Patient - Abdominoplasty

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Before

This lady did not like her abdominal bulging but was within 5-7 lbs of her desired weight. She was seen at Sono Bello, a plastic surgery/spa chain, where she was told she needed liposuction. She went to Elase Medical Spa and Cosmetic Surgery Clinic in Lake Mary, where she was told she needed an abdominoplasty. She was not comfortable with either facility or the staff and eventually came to me through word of mouth referral from former patients. I told her that liposuction would not get her the flat, tight abdomen she was seeking because she had very loose skin from her pregnancies, and had poor muscle tone as well. Neither of these is addressed by liposuction in any of its various forms.

The problem with these "chain" clinics is that many, if not most, are owned by non-plastic surgeons. They are businesses that employ plastic surgeons, some of whom have very sketchy backgrounds (be cautious about plastic surgeons that seem to move around a lot). There is often a revolving door of surgeons through these clinics and patients often do not know who will operate on them until the day of surgery. The consultation is often done by a non-physician, sometimes not even a medically trained person, whose job it is to "close the deal".

Elase Medical Spa and Cosmetic Surgery has shut down.

After

She is shown 6 months after a traditional abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), with tightening of the muscle and transposition of the umbiicus (belly button). This was done in our private, state-licensed ambulatory surgery center, located in our Tavares office, the only such facility in Central Florida. The skin and fat that I removed weighed 830 grams, or about 1 lb, 13 oz. Her scars are excellent and will likely fade even a bit more with time. She is very happy.