POSTED UNDER Mini Tummy Tuck Reviews
My stomach protrudes from 2 inches above my belly button
ORIGINAL POST
I Had a Different Experience Than Most
In February 2021, a co-worker of mine had a mommy makeover (tummy tuck and breast implants) with Dr. Azad. I was so impressed with her results video, I immediately booked a consultation.
I have had 2 C-sections, one in 2007 and one in 2010. For years I wanted to repair my loose skin and appearance of my stomach but being of middle income, for many years it was out of reach for me. So once I was able to, I jumped on the opportunity.
I was very impressed with the office and staff and the Dr. himself during my consultation. I went in and was expecting to need a larger scale of work than what he suggested, saving me money and recovery time. A mini tummy tuck without muscle repair, liposuction of the full back and sides and a fat transfer to my breasts. A full tummy tuck would’ve required an additional vertical scar and we agreed he would not operate on my umbilical hernia. I was sold and I signed on the dotted line.
Shortly after this was when things took a turn for me however, I will still onboard. I started doing a lot of research on my particular body type and issues, I started to question whether a mini tummy tuck would resolve my issues. I expressed these concerns on several appointments leading up and while halfway out the door, he would reassure me we were on the right track. The cracks continue to show from here. I attended an appointment leading up to my procedure where I felt uncomfortable in regard to the areas the dr. was discussing. I later asked the medical assistant, Linda, to send me my files, and she sent me another patient’s information. Which explained why the Dr. was not referencing the correct body parts in that appointment.
My next negative experience was with the garments. I was sent to do this offsite, it was very confusing and expensive. Not very much was explained to me. Later, I saw on Dr. Azad’s social media, a patient was transitioning into their next, tighter garment. It was never explained to me that there were progressions to the garments. If I had a second stage garment, I was never told. If I was supposed to get one, I didn’t know. Would it have made a difference in my results, who knows?
So fast forward to my surgery date, during this time Dr. Azad was using Goldfinger Aesthetics Surgery Center in Lake Mary. This is the part my husband and I refer to as the “bait and switch”. His version is below. This was not a nice place in a not nice area. Far different from his office space. I was already on Ativan, so at the time, I wasn’t too concerned. My 1pm procedure did not start until 4pm. Honestly, he had a difficult patient. I didn’t mind too much but I was anxious. They came to get me, put me out and that was that. I woke up around 9pm and Dr. Azad was giving my husband instructions and his Personal cell phone # and also let me know that he did do a lower muscle repair when he saw if was needed. (Bonus!) Shortly after, in the alley behind the surgery center, use your imagination, I was deposited into my husband’s car and went home.
Husband’s account of surgery center: I was immediately surprised and uncomfortable with the “strip mall” we found ourselves in. We entered and found a (semi-professional looking) waiting room that reminded me of a Chinese restaurant entrance. Due to an “unruly patient” we were delayed for several hours. This was after my wife had been fasting since the previous night. When she was finally called back at around 4pm (appointment arrival time was at 11am) I was told to wait for a phone call. I received absolutely no update until I finally received a call at around 9pm. I returned to the “surgery center” and waited in the (empty) dark lobby for someone to come out. After some time I was surprised find Dr. Azad had come out to greet me. He advised me that the procedure went perfectly without any issues. He said that my wife still recovering from the anesthesia and should be ready for me to come see her shortly. He gave me some hurried instructions that (I guess) I didn’t fully hear (probably because we started this process at around 8am and it was now around 10pm) and I was led beyond the lobby to the “surgical area”. I am in the healthcare field and immediately noticed (even though I was exhausted) how dirty the back was. It was rundown looking and did not have anything like a “clean and sterile” feel. I believe there was one nurse still there caring for my wife. Eventually we moved my wife out the back door into an alley behind the strip mall that smelled like garbage.
As for the staff…The nurse caring for my wife was very nice and so was the Dr. They seemed knowledgeable and I didn’t get too much of a rushed feeling from them, even though it was so late. The Dr. personally helped me get my wife into the car. He gave me his cell phone # and asked me to call him if there were any issues. This was consistent with what I had found with Dr. Azad and his staff during all the interactions I had with him at his office. His office was clean and nice. He was always kind and answered all of the questions we had.
Back to me. Back at home, I proceeded to sleep until sometime in the middle of the night. When I finally needed to get up to go to the restroom, the right side of my body, the liposuction site on my right buttock, was spewing out fluid at a rapid rate, there were blood like stains all over the white compression socks, that I was wearing. And this is when I passed out momentarily with my husband and my mom holding me up. This leakage continued for about a day or two and that site was extremely painful and slow to heal. Not complaining about this. But it was unexpected so therefore part of the negative experience.
My only issues during recovery time were mainly that the foam blocks used immediately after my surgery, that were covered in fluid and disgusting, were reused over and over for a week and a half.
My immediate results were impressive , I will say. But as I attended my November, December and January appointments, I expressed my concerns about the fact that my tummy still protrudes and not just a small amount. Each time, this was addressed differently. 1 time he said, maybe my upper muscles needed repair (I asked a million times if I needed a full tummy tuck to obtain the results I wanted), one time it was mentioned it could be my hernia. I finally gave up, it was a vast improvement even though it was not the perfection I was expecting and decided to be happy and move on after my 9 month appointment.
Now, As the time is now rolling around to my 12 month appointment next week, I do not want to go back for my final appointment. I have watched the social media for these few months. I have seen the way other patients are presented, the before and afters and I realize that I know and they know that I am not a brag-worthy success story. I was never included in a video or any before and after photos. I actually had to ask for mine and Linda put them together and sent them to my email. My 1 year results are that with all the fat removed, I did see a change in my figure and the way my clothes fit. There is no fat to pinch. I have the signature low scar and the contour lines which are nice, however, my stomach protrudes from 2 inches above my belly button and rounds from there. My breast results were as he described.
I decided I would write an honest review. Since apparently my experience was very different from many others. My husband reached out to Dr. Azad to let him know this review was coming and he has reached out several times, however, I am unwilling to subject myself to further surgery, which is his only recourse to resolve my issues. This was a 1 time deal for me and I believe I have been fair in sharing the good and the bad of the entire experience.
I have had 2 C-sections, one in 2007 and one in 2010. For years I wanted to repair my loose skin and appearance of my stomach but being of middle income, for many years it was out of reach for me. So once I was able to, I jumped on the opportunity.
I was very impressed with the office and staff and the Dr. himself during my consultation. I went in and was expecting to need a larger scale of work than what he suggested, saving me money and recovery time. A mini tummy tuck without muscle repair, liposuction of the full back and sides and a fat transfer to my breasts. A full tummy tuck would’ve required an additional vertical scar and we agreed he would not operate on my umbilical hernia. I was sold and I signed on the dotted line.
Shortly after this was when things took a turn for me however, I will still onboard. I started doing a lot of research on my particular body type and issues, I started to question whether a mini tummy tuck would resolve my issues. I expressed these concerns on several appointments leading up and while halfway out the door, he would reassure me we were on the right track. The cracks continue to show from here. I attended an appointment leading up to my procedure where I felt uncomfortable in regard to the areas the dr. was discussing. I later asked the medical assistant, Linda, to send me my files, and she sent me another patient’s information. Which explained why the Dr. was not referencing the correct body parts in that appointment.
My next negative experience was with the garments. I was sent to do this offsite, it was very confusing and expensive. Not very much was explained to me. Later, I saw on Dr. Azad’s social media, a patient was transitioning into their next, tighter garment. It was never explained to me that there were progressions to the garments. If I had a second stage garment, I was never told. If I was supposed to get one, I didn’t know. Would it have made a difference in my results, who knows?
So fast forward to my surgery date, during this time Dr. Azad was using Goldfinger Aesthetics Surgery Center in Lake Mary. This is the part my husband and I refer to as the “bait and switch”. His version is below. This was not a nice place in a not nice area. Far different from his office space. I was already on Ativan, so at the time, I wasn’t too concerned. My 1pm procedure did not start until 4pm. Honestly, he had a difficult patient. I didn’t mind too much but I was anxious. They came to get me, put me out and that was that. I woke up around 9pm and Dr. Azad was giving my husband instructions and his Personal cell phone # and also let me know that he did do a lower muscle repair when he saw if was needed. (Bonus!) Shortly after, in the alley behind the surgery center, use your imagination, I was deposited into my husband’s car and went home.
Husband’s account of surgery center: I was immediately surprised and uncomfortable with the “strip mall” we found ourselves in. We entered and found a (semi-professional looking) waiting room that reminded me of a Chinese restaurant entrance. Due to an “unruly patient” we were delayed for several hours. This was after my wife had been fasting since the previous night. When she was finally called back at around 4pm (appointment arrival time was at 11am) I was told to wait for a phone call. I received absolutely no update until I finally received a call at around 9pm. I returned to the “surgery center” and waited in the (empty) dark lobby for someone to come out. After some time I was surprised find Dr. Azad had come out to greet me. He advised me that the procedure went perfectly without any issues. He said that my wife still recovering from the anesthesia and should be ready for me to come see her shortly. He gave me some hurried instructions that (I guess) I didn’t fully hear (probably because we started this process at around 8am and it was now around 10pm) and I was led beyond the lobby to the “surgical area”. I am in the healthcare field and immediately noticed (even though I was exhausted) how dirty the back was. It was rundown looking and did not have anything like a “clean and sterile” feel. I believe there was one nurse still there caring for my wife. Eventually we moved my wife out the back door into an alley behind the strip mall that smelled like garbage.
As for the staff…The nurse caring for my wife was very nice and so was the Dr. They seemed knowledgeable and I didn’t get too much of a rushed feeling from them, even though it was so late. The Dr. personally helped me get my wife into the car. He gave me his cell phone # and asked me to call him if there were any issues. This was consistent with what I had found with Dr. Azad and his staff during all the interactions I had with him at his office. His office was clean and nice. He was always kind and answered all of the questions we had.
Back to me. Back at home, I proceeded to sleep until sometime in the middle of the night. When I finally needed to get up to go to the restroom, the right side of my body, the liposuction site on my right buttock, was spewing out fluid at a rapid rate, there were blood like stains all over the white compression socks, that I was wearing. And this is when I passed out momentarily with my husband and my mom holding me up. This leakage continued for about a day or two and that site was extremely painful and slow to heal. Not complaining about this. But it was unexpected so therefore part of the negative experience.
My only issues during recovery time were mainly that the foam blocks used immediately after my surgery, that were covered in fluid and disgusting, were reused over and over for a week and a half.
My immediate results were impressive , I will say. But as I attended my November, December and January appointments, I expressed my concerns about the fact that my tummy still protrudes and not just a small amount. Each time, this was addressed differently. 1 time he said, maybe my upper muscles needed repair (I asked a million times if I needed a full tummy tuck to obtain the results I wanted), one time it was mentioned it could be my hernia. I finally gave up, it was a vast improvement even though it was not the perfection I was expecting and decided to be happy and move on after my 9 month appointment.
Now, As the time is now rolling around to my 12 month appointment next week, I do not want to go back for my final appointment. I have watched the social media for these few months. I have seen the way other patients are presented, the before and afters and I realize that I know and they know that I am not a brag-worthy success story. I was never included in a video or any before and after photos. I actually had to ask for mine and Linda put them together and sent them to my email. My 1 year results are that with all the fat removed, I did see a change in my figure and the way my clothes fit. There is no fat to pinch. I have the signature low scar and the contour lines which are nice, however, my stomach protrudes from 2 inches above my belly button and rounds from there. My breast results were as he described.
I decided I would write an honest review. Since apparently my experience was very different from many others. My husband reached out to Dr. Azad to let him know this review was coming and he has reached out several times, however, I am unwilling to subject myself to further surgery, which is his only recourse to resolve my issues. This was a 1 time deal for me and I believe I have been fair in sharing the good and the bad of the entire experience.
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