I had 8 kilos of skin and tissue removed

I've lost 140 lbs. over the past two years thanks to gastric sleeve surgery, so I'm literally half the size I was. I am so happy that I've finally reached — and surpassed — my goal weight (and have kept it off), but the remaining sagging skin around my stomach, hips, butt, and thighs made it difficult to really enjoy my new body. I've been a competitive powerlifter and avid Pilates student for over a decade, but most of my muscle was hidden under the loose skin.

I started looking at cosmetic surgery options about one year into my weight loss. I initially looked at surgeons in my area but was disappointed in all of the "after" photos that looked like hack jobs at best. So, I started looking for the best surgeons nationwide and came across Dr. Bernard Shuster in Hollywood, Florida.

Dr. Shuster specializes in working with bariatric patients, and I was instantly blown away by the results on his website. Soon after I had my virtual consultation with Dr. Shuster and his patient coordinator, Christy. Both were extremely personable, kind, and made me feel at ease — not something I've experienced with other surgeons. I'm not from Florida, but I am familiar with the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood/Miami area, which made it even easier to book my surgery with Dr. Shuster.

I had two procedures on October 30, 2023: a brachioplasty (upper arm lift) and lower body lift. I'm focusing on the lower body lift for this review.

I had my first in-person appointment with Dr. Shuster and Tami, his awesome nurse, on October 27. They went over everything to expect, along with setting expectations for what he'd do on the day of surgery. Tami and the rest of the team were extremely clear and detailed with everything I needed to do beforehand from the day I signed up for surgery, which continued in person.

My surgery went off without a hitch. I arrived at the hospital early that morning and Dr. Shuster met with me to go over things again and mark my body for surgery. My next memory was waking up afterward. I was in some pain, but it was more of a dull, odd feeling rather than extreme pain (which is probably thanks to all the powerful pain medications I received during and after the procedure. I was up and walking just a few hours later.

I stayed in the hospital for two days as a precaution, and the nurses who took care of me were extremely kind and tended to me quickly. Dr. Shuster came both days to see me. While this should be the norm, I've heard many stories from people who didn't see their doctors after the procedure.

I had 8 kilos of skin and tissue removed.

I stayed in Florida for three weeks after my surgery and had four follow-up visits with Dr. Shuster and his team, which was way more than I expected (but really appreciated). One appointment was a few days after surgery, the second was to remove my drains, and the third and fourth were to check me over before I returned home. I never once felt rushed, or like they didn't care about my well-being, which is so appreciated.

I'm returning to Dr. Shuster for an inner thigh lift and breast lift/augmentation in spring 2024, and I cannot wait to see how that turns out. If you're considering Dr. Shuster, do yourself a favor and book your surgery. He might not be the cheapest option out there, but you only get one body — and his work is 1000% worth the expense.