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Provider Review
This was just about the dumbest decision I ever made. It's been over 1 yr since my BBL surgery w/Dr. Mendieta, and I have NO RESULTS, or should I say negative results. I was a very healthy eater and fit, however I gained approximately 10 lb and stopped working out as instructed by the doc so that he could transfer fat to my hips & butt. He put 500 cc in each hip and buttock for a total of 2,000 cc. I maintained the weight for a long time so that I could keep any results. Quite simply, It didn't work. He had to lipo all over my body to get enough fat, which was very painful and led to a torturous, protracted recovery. He said the post-op pain should be around a 6/10. I and all the patients in the office agreed it was a 10/10. I would say for the first 3 mo after surgery, the results look dramatic (this is probably when he photographs patients). After 6-8 mo, the results are marginal. I would say my body held on to 15% of the grafted fat, not the 60-70% he touts. He failed to give the coveted hourglass shape this procedure promises. My body was not bad to begin with. I had a booty, it was just obscured by the muffin top I developed after having 2 kids. Additionally, Dr. Mendieta lipo'd me unevenly - he took off more from my entire right side than my left - so now I'm actually less symmetrical than pre surgery. The lipo on my inner thighs is lumpy and I have darkening of the skin. He left a bulging pocket of fat on the left side of my abdomen. Quite puzzlingly, he injected a lump of fat on my lower left thigh (I have no idea why he put it there - it's nowhere near my butt or hips), which he said at my post-op would go away. It seems that since he knows the hips don't retain the fat, he injects into the thighs instead, but this of course does not give a true hourglass shape- it gives you saddlebags. Too add insult too injury, I have many obvious scars from surgery I am self-conscious about. And where was he and his staff during the aftermath? MIA. You will not get any rectification for your concerns. I tried many times to contact his office and they gave me the run around. Once they have your money, game over. You're nothing to them. You might get a lame "sorry you don't like your results." Sorry not sorry. This was not the result I was hoping for, or that I invested a great deal of time, money, pain and suffering to get. At the very least I thought the lipo would make a marked improvement, but evidently not. Dr. Mendieta seemed sure he could deliver a great result and he was extremely pleased w/how surgery went. I followed aftercare instructions to a T, however the surgery has not benefited me in any appreciable manner, and for that I am beyond disappointed. I did a lot of research prior to surgery but could not find any long term results on thin people who gained weight for a bbl. To sum up, gaining weight for a bbl did not work for me. Dr. Mendieta's lipo and fat grafting technique were subpar. All I did was set myself back health wise by gaining weight on purpose and cutting down on activity. I am now back to my former healthy lifestyle and usual, lighter weight. However, my body is won't be gracing the cover of any magazines. You live and learn.