Pleased with my results - would recommend this cosmetic surgeon

I originally found Dr. Mowlavi (Dr. M/Dr. Laguna) via RealSelf. I was looking for a Dr. to perform one of the newer FDA approved treatments for cellulite. I have had what I thought was cellulite since I was 13. Banana rolls began to form sometime in my late 20s or early 30s. I have always been active and nutrition focused, but my mother also has very bad cellulite, which makes me believe it is partially hereditary. I feel extremely uncomfortable whenever I wear shorts, which is why it was very important to find a Dr. that could solve the issues with the back of my thighs. To top this off I had a cosmetic surgeon lipo my inner thighs approximately 10 years ago, leaving them uneven, and deformed (one had a indentation that looked like someone took a bite out of my inner thigh, on one side). My first appointment with Dr. M was virtual. At first he comes off a little bit larger than life, which can be a bit intimidating, but as you get to know him he is actually very nice and down-to-earth. He immediately told me it was not cellulite, the FDA cellulite treatments would not work on me, and what I needed was a lateral thigh and butt lift---this would solve my problems. He also said we could do some v. lipo and renuvion/jplasma on my abdomen to create or expose my abs, something he referred to as etching (I asked him if he thought I needed a tummy tuck and he said no). We could then put the fat into my indented inner thigh to fix the issue left by the other surgeon. I was a bit skeptical about inserting the fat into my indented thigh because another cosmetic surgeon (not the one who caused the indent) had already tried this (fat grafting) multiple times without success. My second, follow-up, consult was also virtual. At this time we discussed breast augmentation revision to go bigger with add upperpole fullness and projection (I had old implants that did not fit my figure well); v. lipo/renuvion of the triceps/middle and upper back areas (to tighten lax skin above and below the bra line); plus the lateral thigh and butt lift, with the addition of fat grafting to the butt, and the lipo/renuvion of the inner thighs; plus the fat grafting for the indentation. At this point I still had to think about everything because it was a lot to process, considering I came to him for a simple cellulite treatment. I ultimately scheduled the surgery with James, an AWESOME staff memeber and Jack of all trades, after dicussing with my family because we decided this was what I needed to correct the "cellulite" and banana rolls on the back of my thighs; plus, my indented inner thigh; and ultimately feel comfortable wearing shorts for the first time in a very long time. I scheduled my 1st in-person visit, which was also my pre-op; however, the day I came in with my family for this appointment, was also a "Botox day," and the office was extremely chaotic. I was never told to change into a gown once my family and I were put into a private room, which meant I was still in my clothes when the Dr. came into see me. I had to pull my shirt/bra off and pull my spandex leggings down above my knees. We discussed what was discussed virtually once again, with one change--instead of v. lipo and renuvion of the abdomen the Dr. decided I needed a full tummy tuck because my bands were loose (something he could not see virtually). The skin on my abdomen was also a bit too lax from pregnancy, which meant renuvion would not work. I had to get a surgery checkup, blood work, ekg, x-ray, etc. prior to surgery, to make sure I was healthy and it would be safe to proceed with the surgery (I really appreciate this extra step taken for my safety and the Dr.'s liability). Surgery day finally came. I also really appreaciate that the surgery center is in the same building as the office--very convenient. However, the recovery home (Trinity's Cottage), which I had to spend one 24 hour period in was not "down the street." The office and surgery center are in Laguna and the recovery home is in Costa Mesa. My first nurse at the recovery home was extremely attentive (I really liked her attentiveness despite still being heavily sedated). My only critique is that she touched everything with her bare hands/finger tips from my straw to my medication (I hope her hands were sanitary/clean); and instead of giving me a clear liquid diet she gave me very thick smoothies to start off with, which ultimately induced vomiting (and vomiting after a tummy tuck hurts badly). My second nurse (for the night shift) was unresponsive when I continuously called her for help to go to the restroom. She said my voice was too faint to hear through the System in the ceiling (I was still sedated from the anastesia, which effected my voice). She also said she kept checking on the wrong/other patient when she thought she heard something. After she finally tended to my need to use the restroom she assistetd me back into my recliner. She reclined me completely straight (laying me flat) and I could feel my abdomen pulling. I asked her if I was supposed to be laying flat and she replied that I was not flat because I had a pillow under my neck and a pillow under my legs (not even close to the flexed position I should have been in). Once I became more awake (sometime after she left the room) I fumbled around until I located the recliner remote and put myself into a flexed position. For months after this incident I worried that my Tummy Tuck results would be ruined from being laid flat and stretching out my abdomen, but there does not appear to be any damage at this time. Needless to say I was not happy with the second nurse and the lack of proper care. The owner of the recovery home is extremely nice and caring but she isn't there 24/7. The next morning I was back at Dr. M's office for my 1st lymphatic massage with Theresa. Theresa gives the BEST massages ever. She is extremely caring, helpful, and kind--you will love her. She is my favorite person in the entire office. Half of my massages were with Theresa and the other half with Victoria. Victoria is extremely nice and caring (and beautiful), as well, but Theresa gives much better massages (and does a better job wrapping you back up) because she has a ton of experience. I had 9 lymphatic massages in total. I wish they had been spread out over a pattern of every other day or every couple of days, instead of daily because it was a long drive to and from the office from my home and I would have rather been home resting/sleeping. Once the swelling/fluid went down and my bruising went away I could really start to see my results (I am currently 3 months post-op, as I write this). At 5 weeks post-op I noticed the back of my thighs had not changed (my "cellulite" and banana rolls were still prevelant), so I voiced my concerns to Elleana the P.A. at my 5 week post-op appt. (also when my drains finally came out!!). The Dr. was in surgery so we scheduled a virtual followup around 2 months post-op, to voice my concerns regarding the back of my upper thighs. When I spoke to Dr. M he expressed how great my butt and hips looked from the lateral thigh and butt lift. I completely agree with him regarding my tight hips (no more dog ears, lose skin, or stretch marks), and tighter glutes (stretch marks are imporved too); plus no more love handles; however, the one thing I wanted fixed from the very beginning of this journey was not imporoved (my "cellulite" and banana rolls). During this virtual appt. he explained that a lateral thigh and butt lift could not fix my "cellulite" or banana rolls. He said he would have had a very detailed conversation with me regarding a lateral thigh lift and butt lift not benig able to fix these issues. Unfortunately, we never had this conversation. I took very detailed notes during each virtual consultation; and immediately after he left the room during our in-person pre-op I wrote down everything discussed. One of my family members also verified this was never dicussed. I think it might have been discussed if it had not been a hectic/chaotic "botox day" at the office, but I believe this is why it was overlooked/not discussed (no one is perfect). My husband was upset at first because he felt I did the lateral thigh and butt lift for nothing (wasting money), but I pointed out to him that I do have smoother, tighter, stretch mark free hips and glutes now (improved stretch marks on the glutes, but not completely gone, and no love handles), which makes me very happy. The Dr. also explained that there are no good procedures at this time to correct what appears to be "cellulite" and bananana rolls on the back of my upper thights; but he would put me on a list that would remind him I wanted a procedure to correct these issues when a good one becomes available. I also discussed my bra-line with the doctor during this virtual follow-up because the v. lipo/renuvion did not tighten the skin in this area/my upper and middle back areas. He explained that it cannot tighten very lax skin and unfortuanately my skin in these areas is apparently too lax for the renuvion to work. I am ok with this outcome because I know we tried and it did not work. If we had not tried at all I would have wished we did and wondered if it could have worked. I wish we had at least tried the v. lipo and renuvion on the back of my upper thighs because there is a chance it might have imporoved things a bit. The skin isn't too lax in these areas, in my opinion. I also wish I had done renuvion on the front of my thighs/quads and knee caps because I believe it could have made a significant difference, but we never discussed this and I didn't think of it until it was too late. I am very pleased with my Tummy Tuck results (although I'm not a fan of my new belly button, but my old one wasn't great either...not after several pregnancies); pleased with my inner things (there is no longer an indent and they are more shapely and tighter); no complaints with my triceps; very pleased with my lower back (no more squish or love handles), very pleased with my lateral thigh/butt/tummy tuck scars; pleased with my new implants (the size, projection, and upper fullness); and happy enough with the fat grafting of my glutes (there wasn't much fat to use for the grafting of my glutes and I wish we had put more of it in the upper pole, but overall I am happy with how it turned out considering what the Dr. had to work with). My favorite staff members besides Theresa, James, and Victoria are Elleana, Steph/Stephanie, and Chelsea. I have intereacted with Kyle briefly and he seems extremely nice, as well. Would I recommend Dr. Mowlavi to other patients (friends and family) reading this...YES, I ABSOLUTELY WOULD! Overall, he does excllent work and you get what you pay for. It is unfortunate for the misunderstanding or miscommunication regarding the "cellulite" and banana rolls on the back of my upper thighs...had this not occurred I would have given him 5 Stars. My only advice is to anyone reading this is to ask him very specific questions about specific results of the procedures being performed because he is a busy Dr. and things can be forgotten/left out or misunderstood. I hope my review is found to be fair and truthful because that was my goal.