An Honest, Highly Skilled Surgeon You Can TRUST!

This review is extremely long and detailed, but I know how helpful reviews were when I was researching a plastic surgeon, so I wanted to try to help someone else who was on the fence looking into a possible surgery!
A little over one year ago I had a “mommy makeover” (abdominoplasty and breast augmentation) with Dr. Rahban. I had wanted to get one ever since I had my fourth child. With my other three kids, my body seemed to bounce back fairly quickly, but after my youngest, it was a different story. He was born at 30 weeks and had to have surgery at 3 months, then was in and out of the hospital for his first few years. Once my son was in the clear and healthier, I started to focus on “me” again. But even after consistently exercising 5 times a week and eating healthy, I couldn’t seem to get my flat stomach back.
Because I was smaller-chested, my stomach seemed to protrude further than my breasts, which made it look like I was pregnant.  One day, in a Pilates class, my instructor had me flex my abs and had me feel the gap—she told me I had diastasis recti, which was the result of carrying multiple babies. But no matter how how many classes I took, nothing seemed to make a difference. Once, in a Zumba class, a woman asked me when I was due. I was so incredibly mortified!  A few years later, I was on a walk with my mom and an acquaintance I hadn’t seen in several years stopped to chat ahd commented, “So you’re having another baby?” With tears in my eyes, not knowing how to respond, I said “No, I just kind of have a belly, I guess, and I’m kind of bloated today”. As my mom and I walked away, I started crying and said “I want to get a tummy tuck. I’m
sick of always trying to hold my stomach in, scared someone is going to ask if I’m pregnant.”  
So I started my research, which lasted a couple years. There wasn’t a plastic surgeon I had come across, living in Chicago, that I felt confident letting perform surgery on me. I knew this was a major surgery, and I had never even been in the hospital besides when I had my kids. Then one day in my researching, I came across Dr. Rahban.  When I looked at his website and gallery, I was blown away. He had so many pictures, and the results were amazing. It was the first time I saw a tummy tuck where the scar didn’t look scary, the belly button looked SO natural, and the difference from before to after was remarkable. And the breast gallery was stunning as well. Instead of fake-looking breasts, I saw natural, beautiful breasts. I read every single piece of information on Dr. Rahban’s site and watched all the informational videos. Then I found his podcast, “Plastic Surgery Uncensored”. I highly recommend it if you are considering any type of plastic surgery!  Dr. Rahban is extremely informative and candid. I listened to every single episode and soaked in the knowledge. I had finally found a plastic surgeon in whom I felt 100% confident. I just had to save some more money and figure out how I could make the trip to LA possible, as I would have to stay for 2 weeks after my surgery. 
Almost a year later, I finally had a plan in place…my parents were going to come out and stay with me in an Airbnb, and my amazing husband would take care of our four kids. Just as I was 2 weeks away in March, COVID hit. I ended up having to reschedule twice and delay my surgery. I also had to adjust my plans. I no longer felt comfortable having my parents travel due to the COVID situation, so my AMAZING friend volunteered to join me and take care of me.
I faced a couple more challenges, but finally I was on the plane heading to CA and my dream was going to become a reality!! I stayed at a hotel right by the surgery center—I actually walked with my suitcase to the center the morning of my procedure as my friend couldn’t come until after my procedure. I highly recommend staying at the aftercare facility (Serenity) for two nights!  It was extremely helpful learning how to take care of my drains, having delicious, healthy food made for you, and having help getting in and out of bed, etc. 
The first two nights are the hardest, but it’s more uncomfortable and less painful. I also recommend getting the Experol shot. It lasts for the first 48 hours or so and really alleviates the pain. After my two nights at Serenity, my friend picked me up and we stayed at a hotel in Santa Monica for two nights until our Airbnb was available. I used a rolling desk chair to help me get around the room and I rested/slept a lot! I was amazed how much better and stronger I felt each day!!  By the time we went to our condo, I was able to walk fairly upright and get in and out of a car on my own. We got my bed all set up with pillows and a table/chair next to the bed to help me lean on to get out of bed. We had a deck overlooking the ocean and we would sit out there talking all day! I thought I was going to be in the hurt locker in bed most of the time there, but I was feeling great!  We even went out for lunch and dinner outside one day. 
After one week, I had a visit with Dr. Rahban, and he took out my drains, taped me, and had me fitted with a binder. I couldn’t believe how amazing I looked already! There was hardly any swelling or bruising! It felt great to take a shower, and the binder made me feel secure. After two weeks, I had my next checkup and the rest of my stitches were taken out. I was thrilled with my results and progress so far! I felt so grateful I had found Dr. Rahban. He truly cares for his patients, he is forthright, and he will only perform surgery on you if he feels he will achieve amazing results. That is why you can be confident and put your trust in him. He is so worth any cost or trip, because you will have the BEST results, and it will be done correctly, thoroughly, and beautifully. In surgery, Dr. Rahban closes his patients himself, instead of using someone else to do that job. He is meticulous, and his scars look unbelievably amazing. When he does a breast augmentation he tries out different implants during surgery until he has just the right one, using photographs you select with him, instead of just generically picking a cc amount. I could go on and on!! Just know that you are in the BEST, most skilled hands. He is a perfectionist and he is truly an ARTIST. Not only that, but he is a kind and caring person with values. In my opinion, the best plastic surgeon is one who is skilled, meticulous, kind, honest, and truly an artist—that is Dr, Rady Rahban!
One year out, I couldn’t be more happy with my results. My husband always jokes that it is like I went back in time! I feel confident and wear clothes I haven’t been able to wear in years. And no more sucking in my stomach all the time, nervous someone will ask if I’m pregnant! It’s very freeing and life-changing. I did it for ME, and that feels great! Thank you, Dr. Rahban!! I will forever be grateful I found you!