hanging pouch. So getting rid of this is something I’ve always wanted. I went for several consultants with various plastic surgeons and they each told me there was nothing then can do without a full tummy tuck. I did not want to do a TT in case I wanted more kids one day and also the recovery time for that is much much longer. So I called sonobello in Hanover MD.
Went in for my initial consult and it’s really a sales pitch. You don’t meet the doctor, but the sales lady was rather nice (everyone in the office is quite nice). I didn’t really care for how they handle the sales consultation but in a way I am happy with it because if they did not do it that way I would have left the office that day and never made a commitment to do. I signed to do full abdominal (upper, lower and flanks on each side) I found it odd you don’t meet any of the dr until the pre-op visit.
DAY OF PRE OP: this day I finally meet the dr. He’s nice not overly personable but I tend to over chat when I’m nervous. He explains the procedure to me and then takes a look. He immediately told me that I can do the lipo just fine but I will have excess skin and in order to achieve the look I want I would have to remove it. I knew I wasn’t going to achieve a flat belly but anything was better than what I currently had but I figured I should do the skin removal. Of course this is an additional cost so that is why I said I wish that at Sonobello you have an opportunity to meet the dr first so you can prepare for these things. I was now faced with paying an additional $3000 to removed the skin which I wish I would have known in advance to better prepare. Anyhow I signed to do it and paid the money upfront.
DAY OF SURGERY: well after having terrible anxiety all week it was finally surgery day. Prior to the day they tell you to drink lots of fluids, take arnica three times and day and wash with antibacterial soap right before going in. Also you should have picked up your prescription meds before hand and just keep them at home.
Ok so I went in, they make you sign some things (you will need to have a driver and a 24 hour care giver and they will have to sign papers as well). Then they take your vitals and give you a nice cocktail of all sorts of pills including oxycodeine for the pain and Xanax for your anxiety as you are awake during the entire procedure. Now it was go time. I went into the surgery room they prep you and then onto the table you go. The dr was playing some music etc. nurse was super nice and comforting. The procedure started around 10am. To be completely honest I didn’t really feel a thing. Nothing hurt it was not painful at all which I was terrified apart before hand. A few moments of discomfort, but really not much. I was also in and out of sleep for much of it. I woke up around the time he was doing the skin removal. That also did not hurt but I felt a few pokes of his needle as he was doing it. Other than that it was easy breezy. The nurse helps you get back dressed and down to the car. I felt great immediately afterwards it was most likely due to the Xanax and the lidocaine (numbing solution) but I felt great just tired. I could feel any sensation in my abdominal area. Stopped and picked up something to eat on the way home and everything which I was surprised how functional I was immediately after the procedure. Also minimal drainage but there definitely was a good amount. The drainage was mainly coming out of my back area (lower flanks right above my butt). I was able to see the fat canisters and it was two completely full ones and a quarter of a third. They said for someone my size that was a lot! (I will share pics one I get them).
FEW HOURS LATER: at the point where the lidocaine it was hell. Thank god for my friend and for helping me or else I would not have been able to make it. I needed to change the pads as they were getting soaked. They wrap you in a tight compression binder so she helped me remove that and put new pads on but blood colored saline was gushing out. I did not have any leakage from the front because those holes got removed with the excess skin. Anyhow it was sooooo painful was the pain meds wore off. As I was standing there changing my pads I was feeling so much pain (scale 1-10, is give it a 9), I was also starting to feel nauseous. So we got the pads changed as quickly as possible (which the pads the nurse put on t the time were taped on and it was hard to get off and change them). Anyhow once that was finished I took my OxyContin and went back to lie down. At this point I was so scared that the same pain would come back that I decided to take it every 3 hours instead of 4 to help prevent getting to that point.
What I was really upset about was that my friend was worried about the drainage and wanted to speak to someone at sonobello but the emergency number they provided was some corporate number and they asked her information and told her someone will call her back, no one day! Also they told me as I was leaving that the dr will call me later in the evening to check on me. I needed to know if I can switch off between the OxyContin and Tylenol because for the oxy the prescription in had about 10 pills, I wanted to see if I could get more because the pain was so bad or if I could switch off between Oxy and Tylenol every few hours. He also did not call until almost 10pm (my surgery was at 10am!!). Anyhow once the dr did call he told me to double up on the Oxy and i wouldn’t need more pills because I will start to feel much better by tomorrow. He said to double the Oxy to two at night so I can sleep and if switch to the Tylenol during the day save the Oxy to get through the nights. He said I do not need to wake up to take it, if I happen to get up on my own then it’s fine. All of my pain was centralized around my mid section (from right below my boobs to just above my belly button). I was surprised because the skin removal has not bothered me at all, and that was the part I was most worried about! So I ate a piece of toast, some crackers, and apple sauce popped two Oxy and slept through until about 3am. As I am writing this my pain level has gone significantly (1-10, I’m about a 4 it’s more discomfort than anything else right now). So stay on your pain meds and double them up if you have to. They say you’re suppose to walk for 10 min every 2 hours, I didn’t because I was in a lot of main and nausea was kicking in. I think I will try and walk more today or the next. Honestly toughest part is getting in and out of bed. Once I get up from the bed I literally feel like everything moving downwards. I guess whatever solution is still in me is moving with gravity. Not a real painful experience but definitely uncomfortable.
SKIN EXCISION: I wanted to be sure to write something around this because I couldn’t find any reviews. During the procedure this didn’t really hurt at all (only a few pinches when as he was doing the stitches) I started to move and say ouch a bit and the nurse came over and held my hand which was so nice of her. After that the dr said I was finished which I felt like it went super quick but in reality I think the total time was a little less than 3 hours. The dr said my skin was on the table and asked if I wanted to see it lol. I declined but once I was dressed and leaving the operating room I saw it on the table. The nurse took a pic and said I will get those later (not sure what to do with that lol). I’m really curious to see how big the scar is.
Well I will post pics soon. My before and after for everyone to get an idea. I was just in so much pain yesterday that I couldn’t bare standing so forget taking pics so look out for that.
UPDATED FROM Makeawish1220
2 days post
3 day post op
Makeawish1220August 12, 2018
So my friend came over to help me change out my bandages today. I unfortunately got my period last night so that is just making a mess of things. Pain is still quite a bit. Like I said the incision sites or the stitches where the skin removal was done does not hurt at all, just the surrounding areas where he stuck the tube and sucked the fat out. The incision is low on my back close to my butt but my middle back hurts and above my belly button hurts the most. Stay on your pain meds. I wish he would have given me more OxyContin because that’s the only thing seeming to help with the pain. Once those kick in I feel great.
I haven’t showered yet because the incision sites still seem open although there is no bleeding or drainage. I will try and shower tomorrow.
I also haven’t changed to my stage 2 garment yet because I’m waiting until I am able to shower and the incision sites close up all the way. Also because I am on my period the wrap only goes around my abdomen so I am able to use the bathroom and change my pad etc easier then the other garment which I would have to latch every time in the crotch area.
I don’t have any instructions on care of the stitches area. It’s tapped down pretty good so I am going to leave it the way it is until my 1 week post op and have them remove the tape and see how it’s healing.
I was able to take some pics so here is night before vs. 3 day post op.
I haven’t showered yet because the incision sites still seem open although there is no bleeding or drainage. I will try and shower tomorrow.
I also haven’t changed to my stage 2 garment yet because I’m waiting until I am able to shower and the incision sites close up all the way. Also because I am on my period the wrap only goes around my abdomen so I am able to use the bathroom and change my pad etc easier then the other garment which I would have to latch every time in the crotch area.
I don’t have any instructions on care of the stitches area. It’s tapped down pretty good so I am going to leave it the way it is until my 1 week post op and have them remove the tape and see how it’s healing.
I was able to take some pics so here is night before vs. 3 day post op.
Replies (0)
Replies (7)
August 16, 2018
I think you look great! I went in for lipo and e/x but the dr was not able to do the e/x because I was bleeding too much and my iron was so low so now I have to go back for that. Are you back at work? Or feel you could go back to work?
August 16, 2018
Hi! Thank you so much! Today was day 5 and I did go back to work. I’m still in pain but it’s mainly soreness from the lipo. I’m taking Advil every few hours for that. I mainly feel tightness in my abdomen. Did you experience that? I am hoping that goes away in time. When will you return for your E/x procedure?
August 16, 2018
I also went back to work on day 5. Although if I wouldn’t have overdone it day after surgery I think I could have gone back at day 3. I was sore after sitting for an extended period. And would like have to warm up to walk normally. I didn’t tell anyone at work what I was doing with my time off so I tried to play it off as best as I could. I go back at the end of September to see if the dr thinks I will be okay to do the e/x
August 16, 2018
Lol same here! I didn’t tell anyone at work so I faked like I hurt my back at the gym over the weekend which is why I was moving slow Lol. Are you seeing the results you wanted? I was worried I was going to look drastically different but no one really noticed I look slimmer but I did hide it under a loose dress so we will see how that goes. I’m happy with it so far and I’m figuring it can only get better as time goes on. When did you stop feeling the pain? I know what you mean, it’s hard to go from one position to the other (sitting to standing) and I’m walking really slow. I’m worried about how long this painful soreness will last
August 16, 2018
I would say I don’t feel pain unless my son pushes on it or I drop something and have to pick it up. I would say it’s been like that since about day 9. I am no longer walking slow or getting up weird.
I am mostly happy with my results so far I think some days look better than others tho which is weird but whatever. My stomach is just super hard at the bottom only. Which is weird.
I too thought people would notice and at first was a little upset nobody did LOL.
I am mostly happy with my results so far I think some days look better than others tho which is weird but whatever. My stomach is just super hard at the bottom only. Which is weird.
I too thought people would notice and at first was a little upset nobody did LOL.
August 16, 2018
Wow thank you so much! You’ve been really helpful and supportive for me during this process. It’s nice to chat with people who have gone through the same/similar thing at the same time. I appreciate your responses. Let’s keep in touch and share progress if you like. I have my 1 week post op on Saturday. Maybe we can share fit tips on making sure we don’t gain any of the fat back in other areas (I’m really worried about this) and I can’t wait to get back in the gym! Hoping I get the all clear to lift weights right at 6 weeks. But thank you so much again! I’ll keep sharing pics as my progress comes along and I’ll look out for yours.
August 16, 2018
Of course! I can’t wait to hear how your post op appt goes. I heard in a YouTube video from a girl who went to Sono Bello that her dr said at 3 months you see about 70% of your results. So hopefully both of our results just continue to get better and hopefully your pain and stiffness goes away in the next few days!
Replies (4)