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One more observation on cost
2 years later, updates, revisions, and reflections
While the surgery was totally worth it, I have to admit that I wish that my recovery were smoother. Looking back, I do not believe that the pain was managed well. I have had multiple c-sections, and this was far more painful, with a more intense recovery time. I wish that I had been given proper medication to deal with the pain. In reading other TT reviews, I feel that the recovery and pain was poorly managed by my surgeon, and could have been easily solved with a change or increase in medication. I also believe that the recovery was made more difficult by the constant, required office visits every couple of days, which is very unusual in comparison to other reviews. Also in comparison to other reviews, my dressing, girdle and compression, as dictated by my doctor, were quite unusual, and caused a lumpy/creased area on my left hip. In following my surgeon's requirements, I was in drains longer, and also was unable to bathe for longer (approximately 3 weeks) than patients of other doctors. My doctor also didn't want to treat my scar, so I'm now having to address that through another PS.
I ended up in compression garments for over a year after the surgery, in part due to a bulging mons pubis that I was told would "go down." It did not. I knew that my surgeon would want to perform lipo, but I didn't want to go back under the knife--especially after already having two surgeries within 6 months as recommended by the surgeon--and was unsure why there was such a severe jump from my flat stomach to my pubic area in the first place. I have opted to have non-surgical procedures to reduce the fat in that area (and plan to write about that procedure as well, as time allots).
The frequent office follow ups, every couple of days, seemed at first to be somehow for my benefit, but I suspect that they were more for the interests of my surgeon than for my welfare. Mostly, I was undressed and redressed within a 10 minute period, told I looked fine, and sent home. If I questioned something, I was told it was no big deal (my scar, the swelling), or I was told that it was likely my own fault (the crease in my side, the pain I was suffering). Upon one of my last visits to the surgeon, I requested a doctor's note exempting me from weekly video conference meetings (the details are minute and boring, but I was uncomfortable being on camera). To be honest, I only asked because she was a doctor that I was regularly seeing, and said as much when I made the request. Instead of just saying "no, I'm not comfortable writing you a note of that nature," she decided to lecture me--on my own job, of which she knows nothing. When you are in pain, in a vulnerable situation, and asking for something that could be easily given, it's difficult to walk away from the situation feeling good about the outcome. I had been pretty laid back about most things, but insulting my intelligence is uncalled for. My advice is to look for a doctor who's office is not operating on a shoestring, and also has access to/is knowledgeable of more modern procedures. With the cumulative procedures that I am having done, I'm ending up spending a small fortune, anyway.
Also, and I'm not sure if anyone of my cohorts is still experiencing this, but my torso/stomach is numb. Even two years later, I have no feeling in my abdomen. It's as if the nerves have been severed, and I don't think that they will ever heal. I don't regret having this surgery, but I do wish that I had known of the possibility that I would lose all sensation just below my rib cage to just above the scar.
I hope that this review helps someone to make appropriate decisions given their situations, and that someone finds the information in these posts helpful.
Drains, Depression and the Lack of Bathing are Taxing Me
Because my drains are still in, I have not yet truly showered or bathed. I'm not allowed to shower with the drains in because of the risk of infection at the drain site.
Not being able to take baths will be hard enough, because it's one of the simple pleasures that I truly enjoy in life. But not even being able to shower is making me feel very depressed. How am I supposed to greet the world each day when I have no idea about my hygiene? This "French bathing" stuff is for the birds. Am I just too sensitive?
I have survived a 10 days post-op that included getting my period, blinding back pain, leaking drain sites, limited narcotics and bowel movements. But somehow what's breaking me is the inability to bathe. And I want to cry. I'm still wearing the thigh-high compression socks that they sent me home in 10 days ago.
Thank god I've been changing my underwear and pajamas.
I have yet to even wear real clothes because of these ******* drains and their tubing and apparatus.
In lighter news, I have spent the majority of the weekend pretty much laying still. Carol, the doctor's assistant, said the less active I am, the more likely I would be to get my drains out this coming week. And it is true. The less I move the less fluid drains. So that's something, right?
Also, even though I have STILL yet to really see the results of the procedure in a mirror, they look pretty good under the compression garments and the binder. Like a fetish doll, or something--thin waist and round hips.
Provider Review
BOTTOM LINE: She is a good bargain in some areas, and runs on a shoestring, but expect that you'll have to finish what is started by visiting other surgeons with more modern options. PLUSES: Usually personable. Dr. Kramer approaches her patients with honest criticism and she is very experienced. She is very thorough when critiquing the area of the body in question. I have trusted her experience and insight. Her staff are very supportive, and being women and mothers themselves, they really understand patients who come to them not out of vanity, but out of desire to feel more comfortable in their skin. Dr. Kramer does give you a LOT of information, but does not right anything down, and rarely gives written material. Her results are good, but need a lot of tweaking. MINUSES: Her procedures and techniques tend to be "old fashioned," and during recovery you are required to repeatedly visit her office far more frequently and in shorter intervals than other surgeons. While this might seem like a plus, I feel it's actually done more to protect her interests than for the welfare of the patient. Also, she gives a lot of information verbally and quickly, but tends not repeat or to supply written information/instruction for care, which I suspect is also done to protect her interests. Because her techniques and procedures are somewhat antiquated, I have had to seek other options outside her practice to revise/correct and tweak procedures begun in her office. While she is often personable, she can be unnecessarily stern, especially if your opinion differs from hers. She will lecture you about issues unrelated to cosmetic surgery as if you are uneducated--even if you, too, have multiple advanced degrees. BOTTOM LINE: She is a good bargain in some areas, and runs on a shoestring, but expect that you'll have to finish what is started by visiting other surgeons with more modern options.