POSTED UNDER Tummy Tuck REVIEWS
Tummy Tuck /Brazilian Butt/Lipo on Body and Neck- became infected seroma on TT
ORIGINAL POST
I am almost 3 months post-op. I'm happy the tummy...
vtoupinSeptember 18, 2016
WORTH IT$17,000
I am almost 3 months post-op. I'm happy the tummy tuck but it is not completely even. On the upper part of my stomach it slightly bulges more on the right and the lower stomach it bulges slightly more on the left...don't know why??? I asked about it after 2 weeks post-op and the nurse said it was even just after surgery while I was on the table...so no concrete answer was given to explain why. I hope that in 1 yr it will even out but not sure. The butt is ok, but I naturally have a really big butt and I simply wanted to change the shape (make it more curvey and less square) not get a bigger butt. I also pushed for more lipo on my thighs before surgery and Dr Macias was resistant ( so that disappointed me) as I was dreaming about going down at least one pant size. Despite the TT/BBL and lipo I am still wearing the same size clothes. My stomach does look good! He also did a great job on the neck lipo. However people I know did not remark a change when they saw me after 2 months, I did not tell them what I did. A few have said, after I asked if I look different, they said I appear to have a flatter stomach and my face area looks fresher. So that was fine for me. The operation is a huge deal and you'll need a lot of help from others after it is done (so don't under estimate it) you need to take a month off of work, seriously. It took 2 months for me to recover to about 70% energy level, almost 3 months to be 85%. I could not stand straight for 7 weeks. It is a long recovery perhaps because I'm 53 yrs old. Overall, I satisfied by the TT and Neck Lipo, a bit less with the BBL and lipo on legs.
Replies (5)

September 20, 2016
I think it should even out more as time goes on. I am 7 weeks post op and I have unevenness on my tummy as well. I still consider this swell hell even though it's not near as bad as it was in the beginning. I've seen pics of others on here where they look similar to me at 7/8 weeks, but by 6 months look amazing and flat with most swelling gone. So that's what keeps me going. The recovery time has been so long! Everything that was told to me was a complete understatement prior to my surgery. Perhaps that was on purpose? LOL. Good luck and happy healing! Keep the pics coming! It's good to see the before and after...so that you can see the difference and appreciate the improvements. :)
September 20, 2016
Thanks tummygone78, my bulges have not changed since week 2 and I'm going on week 8 next week. You are right about the recovery instructions from the surgery center, a big UNDERSTATEMENT, if I knew....I wonder if I would have done it...yes I think I would have because I had a little luck. As I live 13 hrs away by plane from California, If I hadn't been in a hospital type place for the first 2 days and had the help of an old friend who is an RN (who flew to California from Florida to take care of me) to help me the first week I would have NEVER EVER have gotten by alone. Simply because you are really helpless the first week after a surgery like that. I had to struggle with carrying luggage, get food somehow, change hotels etc...I could not even carry my purse. This kind of procedure needs to be done close to home with a dedicated friend or family member willing to help you non-stop for a least a week or 2. It cost me an arm & leg to stay in hotels in S.California for 3 weeks plus the surgery. This was not included in the price I quoted above. I paid that big ticket price to get a top surgeon and Dr Macias frankly did a good job. I am hoping all will be perfect in 6 mos-1 yrs time. Thanks for your support and encouraging words tummygone78 :-)))

September 20, 2016
My pleasure! I agree completely. If I didn't have my husband helping me non-stop the first 2 weeks, I'm not sure I could've done it. I was completely helpless (which I absolutely hate that feeling). I couldn't even walk around the house for more than 5 minutes without being exhausted and out of breathe and in so much pain. I'm not sure how some of these women are feeling great at 5 days post op. I'm thinking there must be something wrong with me (wimp?). Up until around week 5, I kept saying I wasn't sure I would do it again...but since then, I'm in a little bit of a better emotional state, and when I look down my "fat rolls" are gone. It may not be as flat as I'd like yet, however, a huge improvement from what I was. I'll just say that I'm happy I did it. lol
UPDATED FROM vtoupin
2 months post
Thanks for the Amen!
vtoupinSeptember 20, 2016
Hello Yaadie, your comments are very constructive, encouraging and positive. It is really hard for me to do good selfies. I'll see if I can add a better one (or more) as you suggested. Otherwise, thanks again for your Florida sunshine, I'll take that. XOX
Replies (0)
UPDATED FROM vtoupin
3 months post
Seroma became infected and had to have emergency surgery locally
vtoupinOctober 27, 2016
Hello everybody, I knew the unevenness was not normal. Shortly after my last post on RS, I started to get a high fever and redness spread over my the seroma area I wrote to you all about on the bottom left side of my stomach. Then I had 4 days of pain in my stomach accompanied by high fever then went to the emergency ward of a local hospital on a Sunday. I was put on lite morphine for pain and had to wait the next day to see the cosmetic surgery specialists (they work M-F during the week). At the end, I had to have an full blown surgery with general anesthesia in order to open my seroma (via the TT incision) to disinfect and drain it. They opened 3/4 of my existing incision. A real pain in the butt. All this because I stupidly chose to get the surgery done far away from where I live and did not have proper follow-up post-op. Please take this as a lesson learned. Basically after 1 week post-op I saw the seroma but it was not taken seriously & dismissed by the medical office as many of you did in your replies to my post. The big problem in general is the doctors are willing to spend more time with you pre-op then post-op, they don't take the time to spend with you unless you scream for it. They'll pass you off to their nurses as they are too busy. Anyhow, I am too bummed to continue to go on about it. The idea is, when paying big bucks, do not let an uneven and asymmetrical result go by with out pushing for immediate answers. Seromas happen about 5% of the time. My doctor did a very good TT job, it is the follow-ups that I'm not happy with (I had only 2 - the day after surgery and then 2 weeks post-op) and during my last visit before returning back to where I live (13 hrs away by plane). He did not bother to come and see me, he sent his nurse and she dismissed the seroma as normal swelling and said after the surgery (while on the table) my stomach was flat. Well 3 months later, I paid for that dismissal. Take heed to be very careful post-op.
Replies (12)

October 31, 2016
Sorry to hear, and very good advice.
November 1, 2016
yes Ladies, I am sorry to say that quite a few PS's downplay post-op complications. I am still laying on back dealing with this issue. In the USA, they say only 1% get seromas. I had to have my follow-up done, where I live most of the year in Europe, her they said between (3-5%). That number seems more realistic, anyhow seromas, (I think) are not the fault of the PS, it is the patient case by case. However, if you get one - attention and focus is in order to nip it in the bud. Don't let it get infected over time (the area is a bit warmer than the rest of your body). What to look for? - slightly raised bumps, lumps and the lack of symmetry of your new flat tummy. Good luck and don't worry, they are relatively rare. Thanks

November 1, 2016
Sorry to hear that. I had my TT done on Wednesday and I never saw or heard from my doctor after that. I read about his great bedside manners but I did not experience it. Post op is very important. I have one with him on Thursday and I will make sure the attention they I deserve is given to me. I hope your TT is now fantastic and healthy:-)

November 1, 2016
I haven't had my surgery as of yet but it's a little scared that they don't give you the attention that is needed after, that being said they probably do so many that they allow their staff to answer all your questions
November 2, 2016
@Vixenmartine, good luck with your post op visit on thursday as you certainly deserve all the necessary attention during this very delicate post op phase. @Susieqtt, don't be afraid , because your stomach will look great afterwards and this will make you happy, just be vigilant on anything that seems not normal post op and demand to see the doctor during your appointments if you have any questions as he may not show up because his nurses are good but when there is a problem, don't settle for a nurse's answer as they are just not as competent to answer hard questions like irregularities. Sometimes as women we settle & prefer to be sweet and polite instead of demanding answers. However, we can be dismissed if we are seen as weak. So we need to evolve and firming show, that after spending a ton of money we deserve to have a high level of follow-up attention. @Susieqtt Good luck with your TT .
October 31, 2016
Thanks for your honesty! I had my tummy done a little over a week ago. I've read about seromas. I will definitely pay close attention!

November 1, 2016
You would think if it was uneven the nurse would have paged the doctor. It could have been a number of complications. It shouldn't have taken a trip to the ER to investigate what was going on. What if it had been a blood clot?!

November 3, 2016
Blood Clots don't manifest in that way. They usually show-up as a pain in your calf. For me the unevenness was focused on the belly and you are right she should have called him but I think he was busy with a another patient - just not there - I should have insisted. :-( Thanks Pixiepyro

November 3, 2016
Actually, I am a nurse and I would have paged the doctor immediately for unevenness. Blood clots can form in the calves, thighs, abdomen. You are right- usually calves. Anyways, it wasn't your job to insist. You had just had surgery and weren't 100%.
November 13, 2016
Glad things turned out ok for you, it sounds pretty awful. I agree with you about the follow up, I myself am 4 days post op from a full TT revision. This time around I used a different surgeon. When he opened me he found 2 old seromas that he had to surgically excise. Guess those bulges I complained to my first surgeon about weren't just swelling or fat deposits after all. I feel they dismiss your concerns and just appease you by saying its normal or will get better in time. Lesson learned for this girl the hard way, demand to be heard and have your concerns thoroughly listened to. Good luck in your healing and I hope your results will turn out great.
November 14, 2016
Well the new drain opening is healing in a lumpy bumpy way. The new surgeon said I could come back in 6 months and they'll fix that unsightly seroma scar. I am not looking forward to another surgery but will have to do it because it is not flat and is sunken in. :-( Thanks again and good luck for your TT revision recovery.
For instance, your uneveness or tummy bulges are pretty common I would say. It's hard to see in your photo, but I had the same issue and others who have had the same TT procedure. The office staff will give vague answers. I have experienced the same and so have many others, no matter the which Surgeon we had!
They complements you are looking for and deserve are in the mirror and here on RS.
You are the Preacher and we are your Amen crowd!
Exercise will help to better sculpt your body makeover, bring you positive energy to make you really love what you see in the mirror and give you longer days to show off your assets ;)
Post up babes, and you won't have to ask anyone of they've noticed any changes, they will be going out of their way to tell you, because you will radiate magnificence!
Happy healing