An honest review - very pleased with the results so far

I had lipo and a tummy tuck with Dr. Dawson on 12/29/2022. This review is for Dr. Konrad Dawson, specifically, although the procedure was done at Sono Bello. I continue to have mixed feelings about Sono Bello and will defer a review of the center until this process is complete. But the procedure is known as AbEX with Sono Bello.
For the procedure, itself, I was awake the entire time with only Xanax and pain pills until they numbed me internally. I felt each small cut he made to get his tools inside, but it was like a small stinging sensation that quickly passed. The worst part of the procedure was getting the numbing solution in. That took a good bit of time - at least it felt like it did. And it was definitely not pleasant. I was given a stress ball that I squeezed the entire time. Dr. Dawson was very honest at the pre-op meeting in telling me most folks found this part of the procedure the worst, but the pain was bearable. It was the worst. I didn’t feel the need to scream in pain but did grunt and wince quite a bit. I was so confused and it went on so long, I thought he was already doing the lipo. It was only when he finished and the nurse told me they’d leave me to allow the solution time to numb me that I realized the lipo hadn’t started yet.
I’m not sure how long I laid there, but when he started the lipo, it was not painful at all. In fact, we talked throughout the entire procedure! Dr. Dawson mentioned more than once that most people just fall asleep. But I’m one of those weird folks that metabolizes medication differently I guess. The Xanax felt like it had no effect on me. I was wide awake and comfortable. Occasionally I had a twinge that quickly passed. At one point I felt a weird vibration on one leg. I thought it was a tool Dr. Dawson was using that was vibrating on my leg. Then he told me to stop, and I realized that it was my leg shaking. I was too numb to realize it was me. So I told myself to relax and it stopped. But it was like an out of body experience because it didn’t feel like me doing it, to begin with. That was really the only odd thing to happen and it passed in less than a minute. When he got to the tummy tuck, I felt absolutely nothing until he begin suturing. Then I felt pulling and tugging but no pain.
I stayed for two nights in a recovery center that had a nurse on-site at all times. Because I’m single, I worried about not having someone around for emergencies. I walked out after the procedure and had no difficulty doing so. I drained from my incisions day 1 and part of day 2. I was completely done with drainage before I left the recovery center.
It’s now day 4, 1/2/2023, and I’m feeling relatively good. The verdict is still out whether I’ll be back at work in a week. That said, I am walking up and down stairs unassisted. Additionally, Dr. Dawson is not a fan of giving more than a few days of narcotic pain killers to avoid addiction. I think that’s a positive thing, personally. But on day 1, in spite of the meds given to me at the facility, by the end of the day, I was taking pain meds every 4 hours, not making it to the 6 hour window. Sono Bello suggested doubling the pills but I was anxious that I’d run out even quicker. I was trying to alternate between Tylenol and the prescription but the pain was worse on just Tylenol and I had to be careful with the level of acetaminophen. Dr. Dawson called me on day 2 and reluctantly agreed to call in a few more pills. He assured me the pain would decrease within the first 3 days but the second and sometimes third day could be the worst. At any rate, my anxiety was reduced knowing I had a few extra pills and wouldn’t run out. Well he was right! It’s day 4 and I haven’t touched the second prescription. He kept telling me to trust him and the process and so far it’s worked.
Now to personality… Dr. Dawson has mixed reviews from others. I chose him in spite of the negative reviews because none of them spoke about him botching his procedures. I can deal with Dr. Dawson’s matter of fact personality and curt responses. He has trained and practiced for years to hone his medical expertise. I didn’t pay thousands of dollars for a winning personality, I paid for results. And so far I’m very pleased with the results, as well as Dr. Dawson’s personality. He won’t coddle you and can be a little gruff, until you dig a bit deeper and realize he’s really a teddy bear. I’ll try to remember to post updates as I progress but day 4 I’m home alone caring for myself, showering alone, and only have soreness, no major aching pain.

It’s now 6 days post procedure and my 1 week appointment at Sono Bello is tomorrow. I got a call from nurse Emma the evening of Day 5. I mentioned concerns with scarring to her (I’d previously mentioned it to Dr. Dawson, his assistant, and to Mellanie, the Clinical Manager. Suddenly I’m hearing for the very first time I’ll be provided with scar silicone. Why would no one else mention it until now? I also asked Emma about whether It should be wearing an ab board and she says it’s recommended. What?! I complained about the utter lack of communication between anybody at Sonobello and she tells me they can answer questions if I ask them. If you’ve never done this process before, how could you possibly begin to know what questions to even ask? I I told Emma I wanna know everything upfront. She told me she intended to tell me that stuff at my one week appointment and I said no, I need to know the entire process from beginning to end now. That’s when she tells me that she can send me recommended places for getting lymphatic drainage massages. I was originally told by Michelle, the consultant I initially spoke to that eagerly excepted my deposit, that LDM was a package I could include with the procedure, so I did. And by the way, Michelle, who is not a doctor, examine my body and ultimately quoted me $7000 to essentially do 360 Lipo. In good faith, I paid a $2,000 NON-REFUNDABLE deposit with the understanding that that was the total cost and no tummy tuck was needed. It was only at the preop, after meeting with Dr. Dawson for the first time, that I learned the results would not be great unless I did do a tummy tuck. When I asked for the price, he told me he does not get into prices, and that was strictly with Sonobello. long story short, the price doubled. I had grade concerns and voiced those concerns later to Mellanie over Sono Bello’s bait & switch tactics. I also voiced concerns about the P smelling information. No reputable company takes your money, tells you it will not be refunded, then move the ball on what procedures are really needed, and essentially says you lose approximately $2,200 if you decide to cancel AFTER they double the price! At that point, they my deposit and I trusted Dr. Dawson based upon my research. So I continued forward but let Mellanie and Michelle both know the deceptive practices were wrong. Both ladies told me that’s just how the business model for Sono Bello worked.
So the evening of day five I received a text message from Emma with suggestions of folks to seek out for LDM. I am mediately start going down the list. Locate somebody and schedule my first session of LDM on Day 6, today. It’s at this session that I learned I’m developing fibrosis. I have super hard rope like tissue, starting on my back and moving around my waist to my stomach near where the incision was made for the tummy tuck. I learned from the therapist that I should have started LDM the same day as the procedure if not, the very next day. At this point, she’s uncertain whether she will be able to soften these protrusions because they’re rockhard. So for another $580 I’m seeing her five days in a row for 60 minutes a day to manually massage my really inflamed and fluid filled middle section from my back all the way around my sides to my stomach. Sono Bello should’ve relayed that information. Well before now. Additionally, Michelle should never have indicated I was paying for LDM when in fact, I was actually paying for some other service sono Bello provides to essentially try and help shrink the skin a few months after the procedure. The whole process is just asinine with this company!
I called Sonobello immediately after leaving the therapist and let them know. I fully expect to see a doctor at my appointment tomorrow so be warned. Their response was to tell me if I wanted to see a doctor I needed to change my appointment time which I did. What’s sad is they had me coming in when no doctor would even have been available to address any issues in spite of telling me if I had issues at my appointment I would be able to see a doctor! I no longer have mixed feelings about Sono Bello. Run, don’t walk, to a private doctor’s office. These people are disorganized at best, unethical and poorly trained at worst.

I am continuing to improve slowly but surely. I still have swelling and bruising, but I began wearing lipo foam to help press more fluid out of pockets. It really does make a difference. I’m also continuing with LDM on a weekly basis. And it really matters who you get. My therapist used to work in a plastic surgeon’s office before branching out on her own. So she has all kinds of equipment and the knowledge of what tools to use in the process. Every visit uses different tools as I improve. She’s used a sonogram, hand massages, a laser, and massage hand tools to work on the smaller knots that are formed on my sides and stomach. The knots are appearing as larger areas are softening. Sono Bello still sucks, but they are scheduling me to see Dr. Dawson at every visit - at my insistence. My latest photos actually show some of the knots on one side pretty clearly I think.