Starting resarch - Any Tips or Advice Appreciated!

I think most of us do have a belly button post-plastics. I would guess the percentage that lose them is low.

I have before and after photos of my scars if you are interested - Dr. Sauceda did my work.

My incision is nice and low. Some surgeons place them high and even high in the back, which is definitely visible when wearing lower rise pants, not to mention panties. I've seen some scary "Afters".

I believe they all just move the belly button but some surgeons do not make them look "real" after they move them. I've noticed lots of just flat belly buttons, which does not even look like a belly button anymore. Not sure if it has anything to do with the amount of skin removed, or if it is because we are bariatric patients and our skin is different or what.

Hi Laura -

I did check the "before" and "after" pics on your doc's website and i have to admit I am impressed both with results and scar placement.  Assume you were happy with results?

I am thrilled with my results. I have pictures posted on my profile and I believe my password is abc123. I think I look better than most 46 year olds who have never had a weight problem and I'll take that. If I ever win the lottery, I will get implants and a thigh lift, but for now I am content "as-is". I love Dr. LoMonaco.

Hi Laura,

I'm having an abdominoplasty with Dr Wainwright, how was your experience with him?

...just as also a "general" question....is the surgeon's website before/after pics generally a good indication of their work?  I looked on some local Atlanta doc's websites and so far not as impressed as I am with some other doc's that are not local.

 

If pics are not impressive, do you give them the benefit of the doubt and go in for a consult anyway (as these are Dr. Offices - not web design/sales experts) or just move on?

In my experience in the NYC area, if the website has few pictures or if they are not impressive, when I went for the consult, I was not impressed with the Dr.  They post their BEST results - so if they are not great, I would move on. Also, "even a blind squirrel can find a nut once in a while" , so if there are only one or two pictures, even if one is great, I personally wouldn't bother. When I gave the "benefit of the doubt", I found I just wasted my time.  (then I kept getting "follow-up" calls )

@ Suzie - thanks so much! Based on pics there is only ONE Atlanta surgeon i will be consulting - have no clue why a major metro city is so sparse on LBL surgeons?  I figure this is the mac-daddy procedure, so really looking at these results over all else.  The surgeon i am consulting does ~3 of these a month.

Watch some videos on YouTube of actual TT surgery. You will be happy to find out that you will keep your real belly button. What they do is cut around it then when they pull your skin down they cut a new hole and sew your real belly button into that new hole.