Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Plastic Surgery Center

I am scheduled for a lower body lift, hernia repair and medial thigh lift on Dec 19,2003. I have to tell you that my experience so far with Dr. LoMonaco has been incredible. Let me start at the beginning. I called his office one day during lunch to find out his location expecting to get the answering service. To my surprise someone answered the phone and I proceeded to ask if Dr. LoMonaco did lower body lifts. After this person answered my question, she politely asked me if I could hold on for a minute. Within a short time, Dr. LoMonaco himself picked up the phone and we had a 20 minute conversation where he answered all my questions. This was on a Thursday and then he invited me in for a free consultation. I was able to get in to see him on the following Monday. That day he spent over two hours with me in his office while I asked all the questions I could think of and he covered everything from A-Z. I never felt rushed and definitely had his undivided attention. I explained all my concerns and he addressed every issue. He showed me tons of before and after pictures and offered to let me contact his LAST five patients (not his BEST five patients). Naturally after leaving his office, I thought of more questions so I emailed him the following day with my list of questions. To my surprise again, he called me and we covered all my questions, fears and doubts over the phone. I feel very strongly that Dr. LoMonaco puts his patients first and makes them feel comforable and confident in his abilities as a surgeon. He is the only doctor I've seen (and I've seen two other plastic surgeons and one general surgeon) who suggested I get a CT scan of my hernia so he can see how involved it is prior to operating. He is also going to repair it using a method called muscle flap repair which I feel is better than mesh because of the complications mesh can cause. He is also not going to re-open my RNY scar but rather go in under the lower body lift cut so that I won't have two incisions to be healing from on my abdomen. Most doctors opt for the mesh repair because it is easier but I did not want this. He addressed my concerns about pain and assured me he would prescribe whatever it took to keep me comfortable. He also stated that he takes all his own beeper calls and if I had trouble to just page him and he would call me direct. How much better service can you ask for? I will update this again once I have my surgery. Oh, I almost forgot....he is not only board certified in Plastic Surgery but is also board certified in General Surgery. And, he was also an instructor in plastic surgery at the UT Medical School. I guess you can tell that I am totally impressed with him!
01/04/04 - Update!
Well I had my surgery and I must say that Dr. LoMonaco was absolutely the greatest. He made sure that I was in no pain and called me in the room to check on me several times and to also let me know when he would be there to see me in person. On night I was running a fever a fever and he showed up in my room at 3:00 a.m. I was shocked to see him. He wanted to make sure that I wasn't getting an infection which I wasn't. I was fine. He has called me at home to check on me several times. My care has been excellent and the results although still early are more than I could have hoped for! I have had very little pain and am just thrilled with my care. I highly recommend Dr. LoMonaco to anyone who needs a good plastic surgeon who also is board certified in general surgery.