Post LBL complications

I am two and half years out from my lbl...it was done in Mexico, don't reccomend going there but I know some folks have been happy, and then some folks have almost died, so people will make up their own mind on what they think is best for them.

I had plenty of complications at the time I had my lbl in 2008, but about a year out I started to get stitches migrating to the surface. I have had two other people I know who had the same surgeon in Mexico and had theirs done about the same time have the same issues.

Last year my primary care doctor tried to remove one that was getting infected (they actually kind of poke out) and he couldn't get it. He suggested I live with it if I could since it would probably mess up my scar to remove them. This year he referred me to a surgeon and I went in this week to have a bunch of the stitches removed. Unfortunately they were what the surgeon called 'interupted' stitches so each one was knotted under the part of the stitch that you could see. So he had to dig them each out individually. I did get a local(several) thank God. NOt sure how it will look when it all heals up yet. One area he had to cut it out and restitch it back together....so now I have desolvable stitches all across my back. Not sure yet how much the insurance will pay either.

Just wanted to put another reminder out there for those of you who think you may be saving money by going to Mexico.....you may not be saving as much as you think if you have to continue to pay out of pocket once you get back home. I had over 3 months of 2-3 times a week hospital visits after my lbl for wound care when I got back....add that up. And now this. Not to mention now I am back working on getting healed up again.

Think about it before you let some one come at your body with a sharp object....be safe.

deb366

 I'm sorry you are dealing with this. No idea who your surgeon is, but have heard this from many of Quiroz's patients. I've seen pictures that you could actually even see the blue stitching under the skin in the photo. 

I don't think the problem is with Mexico, but individual surgeons. There are good and bad surgeons in Mexico, the US, and everywhere.

Even when the original plastics aren't covered by insurance, often the fixing of the resulting problems ARE covered by insurance. I hope this is the case for you, and that you don't get extra scars.

You probably already know, but there is one thing that has proven effective in helping reduce scars (silicon sheeting) and many here use it. I found a belt of it, made especially for lower body lifts and it was much cheaper than using the strips, and is still a silicon wrap. You can google the silicon sheet and strips and find them many places, but the wide (and cheaper) band I found was at make-me-heal, and is called Gelzone Wrap, by Implantech.

Thanks Bearmom....yes Dr. Quiroz was my ps surgeon. Lots of problems with stitches. The good news is that it does look like my insurance will cover part of my removal. I do have the silicon sheeting and used it last time and will probably use it again once it has healed up again. I had one area that was not just stitch removal but the surgeon had to remove the area. Basically the pain is over and it is just the uncomfortableness and the problems wearing pants! The stitches should fall out in a few weeks, and the other good news is that it is the area under my panty line, so not like many people will see it. I do hope that Dr. Quiroz has learned from his mistakes and is no longer doing his stitches this way. Although I initinally had issues and problems healing due to the stitches, it took a year or more for these to come to the surface. I haven't been able to feel around there yet to see if I have any more in the back, but I do have some in the front that are visable and you can feel with your hands. Again....not too many people looking or feeling me down there ; )

I just hope everyone checks out their surgeons before they move forward.....

Thanks for your response!

deb366