Disappointed in the way I was treated after surgery

I had three total surgeries with Doctor Hughes. 2bbls which came out absolutely amazing and then I went back for a tummy tuck 16 months ago. I waited to do a review to give everything time to heal. I’m so heart broken at my tummy tuck results. I

Originally decided to just leave well enough alone but it’s to a point I hate my body and just wish I would have used another doctor. I spent $17k to only receive results that still left me having to wear clothing that is baggy because of the big flap of skin that wasn’t removed. I couldn’t post before pictures because his office refused me my before photos because I signed a waiver saying I did not want my photos shared online. When I contacted dr Hughes regarding the skin flap on my left hip area he said it would be another 1k to fix it and because of my severe stretch marks from pregnancy stretched skin tends to fall later. This skin was there right after surgery but I figured it was fluid. It’s clearly left over skin that wasn’t removed. I’m sick to my stomach about the money I spent and will now have to spend another 8k with another doctor for a revision. I haven’t gained or lost weight. This is the way it has looked since day one. I’m sad about my belly button but was happy to overlook that anyways since my stretch marks are already so bad. The skin hanging is another story. The treatment I received after the surgery when requesting my

Before photos is even more of a horrific story. I left a review on this in another part of realself. I will not knock this dr for his bbls because he did amazing. However, yes my tummy tuck was complex but with all the money I spent which to be fair also included back lipo I am severely disappointed. I would have considered the 1k fee he asked for to fix the hanging skin but after a ton of going back and forth about wanting pictures of my stomach before surgery and complaining that I was being treated rudely by his mother who is his assistant I just don’t trust that there’s no hostility towards me. I hope this helps someone and keeps them from having the same unfortunate experience I had. He did discount me for being a previous patient, he is very quick to respond, very educated and his work tends to be amazing. Maybe I was just too complex of a case? I’m

Not sure.

So it’s been 16 months since my tummy tuck and I have to say I am EXTREMELY saddened at my results. $17k gone to waste. Granted I do have severe stretch marks from pregnancy but this is not what I expected as far as results. Dr. Hughes wanted another 1k to fix the skin that was left sagging from the surgery he performed and said that it was because stretched skin tends to come back and sag but this was there directly after surgery. I gave it a 16 months and still no change/ I did not loose or gain weight. I still have lots of loose skin. The fact he wanted more money blows my mind. My belly button is also horrific. I’m so sad with my results and even more upset at the request for more money to fix the skin he left hanging. Granted, it’s better than what I had but I’m not sure if he actually did the muscle repair and I wish I went with another dr. I’m going to have a revision done by another doctor soon. It’s sad. He’s an amazing bbl doc but I wouldn’t recommend for a tummy tuck.

I am back to do an update 9 weeks post surgery. To say I am disappointed in giving the review I did and ranting and raving about my PAST experience with Dr Hughes (mainly staff) is an understatement. Before I paid for my surgery i was treated so kindly by the staff mainly Angela. There were so many hiccups pre surgery that I looked past because in the end my opinion of dr hughes was amazing and a lot of issues that occurred such as my surgery being scheduled for a later time that morning and the anesthesia doctor showing up 5 hours late as my anxiety went through the roof waiting in my gown that entire time in the check jn room. I was kind and patient and never complained about the several mistakes Angela made during my working with her including asking me right before surgery if I had paid because she lost the statements from a month ago so I had to pull up my credit card bills showing where they took out the payment. All this while I’m already getting my iv treatment before going in the surgical room. I didn’t want to post this because I still think dr hughes work is great but after I requested pictures of my before and afters and was denied being able to have them and requesting my medical records and being ignored as well as never getting a call back from the dr regarding my concerns, I couldn’t just leave a raving review. $35,000 spent in total with this doctor and I can’t even reach him this time around. I’m 9 weeks post op with drain healing issues and stitches that are not dissolving and no way to reach him because of the way Angela treated me after they already got my money. I was even told by her I’d have to wait till “later today or tomorrow” for an answer to my questions because dr hughes had to many consultations coming up. I am a patient who spent 35k and I can’t get an answer to why my belly button is leaking 2 weeks after surgery? I’m left shocked and beyond disappointed. As far as my results, I have to say I have some concerns and a few things I’m not happy with and I feel that traveling 8 hours and paying a substantially over priced amount because I wanted great service was the wrong choice. I have family that have gotten their surgery close to home, excellent results, several thousands of dollars cheaper, before and after pictures and 24-7 access to their doctor with amazing results but because I worked with dr hughes 10 years ago, I wanted to use him again but man did things change. I should have trusted my families surgeon here where I live. I have another surgery scheduled and unfortunately, I will never go back to this surgeon. I feel taken advantage of because after I paid, the treatment I received from his staff was disgusting. I hope that no one else has to go through this. I don’t know if dr hughes even knows I’m Being denied my medical records and if all of this is going on, but if you see this post, I really hope you get your staff to show some respect and compassion to your patients and worse case don’t wait until after they pay to show this type of treatment. It should be this way before payment so they know what kind of aftercare they’re signing up for. You were amazing when you worked out of Culver City and able to be reached when needed, answered questions left and right and that’s what I thought I was paying for this time so I feel very cheated. If you do ever see this, please email me my records because this isn’t fair. I have attached the emails between Angela and I and she never responded. It’s very unprofessional and I feel I led people the wrong way by posting my above comment. If this treatment from your staff continues, you will be losing a lot of business. I had so many people asking about my surgeon and I won’t recommend you because of the after care. I have scheduled an appointment with my primary care because I can’t get through Angela to get to you for questions.