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POSTED UNDER Body Lift REVIEWS

Lower Body Lift - Orlando, FL

ORIGINAL POST

I have waited 15 years to get the nerve up and go...

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alice0812
WORTH IT
I have waited 15 years to get the nerve up and go through with this surgery. I am on day 5 of recovery and feel great. I have some pain but that is managed with pain medication and cannot believe how amazing I look on day 5. Dr. Soto is an amazing person who I felt completely comfortable with and his staff was exceptional as well. If you live in the Orlando area see him for any cosmetic procedure. He is a perfectionist and that is definitely a plus in this field of work and he cares about you.

alice0812's provider

Armando Soto, MD, FACS

Armando Soto, MD, FACS

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

4.7 | 225 Reviews
PROFILE
alice0812

alice0812 rating for Dr. Soto:

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Replies (11)

December 8, 2015

Welcome to the community and thanks so much for offering your opinion of your doctor.

It would be great if you could give us a little more detail about your experience, like why you had the surgery, your tips for getting good results, pros/cons, and info on the recovery process.

Our community members especially love seeing photos from before, during, and after — a realistic look at what they can expect. Photos grab the attention of the community and encourage more support for you.

As a community manager, I get requests all the time from other members who want me to to keep encouraging people to share their experiences, which are so helpful for others considering these procedures. So please accept this as a well-intentioned request from thousands.

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December 9, 2015
I will update my experience and some picture throughout my progress.
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December 9, 2015
Congratulations on your surgery from the awesome Dr. Soto! He truly is an amazing Doctor. He and his staff are wonderful and very caring as you mentioned. I am almost 8 months post op and love my results!! If you have any questions, please feel free to let me know or you can private message me too. :)
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December 9, 2015
Thank you!! :)
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December 11, 2015

Good for you!  You're well on your way to amazing results, from the looks of it.  Keep us updated.

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December 12, 2015
Gina , thank you!!
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January 10, 2016
You look amazing !!!!! I have an appointment with him on the 25 for a mommy make over and BBl. How long was the surgery ?
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January 10, 2016
My surgery was 5 hours which is why it didn't get the breast lift at the same time. I may do that during the summer. You will love him and his staff!!! Feel free to message me anytime.
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January 10, 2016
Thank you so much. I'm so nervous, i know for sure I'll have to go at two different times bc they can't do everything I want to get done. You look amazing . How long did it take you to get back in the gym?
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January 15, 2016
I'm on week 5, not cleared yet for the gym. I hope at 6 weeks I can go back...I miss it.
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June 29, 2016
Hey, how's you're progress going?
UPDATED FROM alice0812
5 days post

5 days into recovery

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alice0812
I am only 5 days into the recovery of the lower body lift. It is extremely tiring to move around but it's amust. What I do to help me walk further is eat and take a pain medication which allows me to walk a little longer. I do crash when I sit down and sleep for about 20 minutes but feels like an hour. I was able take a month off from work which is a blessing and something that really is needed. I'm sorry for bouncing around with information , it's just there's so much to say about what was told and what I found to be different. When you hear them say you will need someone there to help...you think yes I got someone but what you don't realize is how much you need them. The person who helps you during this time must be someone who you feel completely comfortable with because they will take you to the bathroom ,empty your drains, and give you showers. My husband has been absolutely the best. It's really hard for me to allow people to help me since ,I have always been the care giver.
I waited 15 years because I was nervous and didn't want to go through the pain, I just believe I wasn't ready. During those years and prior I had 5 pregnancies. (2 miscarriages and 3 daughters) I also quit smoking, gained a lot of weight and that began another change. I started adding small changes with my way if eating and now I have been able to maintain my weight and go to the gym regularly. I now go to the gym because it relieves stress and I don't see it as a"have too".
Back to the recovery.... When I take my binder off for the required 30 minutes, I will put a tank top on to go under it because it's causing blisters that pop and are extremely painful. The garment was an experience putting it back on the first time I took shower. It's confusing at first but once you know how it goes it goes quickly. My first shower....I did it with an hour into my pain medication and my muscle relaxers which is what i suggest becAuse it feels weird. My husband washed me because I was concentrating on my balance and not getting sick.
My opinion on getting this done... You seriously have to want it, it's not a weight loss option . I had so much skin hanging that no matter what I did it wasn't doing anything . I went into the procedure comfortable with my weight it's just the skin is what I hated about my body which made me feel horrible.

Replies (1)

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January 16, 2016
Thank you for your thorough review and information. I do not have a hubby and I'm so independent that I will struggle in this but I'm so ready to do this. I have an 18 year old son so i will just have to depend a bit more on him.
I do have a good friend who went through this whom I plan on staying with the first week post op... I guess this will be a good test of my ability to depend on others during recovery.
Wishing you the best during your continued recovery and healing xo
UPDATED FROM alice0812
9 days post

9 days PS date

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alice0812
The past two days have been uncomfortable. I feel extra swollen , not sure if it's from the Gatorade I am drinking or just normal swelling,or I'm just plan tired of feeling tightly wound. I want to do so much and I'm restricted so it's frustrating. I hope that things improve soon. I'm sure they will and this blah mood will too.
The good part I suppose my drain that is left is t producing much and what it's producing is very light red.

Replies (4)

December 13, 2015
I'm scheduled for a LBL first week in January. Most of my issue is a loss of elasticity. I am 5'3" and maintained my weight within 10 pounds of 123 all my life. However my hips and thighs look like I have lost 80 or more pounds. I am going out of state for surgery and have only two weeks I can off. I will not have any muscle work or lipo. I will stay two nights in an after care facility. Can you tell me if you feel all the pain and scars are worth it. Also how terrible is the pain? I'm 52 and wanted this surgery for over 20 years but I'm so scared.
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December 13, 2015
I believe it's worth it. I went in with understanding there will be pain and discomfort but the "wanting it" is what I focus on. I also believe it depends on your tolerance of pain. I waiting 15 years and I'm 45 so my mental mind was ready to deal wi whatever came about.
Pain.... I took the pain meds every 4 hours for the first 5 days , walked a lot , to keep the blood flowing. Take stool softness, from day one ,until you are cleared to stop. To me it's not so much as piercing pain but more of some burning on certain spots and tight feeling.
will you Doctor clear you to go back in two weeks. You will have drains probably ,easy to take care of but a pain too. Pain is okay and sleeping on a recliner is a big help. my scars will not really be seen because it by the bikini line so not really visible. I am going to post pictures today without my bandages , I'm swollen but I see a difference. I don't believe he did lipo, he took 15 lbs of excess skin.
December 14, 2015
Thank you so much for your help and advice! I can't wait to see your photos!
June 15, 2017
How long did you have the drains on?