Liposuction Revision and Fat Grafting

I came to Dr. Svehlak after seeing, and paying for, liposuction revision consultations with board certified and highly regarded surgeons in multiple states. I needed a liposuction revision and fat grafting to repair a badly botched procedure done by a board certified surgeon in Portland, Oregon. Originally, I was one of those “ideal candidates” as the Oregon surgeon stated—fit, active, healthy, and at my ideal weight. The procedure was minor, just a tiny bit of fat off my outer thigh in one small spot. But the surgeon messed up and left me with a large crater in one thigh and a series of long liposuction marks where there had been smooth skin. The incision scars, which should have been the width of a pinky fingernail at the longest, were 1.5 inches long in a few places and quite visible. Every other surgeon who looked at the work was convinced the work had been done by a non-board certified surgeon. When I told them who it was, a board-certified Harvard medical school graduate, they were stunned.
The original surgeon agreed to correct it as even he could plainly see, and was forced to admit, it was not a good outcome. I sought second opinions from other surgeons who stated they couldn’t imagine how this particular correction could go wrong and didn’t see great risk, and they also felt he should correct his own work. I nervously agreed. The Oregon surgeon’s corrective procedure was where it really went wrong. He left me with huge horizontal depressions in my buttocks (which had been fine before) and my buttocks dropped and there were large creases at the bottom of my buttocks as well. He went outside the scope of what we had discussed, took fat from places he shouldn’t have, threw it away when it wasn’t needed as he took far too much. He took all of my fat out of one area, leaving me with skin against bone. It was shocking.
I lived with this for several years. It was a shameful secret. I felt ashamed that I had even had it done in the first place, ashamed and stupid that I chose such a horrible surgeon—and I let him work on me TWICE! I didn’t feel confident, attractive . . . basically, I felt damaged. I felt that I had betrayed myself and my body, not just once, but twice. The regret was heavy, and I couldn’t seem to escape it. My primary care physician, a woman, supported me and felt I should attempt to have it repaired. Living with the damage was hard as I had to be reminded of what this surgeon had done to me every single day. I needed to try to have it repaired and to be able to feel a sense of restoration.
I was terrified to trust anyone, and I was disheartened because other surgeons didn’t have the skill, or they recommended radical procedures. One thought the only way to lift my buttocks back up would be with implants. That was definitely not an option, as it was too risky in my opinion, and I’d always had a perky bum until the Oregon surgeon damaged it. The last thing I would ever have needed were implants. And you can’t trust what you think—one of the surgeons on a current cosmetic surgery revision television show significantly botched a procedure on an actress. Just because a person gives advice on television, or has good reviews, or is voted top doctor isn’t enough to earn your trust. This review isn’t enough on its own, either. But hopefully it will be enough to motivate you do extensive homework, meet with at least three surgeons, and to make Dr. Svehlak one of those surgeons.
I had read about Dr. Svehlak and what he had achieved and I knew that I needed to save the money and make the time to go meet with him. When the day finally arrived, two years after I had decided I would save up to go to him, I arrived at Dr. Svehlak’s office in Los Angeles. Right away, I knew my search was over.
If any of you reading this are thinking of liposuction and/or fat grafting to any part of your body, or a liposuction revision, it is worth flying across the world to see him because you only have one body. Dr. Svehlak does what other top rated surgeons cannot do. He stands virtually alone in the skill it takes to perform highly complicated revisions, and can certainly do stunningly beautiful liposuction and fat grafting if you are fortunate enough to choose him for your initial procedure. He won’t make a mistake. Bodies handle procedures differently, but Dr. Svehlak is highly experienced in how bodies respond to liposuction and fat grafting and he knows how to get the best outcome and will advise you of what he can realistically achieve.
He had to take fat from places other surgeons weren’t skilled enough to take it from—and you can’t tell he ever touched me. The scars are tiny and are disappearing, and there is no flaw in his liposuction, even from inner thighs and arms. I’m not a big girl and the original surgeon took a lot of my fat unnecessarily—throwing it away (I was awake for the procedure.) There wasn’t a lot of fat left on my body, but Dr. Svehlak carefully and precisely took the fat he needed, and 7 months later what should have remained, has remained. I waited to write this review so that I could speak to the outcome after several months and to what his work has done for my self esteem. I feel comfortable in my own skin again. I don’t look in a mirror over and over and obsess about what was damaged and how to wear something to hide it.
Dr. Svehlak also added some fat to my breasts and relocated one areola to solve a breast issue that was getting worse as I aged. Other surgeons offered far more drastic and more expensive options. But Dr. Svehlak’s approach shows his immense skill and his focus on the patient. My breasts look wonderful and the scar is invisible. The fact that he could find enough fat to do this as well and do it brilliantly speaks to his capabilities. He seeks the simplest, least invasive solution to an issue that will also produce the best result. One of the most striking things about his personality is his quiet confidence and humility—he is focused on you and achieving the optimal outcome, and he knows his strengths and has the confidence of an extremely talented, highly disciplined surgeon. He lacks the fatal flaw of too many other surgeons—the Oregon surgeon, for one. This fatal flaw is that they seem to think that if they’ve been good enough to obtain the Harvard degree and to pass their board certification, this gives them the right to know what is best for you, what they think you need.
Dr. Svehlak is rare in that he works on being the best at what he does simply because that is what he owes to his patients, and to himself as a professional. He is not trying to impress anyone or toot his own horn. Achieving the best outcome for you, one that will help improve your confidence and restore your peace of mind is of the highest importance to him. You realize quickly that you are in the safest and most skilled hands you could possibly be in. His staff are also kind and supportive. I was alone in L.A. and they went out of their way to ensure I was comfortable and cared for. They arranged for a nurse to go to my accommodations and stay with me for the first few hours to help me keep costs down and even provided extra bedding so my drains wouldn’t leak on the bedding in my accommodation. He partners with the best surgical facility and anesthesiologists—all were highly skilled, meticulous in their procedures, and warm and professional as well.
From the initial consultation, which I flew in for, to every interaction since, Dr. Svehlak listened carefully, asked important questions, got extremely clear on what the issues were—what I felt and what he could feel and observe in my body—and mapped out a highly detailed plan. You know exactly what is going to happen and what to expect. He is very clear about what he can do and what is realistic to achieve . . . and he achieves it! My revision procedure took between 4-5 hours and it was extremely detailed with many parts of my body involved in order to complete the repairs. Nothing went wrong—nothing! And in the hands of a lesser surgeon, so much could have, and, I am absolutely sure, would have.
Again, if this review achieves anything, I hope it is to inspire you to do your research, and include a consultation with Dr. Svehlak if you are considering any procedure, but especially one that involves revision, or initial liposuction or fat grafting. You have one body—treat it with care!