The Unexpected Cost of my 360 Vaser Liposuction

Early summer 2020, I decided to “treat” myself to liposuction. In spite of my best efforts, working out 5-6 days a week, my figure left a lot to be desire. I felt confident in surgery having had a tummy tuck subsequent to a C-Section around age 40.

I did a fair amount of Online research to decide what type of liposuction would be best for me. My major areas of concern were my waistline and back. I spent hours on YouTube, watching through others’ experiences. I researched procedures and doctors on Real Self, and finally set up a consultation.

I will only refer to my surgeon as Dr G. After a virtual consultation, we met in person and he thoroughly explained his recommendation: 360-Vaser Liposuction which he believed would give me a more desirable figure. He did recommend a Brazilian butt lift, but I decided against that due to recovery time expectations. I informed my doctor of an upcoming trip to Costa Rica (which was occurring about 5-6 weeks post surgery, and he assured me that I would be healed by then).

I have to say the worst part of the liposuction was being put under general anesthesia.. Despite feeling loopy, the pain/discomfort was manageable. I felt as though I had gone through 13 weeks of Marines Boot Camp all at once, but I never really had to take anything more than Tylenol for discomfort. I was driving in two days.

It was within two weeks, after my drains had been removed, that I noticed what appeared to be a hollow pocket between my breasts that sounded as though it was filled with air when I pressed on it. I took a video and sent it to my surgeon, who assured me that it was nothing to worry about. I kept an eye on it, but was generally happy with how my body was looking. Though still about 15 pounds overweight, I could see a waist line. As soon as I was cleared, I went back to working out. I went to Costa Rica with new bathing suit in hand and was joyfully anticipating revisions to further contour my body once my doctor approved me.

In September is when I began to notice what felt like tracks under the skin of my abdomen. In addition, I began to feel sharp pains that ran from one of those subcutaneous tracks to my left bikini line. It would hurt when I moved in certain ways and I began to develop a very large, dark mark between my hip and pubis with the skin texture becoming scaly. Again, I sent my surgeon a photo only to be told it was likely fat necrosis, a common occurrence after plastic surgery. The masseuse who was doing my lymphatic drainage massages had concerns, pointing out it was hot and inflamed. It eventually burst with copious amounts of pus draining out. Once it was drained, the sharp pains I had been feeling, resolved. Again, I informed my doctor.

Fast forward through the next 3-4 months during which I continued to develop abscesses on my bikini line, my hip and abdomen. One of the liposuction incisions on my lower back reopened only to drain more pus. There were times when my abdomen would be so inflamed, I could not fit into my pants. I did go back to my surgeon who excised a few, but seemed genuinely stumped by what was happening to me.

There is nothing more frustrating than to be undergoing a medical crisis, only to have the doctor to whom you’ve entrusted your care look at you perplexedly and basically shrug. That led me to do my own research. I realized I likely had Mycobacterium Fortuitum. My surgeon advised me to see an Infectious Disease specialist. Because Mycobacterium is a slow growing bacterium, it took six weeks to get a diagnosis solidified. I was started on Doxycycline.

Two months later, I developed a mass in my right breast that was so large I could not lie face down. While I had my suspicions it was all related to this experience, I went for a mammogram and my ultrasound technician’s concern did have me wonder if I might have breast cancer. The radiologist was brought in and I was brought back in the next day for a biopsy. When the doctor punctured the mass for the biopsy, it turned out to be another abscess. He syringed out as much as possible and informed me the abscess was deep enough that it never would have burst on its own.

In my last conversation with the plastic surgeon, I told him that I didn’t think I would be able to fully heal until a more thorough cleaning of these pockets was done. I can still recall his reassurances that he felt very bad this was happening to me and “I want you to know I’m here with you.”Well, that’s not really how it turned out because in order to do that would have required me to go into hospital and suddenly, it became a matter of my insurance coverage. I was told by his secretary that they were not in my network so I would have to pay about $5,000.

That was not something I was able or willing to do.

It is now about 3-4 months later and I am with a new infectious disease doctor who has me on two very strong antibiotics. While his initial recommendation was infusion antibiotics, because I have an insanely high deductible, I would have had to pay $300 daily until I paid $5000. The oral meds seem to be working as I’ve not developed new abscesses. However, all of this has come at a price. I have not been able to exercise for several weeks (I’m currently on week 6 of antibiotics), as my joints are always painful, a side effect of the antibiotics. The antibiotics also can make me dizzy, light headed and nauseated. The ID informed me it will likely be at least four months before I can stop the meds.

So, what did this experience cost me? The surgery itself seemed quite reasonable at $11,000. However, add to that the trip to the ER when two abscesses because so inflamed and painful, the testing for the Mycobacterium, the medications, the CT scan to determine if there were further abscesses, the biopsy and the monthly specialist visits which include kidney/liver function testing because these antibiotics can cause renal/liver failure, the cost has been much greater. That is just the actual monetary cost. In reality, the cost to my self esteem has been much greater. I look worse now than I did pre liposuction. I have several areas of hyperpigmentation on my abdomen and bikini line from where abscesses developed and burst. I am mortified for anyone to see my body (doctors, husband, daughter). And I never heard from my surgeon’s office again.

I thought I was doing the smart thing, going to a NY doctor for my surgery. Medical tourism, while cheaper, carried so much risk, in my opinion.

Make no mistake, I am not against plastic surgery, and I anticipate that once I am done with the antibiotics and have waited 6-12 months, I likely will find a new surgeon to correct many things However, I hope this serves as a cautionary tale for anyone considering liposuction. I am not a litigious person and have no desire to sue the surgeon. Risk of infection is a possibility with any type of surgery. I told him as such. What I had hoped for only was to be made whole and for him to help in my recovery. Know what your surgeon’s policies are in the event something like this happens to you. See what your insurance’s policy is in terms of coverage should something like this happen. Plastic surgery is a wonderful tool to help you feel more confident. And it has a very ugly side that can jump out and scare you if you have not anticipated it.